Kim shoots 3 under to take control; Reavie leads boys

Victoria Sun

Thursday, June 15, 2000 | 9:19 a.m.

So this is what happens when Ina Kim finds the right theme song to play in her head at a golf tournament.

This is what happens when Kim follows the advice of a book she's reading by noted sports psychologist Bob Rotella.

And this is what happens when Kim sets out to win a tournament, not just have a respectable finish.

She finds herself leading the 21-player Las Vegas Founders' Legacy Junior at Legacy Golf Club by seven strokes entering today's final round.

Kim shot a 3-under-par 69 Wednesday afternoon for a two-day total of 5-under-par 139 to finish ahead of Lisa Ferrero, who carded a 73 for the second consecutive day. Courtney Clark and Kristi Larsen were both eight strokes behind Kim.

In the boys' division, Chez Reavie overcame strong winds to fire a 66, good for the lead with a two-day total 134. Jesse Mueller carded a 68 and found himself three strokes behind Reavie while Jarrod Gardner was next at 4-under-par 140. Gorman High junior Jonathan Taruc posted the best score by a local golfer with rounds of 70 and 72.

"This is my first big tournament that I'm in contention for," said Kim, a resident of Encino, Calif. "I've been working really hard on my game, especially my mental game.

"(I've been) reading Bob Rotella's book and trying not to beat myself up after a bad putt; just trying not to put so much pressure on myself."

Kim birdied three holes on the front nine and birdied her final hole of the day. One bogey on the front was the only snag in her round.

"I just played really consistent all day," she said. "No great holes, it was weird.

"Maybe I was just in the zone."

Being in the zone is not something the junior-to-be at Harvard-Westlake High School is accustomed to. While her sister, Hana, has won several tournaments and is a Polo Golf Junior All-America second team selection, Ina is just starting to come into her own.

Kim finished tied for ninth at the Thunderbird International Junior two weeks ago and finished tied for fifth at the PING Phoenix Junior Championship last year.

To help her relax, Ina said she picks a song to sing over and over again while she is playing.

This week, it's Aaliyah's "Try Again."

"I switch my songs if they don't work," Kim said. "If it's a bad song where I do bad then I have to find a new one."

Mueller had four birdies and parred everything else for a solid round. "I'm hitting my driver in the fairways and hitting it pretty long for me," said Mueller, of Mesa, Ariz.