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 Pinnacle Country Club.
Kim's 65 tied one other player, a Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour member, for the top spot with both players moving on to compete 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.
"I played well today," Kim said. "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 caddie for me this week."
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.
"Dylan is just a tremendous player," said Arkansas head women's golf coach Shauna Taylor. "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 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 on her ninth hole of the round. She 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.
Kim's 6-under 65 is the second-best score posted by a current or former Razorback during the event. It is second to Alana Uriell's 64 in 2016. She 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.
Arkansas native joins Razorback softball program
FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas softball head coach Courtney Deifel recently announced the addition of Braxton Burnside to the team's roster.
The Paragould native spent the first two seasons of her collegiate career at Missouri and will join the Razorbacks as a junior.
In two seasons with Missouri, Burnside registered 99 hits with 48 runs scored, 15 home runs, 80 RBI and 20 doubles. After a standout 2017 season, she earned a spot on the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team and was named a top-25 finalist for the Schutt Sports/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I National Freshman of the Year. Burnside also collected NFCA and USA Softball National Player of the Week honors on March 18, 2017, following a week with three home runs, including two grand slams in one game.
Burnside was part of two NCAA appearances with Missouri and, for her work in the classroom, was part of the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Burnside was a standout for Paragould High School. She hit 44 home runs during her prep career which ranks first all-time in Arkansas high school softball history. She amassed 185 RBI with the Rams and carried a .551 batting average during her junior season. Burnside was also a three-time All-State performer.
The Razorbacks are coming off a season in which they posted a 42-17 record and advanced the program's first-ever NCAA Super Regional. Individually, Arkansas had a program-high four NFCA All-Region selections with Hannah McEwen, Mary Haff, Autumn Buczek and Katie Warrick. Haff was also a top-three finalist for National Freshman of the Year.
Sports on 06/21/2018