Kamiak's Seo Hee Moon hopes to build on early golf success

Seo Hee Moon rarely hits the longest tee shot. Her drives are more about direction than distance.

That ability to keep her golf ball in the middle of the fairway generally keeps Moon way out in front of the competition. Her accuracy was the key last spring when she won the Class 4A state girls championship as a freshman at Kamiak of Mukilteo.

"Long drives aren't her strength," coach Bud Davis said. "Her main thing is consistency and accuracy. Seo Hee can put the ball anywhere she wants with great predictability."

Seo Hee (pronounced Soy Hee) makes up for her lack of tape-measure drives with precision, a drive to succeed reinforced by her father and a love for the game. It adds up to a lot of early success and a bright future.

Moon, who stands 5 feet 5 and weighs 115 pounds, was introduced to the sport by her father, Chang, soon after the family moved from Korea to Washington when she was 3.

"I just love golf," said Chang, who became a teaching pro last year and owns the Longshots Driving Range in Everett as well as a grocery store and deli in Seattle.

Seo Hee quickly grew to love the game as well. She was 10 when she won her first tournament. Each summer, she plays a rigorous schedule that includes numerous out-of-state events.

"Playing the tournaments is fun because I get to meet a lot of people and travel a lot," she said.

Seo Hee won an American Junior Golf Association title in Michigan last summer and tied for third at a tournament in Missouri. She finished one stroke behind Rui Li, a Kentwood sophomore, at the PNGA Junior Girls Amateur Championship at Ocean Shores last August.

One of her most thrilling, and unexpected, victories came at the Class 4A state tournament last May.

"I didn't think I had that much of a chance coming in," Moon said.

She shot a 5-under-par 67 in the opening round at Avalon Golf Links in Burlington to open a five-stroke lead.

"My teammates were so excited and kept saying, 'Oh, you're going to win!' Then I did end up winning," Moon said. "It was a surprise."

She birdied three of the final four holes to post a 2-under 70, giving her an eight-stroke victory over teammate Karinn Dickson and Bethel's Sadena Parks, the 2006 champion.

Equally exciting for Moon was Kamiak's first team title in girls golf. The Knights from Mukilteo amassed a 4A-record 174 points with five golfers in the top 16. Redmond was a distant second, 80 points back, but is this year's team favorite.

Davis said the narrow Avalon course catered to Moon's style.

"Some girls can really boom the ball, but they can't always keep it down the middle of the fairway," he said. "But Seo Hee can."

Moon said she doesn't expect to feel additional pressure as defending champion this year. She is used to the scrutiny of her father.

"My dad always puts me under pressure because he always wants me to do well," she said.

Outside of the high-school season, Chang puts his daughter through hours of practice, which doesn't always sit well with Seo Hee.

"He's just trying to do what's best for me," she said. "Sometimes we fight about it, but it's all right."

Seo Hee, a 3.8 student who turns 16 this month, already is receiving letters of interest from colleges and hopes to continue playing at that level, and possibly beyond.

"My goal for now is to get into college through a golf scholarship," she said. "I'm not sure about after college. If there's a chance to move up to the LPGA, I'll have to wait and see."

For now, Seo Hee Moon is focused on keeping the ball in the fairway and the competition in the rearview mirror.

Sandy Ringer: 206-718-1512 or sringer@seattletimes.com