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Danielle Kang captured the U.S. Women’s Amateur title Sunday at Charlotte Country Club in North Carolina, defeating Jessica Korda by a 2-and-1 margin. The 17-year-old Kang sunk a 4-foot putt for birdie on the 35th hole to claim her first national championship. “It's so awesome,” said Kang, a Thousand Oaks resident. “I don't know, but I even told myself I don't understand why people cry when they win stuff, but now I do. You're just so happy you did it.” Kang, who graduated Westlake High School early and started her freshman year on the women’s golf team at Pepperdine University in January, previously earned individual medalist honors at two United States Golf Association tournaments — the 2009 Women’s Amateur and the 2010 Girls Junior Amateur in July. Also, a week before medaling at the Girls Junior, she made the cut in the U.S. Women’s Open at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania. “When I medaled at the U.S. [Girls’] Junior, I was like, I always put myself down,” she said. “I kept saying I can't putt, I can't do this. I was really negative. After Oakmont and the U.S. [Girls’] Junior I was like, ‘I'm actually not that bad a player.’” Kang held a 2-up lead going into the second 18 holes of the 36-hole match. But a bogey from Kang on the 23rd hole and a Korda birdie on the 27th hole squared the match. The 17-year-old Korda then took her first lead of the day on the 30th hole, hitting her approach shot to within a foot for a conceded birdie. But Korda’s advantage would be short-lived, as Kang made a 5-foot birdie putt on the 32nd hole to again square the match. The turning point came at the par-4 16th hole, the 34th of the match. Korda’s approach shot found a greenside bunker – her only missed green of the afternoon round – and she was unable to get up and down from 12 feet. Kang’s birdie attempt from 40 feet went 5 feet past the hole and she converted the par putt to take a 1-up lead. One hole later, Kang hit an 8-iron to 4 feet. After Korda missed her birdie try from 7 feet, Kang calmly made her birdie putt to claim the championship. Visit the USGA website for complete results from the U.S. Women's Amateur. The USGA contributed to this report. ALSO SEE: Kang is medalist at 2010 U.S. Girls Junior Amateur March 2010 Players of the Month: Danielle Kang, Niall Platt |
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