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 Thousand Oaks resident Danielle Kang defeated Jessica Korda 2-and-1 to win the U.S. Women’s Amateur. Living life fast is nothing new for Danielle Kang. At age 3, she began taking Tae Kwon Do classes in Korea and attained a second-degree black belt by age 7. After taking up golf seriously at 12, she reached such a high level at such a quick pace that she qualified for the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open at 14. Last year, the Thousand Oaks resident discovered she could graduate a semester early from Westlake High School. Kang then enrolled early at Malibu’s Pepperdine University in January and played on the women’s golf team, which prepared her for a successful summer on the amateur circuit. But it wasn’t a fast mentality that propelled the 17-year-old Kang to victory at last month’s U.S. Women’s Amateur. Taking a cue from putting coach Tony Kewal, who teaches out of Lost Canyons Golf Club in Simi Valley, she slowed down her routine on the greens during the 36-hole final against fellow 17-year-old Jessica Korda, the daughter of former tennis great Petr Korda. That wisdom didn’t necessarily generate a lights-out putting performance, but it helped Kang rally from a 1-down deficit with five holes left to top Korda 2-and-1 at Charlotte Country Club in North Carolina. “I slowed everything one tempo down,” Kang said. “When she was 1-up, it kind of hit me when [the official] announced it. So I slowed everything down again.” Birdie putts on the par-4 14th and par-3 17th — the 32nd and 35th holes of the match — helped her become the fourth Los Angeles area collegiate golfer in the last seven years to win the United States Golf Association’s third-oldest championship. Jennifer Song of USC (2009) and Maria Jose Uribe (2007) and Jane Park (2004) of UCLA each captured the title as a teenager and turned professional shortly thereafter. Which begs the question of Kang. “I am planning on staying in college as of right now,” she said. “Whatever happens, happens.”  What’s happening right now is Kang could very well be the best women’s amateur golfer in the world. When she joined the Waves earlier this year, she won in her second start, the Bruin Wave Invitational at Robinson Ranch in Santa Clarita, and wound up on a plethora of All-American lists thanks to two other top-10 finishes and a 15th-place showing at the NCAA Championships.This summer, the 5-foot-6 Kang made the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open at challenging Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania. Two weeks later, she was the stroke-play medalist at the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur — the second time she medaled at a USGA event, the first time being the ’09 Women’s Amateur. “After Oakmont and the U.S. Junior, I was like I’m actually not that bad a player,” she said. “I don’t know why I keep telling myself I’m bad, you know, and then it ends up bad on the golf course.” Her game has continued to flourish under the guidance of Kewal, mental coach Jay Brunza and renowned instructor Brady Riggs, who began teaching Kang at Woodley Lakes Golf Course after her old instructor, Kevin Schell, left. “I’ve worked with Brady for the last two years now. He’s made my little mistakes a lot more solid,” Kang said. “I’m more consistent with what I do now, instead of playing really well one tournament and then really bad the next.” Her ascent is unique considering the reason she decided to take golf seriously was to beat her older brother, Alex, who now plays on the San Diego State men’s golf team. Danielle routinely practices between six and eight hours per day, but insists she has no problem taking a break from that schedule if she’s not enjoying herself. “I play golf because I love it. I don’t play just to get stressed,” she said. One place where Kang seems to have fun on the links is at Sherwood Country Club, where she is not a member but a frequent guest of two very prominent members — legendary hockey player Wayne Gretzky and his wife, Janet Jones. “My brother introduced me to Janet. I got to know her and she really likes golf, so we just go out and play. A lot,” said Kang. If Kang builds off of her U.S. Women’s Amateur victory, it might be only a matter of time before she finds success as a professional. Who knows — maybe even a lot. A closer look at Danielle Kang Born: San Francisco, Calif. Family then moved to Korea and then back to California when she was 7. Lowest round: 10-under-par 57 at Westlake Golf Course in a high school match last October. Holes in one: One, at Lindero Country Club in Agoura Hills. Currently reading: “Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins. Favorite golfers: Tiger Woods and Annika Sorenstam. On Woods: “I don’t really care about his personal life, he’s just really inspiring.” On Sorenstam: “Her short game is just so good.” ALSO SEE: News recap: Danielle Kang wins 2010 U.S. Women's Amateur Kang is medalist at 2010 U.S. Girls Junior Amateur March 2010 Players of the Month: Danielle Kang, Niall Platt |
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