NA RI KIM

The Facts

Birthday: December 10, 1985
Rookie Year on LPGA: 2006
Birth Place:
Unknown in South Korea
Best LPGA Finish: T-14th (2009 P & G Northwest Arkansas Championship)
Best LPGA Major Finish: T-31st (2009 McDonald's LPGA Championship)
Best Score: 66 (2008)
Best Scoring Average for a year: 72.50 (2009)
Best Season money total: $57,864 (2009)
Best Season Money Position: 111th (2009)
Most Top Tens/Season: 0

Height: 5' 6"
2010 LPGA Status: Category 15
Nicknames: None known
Sponsors: Hite Beer
How's her English?: Unknown
Hobbies: Movies, Dancing
Road to the LPGA: Finished 9th at 2005 Q-School to earn exempt card on LPGA.

Capsule Bio

Na Ri Kim is an up and comer on the KLPGA. Only 18 through most of 2003, she managed to notch several top tens. Meanwhile, she played on the developmental tour for the KLPGA, the Dream Tour, and was the top money earner for the year. She was rewarded at the end of the year with a sponsorship by Hite beer, and seems on the fast track.

In 2005, she had a decent year on the KLPGA tour, and so decided to try out for the LPGA. She attended the LPGA Qualifying School and had the best result of any of the Koreans in the field, a tie for 9th. Thus, she earned her exempt card for 2006.

In 2006, Na Ri started her rookie season slowly, struggling to make cuts. But starting with an 88 she shot in May, almost all her rounds of golf were in the 80s, due to shoulder problems. She did not play at all after a pair of 86s at the Corning Classic in May. In 2007, she seemed healthier, but still missed most of the cuts in the tournaments she played. Nonetheless, she played well enough to maintain non-exempt status on tour.

In 2008, she was not able to maintain even conditional status on tour, and returned to Q-School again. There she finished tied for 21st, just out of the running for exempt cards. But she earned a strong non-exempt status for the 2009 season.

Na Ri had her best season yet in 2009, achieving her best scoring average, money total, tournament finish (T-14th) and Major finish (T-31st). Her 111th on the money list moved her status up slightly for 2010.

Galleries

2006-7 Photos
2005 and Before
Seoul Sisters Pix
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