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Daniel Mazziotta Finishes 2nd, 2 shots back-

Orlando, Fla. - December 1, 2011 - Like many up-and-coming golfers, Lion Kim would’ve liked to be competing in the final stage of PGA Tour Q-School this week. But rather than sulking, Kim took his frustrations out on the Metro West golf course this week in the NGA Pro Golf Tour Bridgestone Winter Series.

Kim, a two-time All-American selection from the University of Michigan, shot rounds of 70-63-71 for a 12-under 204 total en route to a two-shot win over Daniel Mazziotta on Thursday.

“I was disappointed about not making it to final stage but not discouraged,” said Kim, who played in the 2011 Masters. “I played well all summer. [Second stage] was the only time I didn’t play well. It felt good to come out here and continue to play well against these guys.”

Just four months into his professional career, Kim bested a field filled with players that have plenty of experience at golf’s highest levels.

“I know all these guys can go low out here,” said Kim, who earned $11,424. “I’ve got a ton of respect for them. I had a three-shot lead going into the final round, but with this field, I knew I still needed to play well in the final round to win.”

Kim’s lead going into the final round was due in large part to his tournament-low 63 in the second round.

“I knew I could take it deep,” said Kim. “I just had to hit some putts, and I made a lot in the second round.”

His flatstick wasn’t as prolific over the final 18 holes, but Kim was able to hold off Mazziotta, who shot a final-round 68, for his first professional victory.

“Today wasn’t a great round,” said Kim of Lake Mary. “I hit 15 greens and shot 1 under. I hit good putts, but I literally only made one good putt today. Fortunately, I was able to hang on for the win. This win proves to me that I can compete out here; I believe I can compete at the Nationwide level, too. I watched a lot of my friends and a lot of players on [the NGA Pro Golf Tour] make it the Nationwide Tour without any status, so that’s my goal for next year.”

Mazziotta of Fort Meyers started the final round T6, but a 4-under 68 moved the Florida Golf Coast alumnus into solo second at 10-under par. The former Eagle earned $5,616 for his runner-up finish.

Multi-time NGA Pro Golf Tour winner James Vargas also carded a 68 in the final round. Vargas of Miami got to 9-under par with his 4-under round and finished alone in third, earning $4,664.

Canadian Sebastian Szirmak (Toronto) finished fourth at 8-under par and earned $3,712, while Ted Smith (Orlando), Erik Barnes (Marion, Ind.), Major Manning (Daytona Beach), Connor Arendell (Fort Meyers), Tyler Riley (Tavares) and David Skinns (Lincoln, England) finished in a tie for fifth and earned $2,515 each.

Tommy Gibson (Pilot Mountain, N.C.), Garrett Jones (Madison, Wis.), John Duthie (Lansing, N.Y.) and Cameron Carrico (Owensboro, Ky.) finished T11.

For full-field results, click here.

The NGA Pro Golf Tour is the No. 3 Men’s Professional Golf Tour in the United States and the No. 1 recommended developmental tour by more PGA and Nationwide Tour Professionals than any other tour in the country.

The NGA Pro Golf Tour has helped hundreds of professionals acquire their PGA, Nationwide and Champions Tour cards and, to this day, NGA Pro Golf Tour alumni have won an incredible Thirteen (13) “Major” Championships.

Alumni include: 2011 PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley, 2011 PGA winners Scott Piercy, Scott Stallings, Sean O'Hair, Mark Wilson, Bubba Watson and Gary Woodland; 2010 FedExCup winner and PGA Tour Player of the Year Jim Furyk; 2009 British Open Champion Stewart Cink; 2009 US Open Champion Lucas Glover; 2007 Masters Champion Zach Johnson; 2003 PGA Champion Shaun Micheel; 2003 British Open Champion Ben Curtis; two-time US Open Champion Lee Janzen; British Open and PGA Champion John Daly; British Open Champion Tom Lehman; PGA Champion David Toms; 2003 Tour Championship Winner Chad Campbell and many, many more. At last year’s PGA Tour Qualifying School, 46% of the players that earned full exempt status on the PGA Tour (including 2010 Player of the Year Michael Thompson) and 52% of the players that earned status on the Nationwide Tour spent time on the NGA Pro Golf Tour. In 2011, 23 former NGA Pro Golf Tour players advanced to the PGA Tour.

For more information on the NGA Pro Golf Tour, contact the Tour Office at (800) 992-8748.