After matchplay trials last weekend, Kim (16) was named at No 5 position in the 10-man team to play Aorangi and Southland in the triangular tournament at Balmacewen this weekend.
The meteoric rise comes after hard work and dedication with results in many events improving month by month.
With rounds of 74, 74 and 71 he guided the Otago under-16 team to a South Island title in April.
Two weeks ago, he finished second, two shots behind Brent McEwan, on 293 in the 72-hole spring tournament in North Otago.
He also has some matchplay success, winning the singles knockout competition on the Queenstown Club's Kelvin Heights course.
Kim, a year 11 student at Wakatipu High School, was born in South Korea but moved to Queenstown with his parents when he was 6 months old.
He started playing a little golf when he was 7 years old but it was four years later he joined the Queenstown Club.
He had a keen interest in all sports and initially played football, futsal, tennis and was a keen swimmer.
But now he has given up all of those sports and has become a full-time competitive golfer.
Under the guidance of Hills professional Craig Palmer, his golf has gone from strength to strength in the past year.
A year ago, Kim was on a handicap of three and, although he has dropped only three shots to be on scratch, he is a much more consistent golfer.
In the first interprovincial of the season, Kim and others will be keen to post two wins to stake their claims for the final five.
