LAREDO, Texas - Despite the disappointment of having his senior season cut short by the COVAID-19 pandemic shutdown, Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) golfer Justin Kim says his collegiate playing career and education at TAMIU were some of the best years of his young life.

Kim started every tournament during his four-year career and served as team captain during a shortened senior season. He achieved 15 top-25 finishes and three top-10 finishes, finishing as individual champion of the 2018 South Padre Island Intercollegiate as a sophomore. Kim helped lead TAMIU to its first NCAA Regional Tournament as a freshman.

An excellent student from the start, Kim earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance in May, finishing with a near perfect GPA over 3.9. He won numerous Heartland Conference and Golf Coaches Association of America academic honors throughout his career. Kim was recently honored as the co-recipient of TAMIU's 2020 President's Scholar Athlete Award, presented annually to one male and one female upperclassman who have displayed academic and athletic success for at least two years.

Kim was the first recruit and signee for TAMIU head golf coach Rudy González who says he was looking for a "foundational student-athlete" to start his program in 2016 and found the perfect fit in the Sachse, Texas native.

"I was looking for a kid that that would come in and set the bar high academically, while also being highly skilled on the course. Justin was everything I expected him to be. Although he might say he would like to have had more success on the course, I think he is selling himself short. He had a tournament win (at the aforementioned 2018 South Padre Intercollegiate) and was always a reliable contributor and a steady leader," González said.

He says that Kim set the standard for the type of student-athlete he is striving to build a program around. 

"As a person, Justin grew tremendously and In my opinion TAMIU was an excellent choice and experience that prepared him 100 percent for the next phase of his career in the finance sector. He will be successful in his career pursuits," said a proud González.

Kim is currently pursuing a financial career in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. He recently took time to share his thoughts on a variety of topics ranging from his thoughts on the future of TAMIU Golf to the role of financial planning professionals in a post-pandemic world to his eagerness to get back on the golf course.

Question: TAMIU's Golf program improved dramatically during your playing career. What heights do you see the program reaching in the future? 

Answer: I'm very proud to be part of a team that made history over my four years at TAMIU. I think the Golf program is in really good shape as almost the entire team is returning for next year. Coach Rudy has done a great job setting up the program's future with his new recruits coming in and his development with our current players. Our team was settling into the Lone Star Conference and rounding into shape before our season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so I definitely believe there are more trips to regional tournaments and beyond in the next several years.

Question: What role do you see your chosen career in financial planning playing in a post COVID-19 pandemic world?

Answer: I hope to help educate people about the financial world and the importance of making intelligent investment decisions based on their risk tolerance. As the COVID-19 pandemic has shown, there are always adverse events that are impossible to predict. These types of events can scare people away from investing and turn markets upside down, but in order to effectively plan for the future and reach financial freedom, investing is a necessity. I believe there will be more focus in the financial industry towards finding innovative ways to reduce risks in investors' portfolios while maintaining their returns as much as possible.  

Question: Who is your favorite professional golfer and why? 

Answer: My favorite professional golfer is Tiger Woods. That might be cliché, but Tiger was a huge inspiration for me and countless other golfers growing up. Everybody wanted to be like Tiger. Tiger dominated golf and took his mastery of the game to a level that I think is unparalleled across all of sports. That, combined with the flair and passion that he played the game with, made him so much fun to watch.

Question: What was your best round of golf during your TAMIU career? 

Answer: My best round of my TAMIU career came at the final round of the 2019 Hillcat Spring Invitational, which was hosted by Rogers State in Owasso, Okla. Conditions were tough as the wind was really howling that day, and I got off to a little bit of a rocky start. But I eventually settled into the round and once I did, I was in the zone for the rest of the day and I pulled off a lot of difficult shots. I was definitely nervous going into my last few holes, but I dug deep and was able to finish strong. I ended up shooting a three under par 68, which was enough to get me into a solo fifth place finish.

Question: What is the best life lesson you have learned from your collegiate golf career? 

Answer: The best life lesson I learned was to enjoy the journey and embrace both the good and the bad. When I first got to TAMIU, I was extremely result-oriented and I would view any shortcoming as a failure. However, I eventually learned that what I perceived as negatives could be steppingstones that could help me grow as a person. Once I realized this, I began to have a much more positive outlook on life and became a healthier person.

Question: Any shout-outs to former teammates, coaches or professors that made a profound impact on your time at TAMIU? 

Answer: My time at TAMIU was amazing and I'd like to give a shout-out to all of my former teammates and coaches over the years. I'd have to give special thanks to Coach Rudy, who recruited me to TAMIU and helped me develop both as a golfer and a person over the years. Parker Holekamp, my roommate for all four years at TAMIU, is one of my best friends and a teammate I could always depend on. My amazing girlfriend, Stephanie González, played for the women's golf team and has supported me every step along the way. Lastly, Margarita Johnson, who works at TAMIU Student Health Services, is a truly wonderful person who was like a parent to me at TAMIU.

Question: What is your home course and how often would you play under normal circumstances? 

Answer: My home course is Firewheel Golf Park in Garland, TX, and I would normally go out to practice and play every day. The course was closed for the last couple of months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it recently reopened and I'm excited to get back out there again.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT JUSTIN KIM:

Former TAMIU Women's Golfer Stephanie Gonzalez:

"Justin was an exemplary student-athlete. He provided leadership on and off the golf course and paved the way for continued success for the Men's Golf program."

Justin's TAMIU teammate and former roommate Parker Holekamp:

"It's tough seeing Justin go, but he's got great job opportunities so I don't blame him. He was my roommate all four years and is now one of my best friends in the whole world. He's a great player and was huge for this program and I know he's going to accomplish great things. We wish him all the best."

TAMIU Student Health nurse (and Justin's Laredo mom) Margarita Johnson:

"Justin is an exemplary athlete and an incredible student. He has been able to successfully find a balance between academics and athletics and always displayed a positive attitude and respectful nature. It was a pleasure being able to provide care to him over the years and I am proud of all his accomplishments. Justin, you have left your footprint at TAMIU; now it's time to explore the next chapter of your life!"

TAMIU Assistant Golf coach Will Wurth:

"Justin was an exceptional student-athlete; hard work and dedication describe his four years at TAMIU. He was the first to arrive and the last to leave every day. Justin played a huge role on our team that made a run at the NCAA Super Regional Tournament in California. He was an exceptional student as well, earning numerous honors for his academic success. He was our team captain and team leader and is the definition of a Dustdevil."