Kim, 14, Takes Amateur

When Kimberly Kim fell behind after the first 18 holes of the U.S. Women’s Amateur, her caddie suggested that she play “smashmouth” golf.

The 14-year-old player from Hawaii took the advice and beat former bank clerk Katharina Schallenberg of Germany 1-up in 36 holes of match play Sunday to become the event’s youngest champion.

Before Kim, the youngest Amateur champion was Laura Baugh, who won it in 1971 at 16 years, two months and 21 days.

Schallenberg, 26, made a birdie putt from off the green on the par-five 36th hole. That put the pressure on Kim to birdie for the victory at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club. She made the putt from five feet.

“I was shaking so much,” she said. “I don’t even know where I aimed, or anything.”

After the morning session, Schallenberg was 2-up. Kim’s caddie, Frank Nau, said: “We’re going to play smashmouth golf.”

“I said, ‘What’s that?’ He said, ‘Just go for it,’ ” Kim said.

Schallenberg cried after failing to become the first German-born player to win a USGA event.

“I lost, but it was OK because we both played good golf,” she said.

The championship match was on the 6,380-yard, par-71 Witch Hollow Course.

Last year’s Amateur was won by 17-year-old Morgan Pressel at the Ansley Golf Club in Roswell, Ga.