As did Joh, Song shot a seven-over 153 to advance to the final 64. Once there, the 18-year-old, born in the U.S., but raised in Seoul, methodically worked through the bracket. "I just want to be patient, not too aggressive," said Song, a year removed from being low amateur at the U.S. Women's Open (she tees it up again this week at Interlachen CC). "Fairways and greens are good. Two-putt for pars, and I'm happy."
Song's 2-up semifinal victory over incoming UCLA freshman Stephanie Kono set up her showdown with Joh, who knocked off another future Bruin, 2009 recruit Tiffany Lua, 4 and 3, in their semifinal, birdieing six of her first seven holes, three from more than 30 feet. (Joh beat teammate Sydnee Michaels in the second round as six current or future UCLA golfers made it to match play.)
Asked about facing a soon-to-be college rival, Joh was typically sarcastic. "I am pretty much used to losing to Trojans these days," she joked, alluding to USC's wins over UCLA at the Pac-10 and NCAA championships.
Song took the first hole with a par but never stretched her lead beyond the 2-up advantage she held after the morning 18. Despite Joh's censorious assessment of her skills, she showed no outward signs of nervousness; during lunch, she blew bubbles through the straw in her soda while gabbing with her mother, passing on any extra putting practice.
Twice in the afternoon, Joh cut the lead to one hole only to see Song return it to two. After both players birdied the par-4 29th, the momentum finally swung. A bogey 5 from Song cost her the 30th hole, and then Joh holed birdie putts of eight and 10 feet on the 32nd and 33rd to grab the lead. After Song hit her tee ball to 12 feet on the par-3 34th, she missed the birdie try and a three-footer for par to go 2 down. When Song couldn't convert a 20-footer for birdie on the 35th hole, Joh had her title.
If levity is Joh's coping mechanism, she has turned it into an art form, literally. On the media profile sheet, Joh creatively wrote:
"Haikus are easy/but sometimes they don't make sense/refrigerator."
Does Joh's pessimistic outlook inhibit her competitiveness? Some wonder how good Joh could be if she thought she was any good. Arguably, though, they are missing the point. No matter how low her expectations, Joh never stops trying to win. And isn't that the true sign of a champion?
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