In the Spotlight: Kathy Lim
10/25/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
When you walk into U-M's Weisfeld Family Golf Center you inevitably you hear the sounds of golf practice, but what you also hear is a very distinguishable laugh. Most likely it is coming from Kathy Lim, as well as her teammates. With a permanent smile on her face, Lim has brought a happy-go-lucky attitude to the squad that is infectious. This fun approach has made for an enjoyable environment for any practice, team travel and tournament round. What is even more interesting about the Langley, British Columbia, native, is that she has only been playing competitive golf for about five years, having picked up her first golf club as a freshman in high school. A quick study and hard worker, Lim has already been a solid contributor to the U-M lineup. She has started all three fall events and is scheduled to make her fourth when the Wolverines head to the fall finale in Las Vegas. Despite the early success, Lim knows it could be short-lived as the competition for travel spots is at an all-time high. She admits she has a red hot competitive fire inside that can be hidden as it can be easily overlooked by her trademark smile and laugh. But just know she wants to win more than anyone, and that is what she intends to do in her time in Ann Arbor. As final preparations continue for the Wolverines' trip to Las Vegas, Lim took a few minutes just before U-M left to talk with MGoBlue.com for a spotlight segment.
On starting every tournament in the fall season ... "With seven real quality women on the team the competition to qualify is really intense. I have been fortunate to have qualified for all three and now the fourth with the Las Vegas event coming up. Golf being an individual sport it has been nice to get the first experience of being a team, traveling as a team, playing as a team and working as a team. Even if you shoot a bad score you have your teammates to support you. If you play well you are not only happy for yourself but for your team. Now you are not only thinking about yourself, but you are thinking about the seven girls on your team."
On if she thinks she is a competitor ... "That is the one thing I learned before I came to college. I hide my emotions very well. I am burning with fire on the inside, but on the outside I still really enjoy golf because it is what I love doing. So, I am having fun out there, but inside the competitor in me is thinking I am going to beat you today."
On how she got into golf ... "I started really late in my freshman year. My dad finally convinced me to go to the driving range and hit a few balls. I hit my first ball about 100 yards with a driver and I was like WOW! I hit that small thing really, really well. So, I instantly picked it up and I improved really fast. I met a coach at the course I was practicing at. He walked by, said he saw a lot of potential in me and that I should take a couple of lessons with him. I did and from there on out I just kept improving."
On if she ever thought she would play golf in college ... "The first year I was just playing as a hobby and to get some exercise. Then I got really good after one year, so I thought maybe I should try to play competitively for fun. I started to play competitively and continued to improve and was named the national development squad. So, from that point on I just made bigger goals -- playing collegiate golf and maybe look into the Olympics later on."
On being a 17-year-old freshman ... "They call me Pup Lim because I am so young (laughing). I went to school a year early when I was younger, but I just have never looked at myself being a year younger than everyone else. There have been some funny moments when I got here. There have been several documents that I have had to sign and they all say this is consenting that you are 18 years and older. I always have to ask the supervisor what do I have to do (since I am 17)? Most of the time I really don't need to do much, but it has been funny to always have to ask. I am just the kid of the team."
On if being so far from home has been an issue ... "You know, I have been so busy I really haven't thought about home that much. Obviously, I miss my family and a few very close friends, but I don't really think about it that much. Maybe when the offseason comes and I have a little more time to think about it I will. Right now, I just love being here and I am really enjoying the experience."
On what people don't know about her ... "I am an absolutely terrible singer; like I cannot sing at all. I also avoid seafood. It's not that I am allergic to it, I just say that. I just have had bad experiences with that. I do make an exception for canned tuna and seaweed. So far though, every time we have traveled I have tried to taste some new things and seafood. Just a little bit, I don't want to mess with my diet. I did try lobster soup the other day. That was fine."
On what sport she would play instead of golf ... "I grew up a multi-sport athlete. I was a sprinter on the track team, I played volleyball, and I was a figure skater. I also played recreational football in seventh grade after school. Yes, tackle football. I loved it. So, if I wasn't golfing I would probably be playing volleyball. I was really competitive at it and I was the MVP of the team my freshman year."
On if she ever attempted a triple salchow ... "I was learning it when I decided to quit and concentrate on other things. It was tough on the body."
On what she finds better -- a perfect drive, holing out from 150 yards or draining a 30-foot putt ... "Hmmm. That is a tough one. I am going to eliminate the perfect drive as I am pretty consistent with the driver. I have only holed one out from the fairway once, so that is really tempting. A 30-foot putt though, making that is probably what makes you feel the best -- the short stick is where it is at. As they say, drive for show, putt for dough (laughing)."
• Previous Spotlight: Emily White
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
