It is hard to believe considering the Otago No. 1 is only 17 and still has another year at Wakatipu High School left.
But after debuting in the national tournament at 12, she is lining up for her sixth interprovincial competition today, leading the Otago women’s team alongside Yoonae Jeong, Tracey Storer, Abby Crawford and newcomer Judith Yates.
Yates replaces Kathryn Baker from last year’s side.
Otago will come up against some strong North Island teams but with four returning players, Otago will want to build on last year’s strong finish, winning its final two games including a victory over Canterbury.
Kang, who missed the competition’s first two days last year due to NCEA exams, knows what to expect but feels she has not been at her best this season.
She placed second at the South Island, Otago and Canterbury strokeplay, and won the South Island under-19 title.
But after battling her third bout of Covid, her return to the sport had been a struggle, she said.
After preparing with coach Ben Gallie, of Millbrook, Kang was now feeling confident, having ticked off her check-list before the national interprovincial.
"I hope we make the semis this year and then just winning as [many] games as I can, personally."
While she might think she is yet to fire this season, her statistics tell a different story as illustrated by her performance for New Zealand at the Asia-Pacific championships in Thailand last month.
The Queenstown golfer was "stoked" to finish in the top 15 of the women’s amateur event.
"Playing against world top amateur golfers was a big experience as I was learning heaps from them, so I was pretty pleased with that.
"Even having the opportunity to even go over there and represent New Zealand was like amazing."
It is that form she will be hoping to take in to this week’s tournament, which is hosted by the Omanu and Tauranga clubs.
Otago plays Wellington and Waikato today, Auckland tomorrow, Bay of Plenty on Thursday, and Tasman and Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay on Friday.
Otago women
The team
No. 1: Sumin Kang
No. 2: Yoonae Jeong
No. 3: Tracey Storer
No. 4: Abby Crawford
No. 5: Judith Yates
