Jenna Kim Wins 77th North Carolina Women's Amateur
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By Mae O'Neill
STATESVILLE, N.C. (June 18, 2026) — Jenna Kim of Raleigh, N.C., battled through heat and humidity this week at Statesville Country Club to claim the 77th North Carolina Women's Amateur Championship. Kim posted rounds of 72-68-70 to win by three strokes. Anna Howeton of Winston-Salem, N.C., finished second with rounds of 74-69-70 to finish at 3-under-par overall.
Kim's bogey-free second round of 68 (4-under) stands out as one of only two bogey-free rounds of the tournament.
"I'm very proud of how I managed the course this week. My wedges were really good, and I feel like I was able to save almost every par," she said. The win is Kim's fifth CGA championship title, and she credited her mental approach as a key factor: "This tournament I feel like I was really calm overall, and I didn't really let the leaderboard or anything get to my head. I was just kind of playing my own game, and I felt much more confident as a player."
Ella Perna of Durham, N.C., and a recent High Point University graduate, posted the low round of the tournament with a 67 in the final round. Her 4-under performance on the back nine was the lowest back-nine score of the week.
With her victory, Kim earned an exemption into the U.S. Women's Amateur at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tenn., in August. Kim is committed to play golf at Yale University and will graduate from Durham Academy in 2027.
The Carolinas Golf Association wishes to thank the staff and membership of Statesville Country Club for their support and hospitality throughout the week. Special thanks to Superintendent Billy Woods, Head Golf Professional Brett Burris, PGA, and the entire team for helping host this year's championship.
The Carolinas Golf Association is one of the nation's oldest and largest amateur golf associations and has promoted and protected the game in the Carolinas since 1909. With more than 240,000 members, the CGA conducts championships, one-day tournaments and USGA qualifiers across North and South Carolina.