Kim advances to weekend play at Walmart NWA Championship

ROGERS — Arkansas senior-to-be Dylan Kim fired a bogey-free 6-under 65 to advance through the Monday qualifier and into the weekend field at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G.

Kim’s 65 tied one other player, an LPGA Tour professional, for the top spot with both players moving on to play on Friday and Saturday.

She joins fellow senior-to-be Maria Fassi who earned a sponsor’s exemption and #ProHogs Stacy Lewis and Gabriela Lopez who are LPGA Tour members.

From Dylan Kim

I played well today. I hit a lot of greens and putted well and that always makes for a good round. This is one of the better rounds that I have had in a while and it feels great to do it at home. This is a really cool experience for me. I get to stay in my own apartment and I hope that one of my teammates will caddy for me this week.

From Arkansas coach Shauna Taylor

Dylan is just a tremendous player. She’s so prepared and works her tail off and is deserving of a good outcome today. It was fantastic to see her play well. Our players have the dream of playing on the next level and what a tremendous opportunity to come out here and do that on one of our home golf courses.

Kim opened her day on the back nine and turned 4-under after a great start. She picked up her first birdie on No. 12 after hitting a long tee shoot on the par 4, 394-yard hole. She hit her second shot close to the pin and drained the putt for the birdie.

She picked up her second and third birdies on consecutive holes on Nos. 15 and 16 and birdied No. 18 before making the turn. It was another good tee shot for Kim followed by a strong second shot to the uphill green in front of the grandstands.

Kim added birdies on Nos. 2 and 7 shooting 2-under on the front nine to advance to the weekend tournament.

Former Razorback Summar Roachell and recently graduated Razorback Alana Uriell tied for seventh overall with 2-under 69s. #ProHog Emily Tubert was tied for 12th with an even-par 71, followed by Razorback senior-to-be Kaylee Benton who carded a 74 to tie for 21st. Benton had fellow Razorback Mason Overstreet on the bag for her on Monday.

NOTES

• Dylan Kim’s 6-under 65 is the second-best score posted by a Razorback (current or former) during this event. It is second to Alana Uriell’s 64 in 2016.
• Dylan Kim is the seventh Razorback player to advance out of the Monday qualifier.
• Four current and/or former Razorbacks in the tournament field is the second-most in a single year. Arkansas had five players compete on the weekend in 2016 and 2017.