Mission Health Wellness Classic
Country Club of Asheville
Asheville, North Carolina
May 17, 2015
Final-Round News & Notes
ASHEVILLE, N.C., May 17, 2015 - From not being able to walk or breathe on her own two years ago to a champion again is how Sunday at the Mission Health Wellness Classic unfolded as Jimin Kang (Seoul, South Korea) carded a 5-under 67 to earn her first win since the 2010 Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia. Kang carded a 5-under 67 all three days to finish at a new tournament record of 15-under 201. She won by five strokes over Lacey Agnew, Brianna Do, Daniela Iacobelli and Brittany Benvenuto, who shared second at 10-under 206.
Kang, who won her first LPGA Tour tournament in 2005 at the Corning Classic, started with back-to-back birdies to get to 12-under after two holes. After four straight pars, she made birdie on the seventh and made the turn at 13-under.
The 35-year-old played the final 40 holes of the tournament at par or better. Her only bogey of the entire tournament came on her 14th hole of the first round (hole No. 5).
“I am speechless, that is how amazing this is,” said Kang, who shed tears during her emotional victory speech. “I never thought I’d win again, that is why I am so overwhelmed. I can’t believe my name is at the top of the leaderboard.”
Iacobelli pulled within one shot of Kang after an eagle on the 11th hole followed by a birdie on the 12th hole to get to 12-under, one back of Kang at the time. Iacobelli bogeyed 14 and Kang pulled away with a birdie on 16 and then with a four shot lead on the 18th hole she capped her marvelous week with a 10 foot birdie putt.
“I had a really good caddie this week, who is a member at the club,” said Kang. “He was a good supporter and he had a lot of energy to keep up with me.”
Energy has been an issue for Kang over the last several years as she dealt with a myriad of health issues that originally stemmed from allergies. At its worst, she was taking 15 different medications. The long journey back, which she refers to as a marathon is just getting restarted.
“This win just lets me know that I can really do this again and God gave me the talent and the health to do this,” said Kang. “This is just awesome.”
Kang won three times on the Epson Tour in 2004 and led the money list. Her last win on the Epson Tour came on August 4, 2004 at the Betty Puskar FUTURES Golf Classic in Morgantown, W.Va.
Her fourth career Epson Tour win moves her from tenth to second on the Volvik Race for the Card money list.
Kang says she is fully committed to the Epson Tour as her way of regaining full LPGA Tour status for 2016.
“This week, I withdrew from the LPGA event to come here and play,” said Kang. “I think this is a Tour that can help me get (to the LPGA) and get stronger.”
Although she can’t put a percentage on how healthy she is now, she is building.
“I know now that when doctors say it takes time to get healthy, it really does take time,” said Kang. “I know that I meant to do this so I will continue to work hard.”
Iacobelli was the only player that moved from outside the top 10 to inside the top 10 on the Volvik Race for the Card money list. Her second consecutive top 10 finish moves her to tenth.
BRUMBAUGH’S WHIRLWIND WEEK: Jennifer Brumbaugh was 18th on the alternate list last week for the Mission Health Wellness Classic. She capped her whirlwind week with a 5-under 67 on Sunday to finish T25.
Brumbaugh’s week started on Tuesday in the first round of the SunCoast Pro Golf Tour event at Forest Lake Golf Club of Ocoee. On Thursday, she overcame a two shot deficit with a final-round 68 to win her first
professional event.
After the win, she relaxed for a few hours and then jumped on a flight to Atlanta and then drove from Atlanta to Asheville and didn’t get in until 3 a.m. on Friday morning. Fortunately for Brumbaugh, her Friday tee time was 2:21 p.m., the last group.
“This finish today was big, I’m hoping that the reshuffle after the Charlotte event gets me into the rest of the events,” said Brumbaugh, who is the 10th alternate for Charlotte and plans to stay in the area and wait and see if she gets in. “I’m tired, but I’m excited for my round today and the week I had.”
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