The Friendly Competition Between Sisters Taylor And Michelle Kim
Sisters Michelle Kim (L) And Taylor Kim (R) Provide Inspiration And Support For Each Other At The Same Time As They Compete With One Another - Image Credit Jeff Sutherland
by Alfie Lau
If 17-year-old Michelle Kim needs any inspiration for winning the Flumerfelt Cup at the British Columbia Women’s Amateur at Duncan Meadows, she need look no further than her 20-year-old sister Taylor, the 2014 champion.
Michelle, a Team Canada Development Team member, hopes to follow in her sister’s footsteps, and having held the first-round lead at the British Columbia Golf Amateur and Mid-Amateur at Duncan Meadows Golf Course, Michelle knows it won’t be easy to win the most prestigious title in provincial amateur golf.
“I’ve watched (Taylor) ever since I started golfing and I know how good a player she is. I don’t think of it as competing against my sister because I want her to play well and I want to play well too,” said Michelle. “I know how much effort she put into winning last year so I hope I’m in a position to do that too.”
Taylor Kim had nothing but good things to say about her sister’s play. “She’s been playing really well this year, so I’m not surprised,” said the Kent State University student.
Taylor admitted there was added pressure at this BC Women’s Amateur, both because of the rising success of her sister and because she returns as the 2014 champion. “You definitely feel a little bit of that pressure, but it’s a good thing,” said Taylor. “It’s a reminder that I have won this and if I’m in the mix at the end, I’ve got a good chance.”
The sisters have action-packed summers planned. Michelle will play the British Columbia Junior Girls at Cordova Bay in Victoria while Taylor heads south, to play a U.S. Women’s Amateur qualifier in Portland on July 14. If Taylor is successful, she’ll play at Portland again, in mid-August for the U.S. Women’s Amateur.
From there, Taylor will head back east, to Kent State where, as a senior, she’ll be expected to take a leadership role on the team she transferred to after a year at the University of Texas.
Those life lessons won’t be lost on Michelle, who’ll begin her college career at the University of Idaho. Michelle will become a 'Vandal' on Aug. 20, just after she turns 18, and she’s looking forward to the challenges of college golf.
“I’m excited for this next chapter of my life,” she said. “I’ve learned so much already being a part of the Team Canada Development Team and I think I’ll learn even more playing at the University of Idaho.”
Not only will Michelle have her sister to lean on, she can rely on Alisha Lau, Naomi Ko and Jaclyn Lee, all Team Canada members who are playing at Duncan Meadows this week. “I know how much I learned when I was a Team Canada (development team) member,” said Taylor. “I’m so happy for her.”