Alli Kim (B.S. 21, MSKIN 23) has been one of the best women’s golfers in Sea Lion athletic history.
This May, Kim became the first player in program history to be named a Division II First Team All-American by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA). She was also named a WGCA Division II All-West Region honoree. She led Point Loma to its best-ever finish (fifth) at the NCAA West Super Regionals and earned a spot at the NCAA Championships, making her the first Sea Lion women’s golfer to compete at nationals. That came after a dominant spring season in which Kim won four-straight individual tournaments, shooting even-par or better in three of those. On May 5, Kim was named the PacWest Conference Player of the Year, another first for a PLNU women’s golfer.
A three-time First Team All-PacWest selection, Kim finished her career as Point Loma’s all-time leader in scoring average and tournament wins. Her nine tournament victories are more than those of all other Sea Lions combined.
“I’ve enjoyed every step of every walk I’ve taken with her,” said Lance Hancock, head golf coach. “I’m forever grateful for her contributions to our women’s golf program.”
Kim earned her bachelor’s in applied health science in 2021, spent a year as an EMT, and returned to PLNU in August 2022 to pursue her master’s in kinesiology with a concentration in exercise science.
Since she had a year of eligibility remaining (due to the Covid-19 pandemic affecting her junior season), she was able to play her final season in 2023.
“I had taken an entire year off, and I came back playing better than when I was consistently playing as an undergrad,” Kim said of her last year. “I think taking a year off to do other things contributed to my season. I was able to play a little stress free.”
One of the things she enjoyed most about college golf was being part of a team in a sport that is often individual.
“The community that Point Loma provides is such a strong community with the university as a whole and in your major and networks. As an athlete for sure something I will take away is the relationships with the girls, especially in my last two years of being an athlete.”
“The community that Point Loma provides is such a strong community with the university as a whole and in your major and networks. As an athlete for sure something I will take away is the relationships with the girls, especially in my last two years of being an athlete. The girls were so close. These are relationships I will have for the rest of my life.”
Although Kim doesn’t have designs on going pro with golf, she does expect to continue playing for fun. As for work, Kim has accepted a corporate wellness position with DexaBody. As she finishes her master’s, she will be putting what she has learned into action. She’s grateful to Coach Hancock; Jackie Armstrong, assistant director of compliance; Ethan Hamilton, athletic director; and Dr. Heidi Lynch, one of her kinesiology professors and her advisor.
