LPGA DRIVE ON CHAMPIONSHIP

March 26, 2023

Gina Kim

Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, here with Gina Kim after her final round at the LPGA Drive On Championship. Another hole in one for you on tour. Take us through the shot and everything.

GINA KIM: Yeah, I mean, obviously it's a little still chilly in the morning. Wind was kind of going left to right, and I said, hey, you know, you thinking that 8-iron would be good? Because we were trying to play like a 146 shot and my caddie, Jorge said, I don't want you to be muscling this. I think that 7-iron, just a nice grip-down easy 7-iron should be good.

And so I aimed left of it and let the wind take the ball, and it looked like it was going great, and suddenly we heard this loud bang and turns out it didn't even just hop into the hole it just dunked straight into the hole. No damage to the hole. Just sank right to the bottom of the cup.

This one was a pretty special hole in one just considering the chances of it dunking. It's not very easy to find. I'm really grateful I could start off my season like this.

Q. What was the official yardage? 126? 127?

GINA KIM: No, no, no. It was a51 to the hole and 146 to the front and we were trying to play that 146, but I smoked it and I caught it so good and it was going right at the hole and just, boom, bottom of the cup.

Q. Amazing. What was your reaction when you saw it. Or you heard it.

GINA KIM: At first I was scared because I was like, oh, crap. It probably hit the pin and went down the hill or something like that.

Then I heard my mom screaming and everyone screaming and then that's when I realized, holy cow. Finally. It's been a struggle coming to this point. Finally. This is the reason why people play golf. Just looking for this one lucky break to give you momentum and that's what helped me today.

Q. I hope you know that every hole in one on tour we give $20,000 to St. Jude's. How amazing does it feel to be able to do that again?

GINA KIM: Yeah, oh, God, I think it's bigger than me, you know. It's part of growing the game and helping the community around us, and to be able to give to such a great cause really warms my heart.

I don't care whether there is a car out there or whatever, just the fact that I can help a kid in need, that makes me happy. It made my day knowing that.

Q. And you're keeping the ball this time?

GINA KIM: Absolutely. This time we're keeping the ball.