Catching up with Met Am champion Peter Kim
When a golfer hits the competitive scene at a young age, there's an opportunity to see their game develop through the following years. That's just the case with Peter Kim, who hoisted his first MGA trophy with a win at the MGA/MetLife Boys Championship in 2008. In the years since, the Metuchen, N.J., native has represented the MGA at the Williamson Cup in 2009, posted a fourth-place finish at the Carter Cup in 2010, and made quarter and semifinal appearances at the Met Junior in 2011 and 2012. Last August, Kim was victorious at the MGA's oldest championship, the Met Amateur. The West Point cadet's victory proved to be one of the most memorable moments of the season. He won a playoff to secure the final spot in match play, and fought through four matches to claim the win - all despite limited practice time leading up to the championship due to intense summer training with the United States Military Academy.
With Kim in the middle of the spring golf season at Army West Point, we caught up with him for a Q&A:
| MGA: | How were you first introduced to the game of golf? |
| PK: | When I was 7 years old, my dad brought me to the driving range along with his friends and let me hit a few shots. After I hit my first shot 100 yards with a driver, I got hooked. |
| MGA: | Who have been some of the biggest influences on your golf game? |
| PK: | There are so many people who have been influential to me on my golf game. I would have to say my parents have been so influential to me because of the amount of support they show. I also would say that my former teammate Robby Hill (now a 2LT in the Army) has been a huge influence for me, especially with my time here at the academy so far. The team also has been a huge influence for me; the level of talent that we have motivates me and it drives me to get better every day. |
| MGA: | How has your junior year been at Army? |
| PK: | It has had its ups and downs, but I’m doing pretty well. I’m taking everything in with an open mind and I’m starting to prepare myself to become the future leader I want to be. With my younger sister here as a sophomore, it’s pretty nice to hang out with her after a long week. |
| MGA: | What made you choose the United States Military Academy and its golf program over other schools that were recruiting you? |
| PK: | It all started with the very first phone call from Coach [Brian] Watts. I wasn’t really interested until I came up for my first visit and learned about the program, the athletics, the Army, and the future of the cadets once they graduate. I think some of the main reasons that I chose this academy over other schools are the relationships that I have made with my classmates and the program that Coach Watts has. |
| MGA: | What is the most important factor for you in balancing classwork, training, and golf? |
| PK: | Time management. If there was only one thing that the Academy has taught me, it is prioritizing work and managing time. |
| MGA: | After having some time to reflect on your Met Amateur win, what is your greatest memory from that event? |
| PK: | I would have to say that the playoff for that last spot and then the two matches after that were my greatest memory, apart from winning. I think what made that memory so great was that I grinded so hard for that last spot and that mentality just stuck with me, which allowed me to play some phenomenal golf. **In the first two rounds of match play, Kim defeated both of his opponents by 6&5 margins. |
| MGA: | Are you looking forward to competing in any championships this summer? |
| PK: | I have about a one-month window between June 11th and July 18th, so I hope to play in a tournament here and there, along with recovering from the rigorous summer training detail that I will be coming back from. |
| Strongest aspect of your game: | Consistency |
| Best round and where: | 64 at Town and Country Golf Club (High school sectionals, 2013) |
| Favorite course in the Met Area: | Baltusrol |
| Favorite course outside the Met Area: | Sage Valley GC |
| Music on the range: | R&B, Hip-hop/Rap, Trap |
| "Good luck charms" you keep in the golf bag: | I have this ball marker that I got from Upper Montclair CC that I keep with me and use for every round. |
| Most common swing thought: | Make solid contact and let the club do the rest. |
| Favorite golf memory: | My first hole in one (coincidentally, at Baltusrol during the Carter Cup) |
| Preferred snack on the course: | Trail mix (needs to have M&Ms in the mix) |
| Pre-round rituals or superstitions: | I don't really have any superstitions, but I stretch for about 15-20 minutes the morning of a round. |
| Go-to shot: | 5-yard cut. |
| "Can't miss" club: | Gap wedge (52*) |
| Favorite golf movie: | Tin Cup |
| Other hobbies outside of golf: | I'm a big soccer fan. I love playing and watching soccer. My favorite team is Barcelona, with Neymar being my favorite player. |
