Michigan Adds Idaho Transfer Kim to Roster
6/1/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan head men's golf coach Chris Whitten announced today (Wednesday, June 1) the addition of Idaho transfer Ian Kim for the 2016-17 Wolverine roster. Kim will have immediate eligibility and two seasons remaining with the Maize and Blue.
"We have never added a transfer since I have been at Michigan," said Whitten. "The one thing that stood out about Ian was how we feel he could really connect with our current players and help push them with his play. He has been part of a team that had great chemistry; something we have always strived for to have here."
"I am very excited to be coming to the University of Michigan," said Kim, a Surrey, British Columbia, native. "The biggest thing I look at was the atmosphere I would be surrounded in. After looking into Michigan and the coaching staff, I feel like this is the place where I can take my game to the next level.
"The academic and athletic performance is one of the best in the nation, being part of that will be special. I just want to be able to help the team out in any way I can. The Big Ten is a great conference, and I am looking forward to the challenge of playing against some of the top teams and players in the nation. "
This past season, Kim started eight of 11 events, carrying a 73.88 per-round average. He earned All-Big Sky second team honors and posted three top-25 individual finishes. He had a career-best tie for 16th at Price's Give 'Em Five Invitational (Oct. 23-25) after posting three straight sub-par round, giving him a career-best 211 (-5).
In the spring, Kim helped the Vandals win their second straight Big Sky championship (April 29-May 1) following a dramatic comeback. Trailing by four shots to Sacramento State after two rounds, Kim and Idaho posted a 271 (-17) in the final round -- including his career-best 68 (-4) -- to help the Vandals take the championship by seven shots. Overall, Kim tied for 25th individually with at 224 (77-79-68).
Advancing to the NCAA Kohler Regional (May 16-18), Kim and the Vandals held the fifth position after 36 holes ready to claim a spot in the NCAA Finals. Despite the Idaho's final-round 282 (-6), Baylor used a 274 (-14) to leap frog the Vandals and claim the spot to advance to the championship. Individually, Kim tied for 68th at 228 (72-81-75).
As a freshman, Kim played in two events, posting a 75.33 scoring average.
"He started to break out with his game last summer in British Columbia," added Whitten. "Having the postseason experience he had this season, where he helped Idaho win the Big Sky championship and played at NCAA regional where his team just missed advancing to the NCAA Finals, he really knows what those events feel like and how to compete in them."
"I have never been a long hitter, but my strengths has always been on or around the green," said Kim. "I am pretty consistent off the tee and ball striking wise. If I give myself a birdie putt I feel I can get it close or even make it."
The Wolverines will lose three seniors to graduation -- Chris O'Neill, Brett McIntosh and Andrew Yeager. U-M signed two incoming freshmen -- Brent Ito and Taisei Negishi -- during the early November signing period.
Communications Contact: Tom Wywrot
