Bio Kim tops field at Newport Beach U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier

NEWPORT BEACH — Bio Kim had been struggling so much with his game recently that he thought about taking a break from golf, he said Monday.

Missing another cut on the Web.com Tour caused the Irvine resident to keep a secret from his parents.

“I didn’t tell my parents I was playing in the [U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier at Big Canyon and Newport Beach country clubs] because they had been sad with how I was playing,” Kim said. “They were expecting more.”

After Kim’s breakthrough-type day in Newport Beach, he said he would call his parents in South Korea and give them what he called a gift.

Kim, 22, secured a spot to the U.S. Open after shooting 10-under-par 133 to win the sectional qualifier. He was one of five from Newport Beach that will play in the Open next week at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Penn.

Steven Alker of Fountain Hills, Ariz., Roger Tambellini of Scottsdale, Ariz., both at -6, also got in.

Max Homa, who won the NCAA national title on Thursday, and Corey McElyea of the Bay Area also punched their tickets to Merion after surviving a two-hole playoff of three playing for two with Jesse Schutte of La Quinta.

Kim had no need for a playoff partly because he was in the lead after his sensational round at Newport Beach, where he shot nine-under 62, two strokes off the course record.

He began his day with three straight birdies. He finished with 10 birdies at Newport Beach Country Club.

“I started very good with the three birdies,” Kim said. “I thought I would have a good chance for a spot. I just tried to keep myself in the moment. That helped me a lot to not think too much about where I was.”

Kim said he had never shot a nine-under 62 in a competitive event before. Kim stayed strong at Big Canyon, yet ended with two straight bogeys.

Still, his performance gave him confidence and caused excitement, as well as a bit of surprise.

“Even during the practice rounds I didn’t really think he would have this game like he had today,” Tim Silverman, Kim’s caddie, said of his thoughts entering the qualifier.

Silverman played with Kim at Tustin Ranch back when they were teens, and back when Silverman helped Kim with his English. Silverman sometimes taught him bad words, Kim joked.

Kim said having Silverman with him on Monday helped.

Kim also said playing close to home helped him find his comfort zone.

Homa had endured a chaotic traveling schedule with the NCAA event taking place just before the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier.

“It’s been hectic,” Homa said of his schedule. “I’ve been in a few different time zones. But this is kind of the life we chose.”

Homa ended team-match play with Cal in the NCAA finale on Saturday. He left Georgia at 4 a.m. Sunday and arrived in Orange County at 11 a.m. And then tried to rest for a bit before getting in some practice.

“It’s been a grind,” said Homa, who said he, “passed out Sunday night.”

Homa said he gained great confidence from winning the NCAA individual title Thursday. He is also the Pac-12 champion.

He said the victories actually lessened the pressure that could be mounted on him for being the NCAA champion.

“I think there’s less pressure after winning nationals,” Homa said. “Because if I didn’t make it to the Open, I had a trophy to go home to.”

It was a rough day for Jake Knapp, the former Estancia High standout who finished at nine over. He shot one under at Newport Beach and struggled at Big Canyon, where his 10-under round included four double-bogeys and three bogeys.

“It was a tough day overall,” Knapp said. “I wasn’t putting myself in position off the tee. So I was kind of just fighting all day.”

Knapp, the UCLA golfer competing in his third U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier, said he felt nerves playing in such an important event. But the stress stemmed mostly from his lack of golf recently because he had suffered a wrist injury from a pick-up basketball game. He sat out for two months before playing in the US. Open local qualifier at Bermuda Dunes May 13.

Beau Hossler, the Orange County star who is on the University of Texas team, also had a tough day in Newport Beach and finished at 12 over.

Lyon Lazare, the former Orange Coast College golfer who won the Costa Mesa City Championship, ended at 13 over.