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The only thing brighter than Anthony Kim’s shiny “A.K.” belt buckle during the final round of the AT&T National was the 23-year-old’s game.

Kim, a Los Angeles area native who began Sunday three shots off the lead, fired a 5-under 65 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., to post a 12-under-par total and claim a two-shot victory, his second career PGA Tour win.

His other triumph came just over two months ago in the Wachovia Championship, which was held nearby at Quail Hollow Country Club in Charlotte, N.C.

“Winning out here is so tough that any time you get an opportunity to be in the hunt, it feels great, and to capitalize on the two chances I’ve had of late feels wonderful,” said Kim.

A part-time La Quinta resident, Kim was particularly proud to win the tournament hosted by Tiger Woods. Woods, who was not in attendance due to recent reconstructive knee surgery, called Kim following his round.

“He congratulated me, of course, and told me to just keep working hard and keep it up and the sky’s the limit,” Kim said of his talk with the Cypress native and world’s No. 1 player. “Because I idolized him growing up, it’s so surreal for me to be in this position right now.”

Murrieta’s Tom Pernice, Jr. began the final round with the lead, but fell off the pace with a 2-over 37 on the front nine and a double-bogey on the 10^th hole. The door swung open for Kim, who seized control with four birdies in his first 10 holes.

He had some close calls down the stretch, including a precarious situation on the difficult par-4 18th induced by a hooked drive, but managed to produce his only blemish-free round of the event.

Swede Fredrik Jacobson made a late charge with five birdies on the back nine to finish in second place at 10-under par. Orange native Hunter Mahan went out in 31 and was in position to challenge Kim, but a double-bogey on the par-4 15^th hole ended Mahan’s championship hopes – he ended tied for 12^th at 7-under par.

Kim’s victory puts him in excellent position for the FedEx Cup playoffs, and it all but guarantees a spot on the United States Ryder Cup team.

“I’m going to keep working hard and hopefully I can be that Ryder Cup player … that some people think I can be,” he said.

The win also fuels more anticipation that the talented youngster could emerge as the No. 1 contender to Woods, who will be out of action for the rest of 2008.

“I think any time there’s a younger guy that plays good, there’s always a little bit of buzz that’s created and people are looking and hoping to find the guy that’s going to challenge Tiger,” Kim said. “[The rest of the year] is a time for the young guys to step up and make a statement. Hopefully, other people will get to know golf besides Tiger.”

Other Southland finishers:

--Pernice, Jr. ended with a 72, his only over-par round of the week, and finished tied for ninth.

--San Diego native Pat Perez closed with a 2-under-par 68, which put him in a tie for 12^th.

--John Merrick, a Long Beach resident, shot a 6-under 64 in the second round but didn’t post a score in the 60s for the rest of the week. He concluded tied for 27^th  at 3-under par, along with fellow UCLA alumnus Parker McLachlin.

--La Quinta’s Fred Couples also finished tied for 27^th.