MIKE GROSS | Sports WriterProfessional golfers must ace time management to reach their potential on the course.
They have nothing on Kimberly Dinh.
Dinh is a research scientist for Dow, Inc. who holds a doctorate in chemical engineering from MIT.
She spends her workdays, “discovering new materials, so we can develop more efficient processes.
“We’re doing catalysts. We’re thinking about how we can make a chemical reaction go more smoothly. Lower conditions, … milder conditions, … reduced carbon footprint.’’
Her “hobby,” is golf, at which she is the current United States Women’s Mid-Amateur champion.
That title qualifies her for next month’s U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club. She was the first entrant to come to L.C.C. on a scouting mission, playing the course Saturday and Sunday.
She came away impressed, but didn’t sound overwhelmed.
“The rough is thick and it’s long,’’ she said Sunday, aware that by the time the Open is played, May 28-June 2, it’s sure to be longer and thicker.
“It’s great to be below the hole,’’ she said. “It’s going to demand a lot of good shots. But, you can score on it, for sure.’’
Especially if you drive the ball straight, which is Dinh’s speciality.
It was the key to her winning the Mid-Amateur last September, in her first trip to Pennsylvania, at Stonewall Golf Club in Berks County.
In 36 holes of stroke-play qualifying for that event, she made no birdies, just 33 regulation pars and three bogeys.
Then she found a persistent groove, and won her five matches leading up to the final without seeing the 17th and 18th holes.
In the final, she faced 2017 champion Kelsey Chugg, who had reached the final for the third time in six years. Dinh was three down with seven holes left before rallying, winning five of six holes and making clutch birdies at 17 and 18 to win, two-up.
Dinh is 31, a native and resident of Midland, Michigan, where Dow was founded and is still headquartered.
She played college golf at the University of Wisconsin, but didn’t play much outside college competition, then spent five mostly tournament-free years earning a doctorate at MIT.
Back in Midland, she joined Midland Country Club and starting playing and practicing after work, in a league with friends and on the weekends.
Dinh won the Michigan Women’s Amateur in 2023, has twice won the Michigan Mid-Am, and twice played in the Dow Great Lakes Invitational, an LPGA tour event sponsored by her employer.
Nothing like the stage she’ll step on next month, though.
“I’m excited,’’ she admitted. “The nerves, for sure, will be there the first couple holes. But I think I’ll settle in pretty quick and just go out and play.’’
