Kim Kaufman Bio
Kim Kaufman (born August 16, 1991) is an American professional golfer who has competed on both the LPGA Tour and the Epson Tour (formerly the Symetra Tour). She first drew national attention as a four-time South Dakota state champion in high school and later as the No. 1 ranked amateur in the country during her senior season at Texas Tech University. Over the course of her career, Kaufman has posted three professional victories and crossed the $1 million mark in career earnings on the LPGA Tour.
Early Life and Background
Kim Kaufman was born on August 16, 1991, in Huron, South Dakota, and grew up in the nearby community of Clark. She is the daughter of a supportive family in a small Midwestern town, and she took up golf at a young age, sharpening her game against strong junior competition in the region. Kaufman became a six-time South Dakota Golf Association Junior Champion and posted a career-low amateur round of 66, signaling her potential as a future collegiate and professional standout.
At Clark High School, Kaufman was a four-time South Dakota state champion and earned all-state honors in each of her four seasons. She qualified three times for the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship and advanced to the quarterfinals in 2009. She also played in three U.S. Women’s Amateur championships and two U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links events, gaining valuable experience in national competition before college.
Kaufman attended Texas Tech University from 2009 to 2013, where she competed for the Red Raiders women’s golf program. During the fall of 2012, she was ranked the No. 1 collegiate golfer in the country by Golfweek and was honored as the Golfweek Player of the Fall. In 2013, she was named the Texas Tech Female Athlete of the Year, capping an outstanding amateur career.
Path to Professional Golf
After her decorated college tenure, Kaufman turned professional in 2013 and joined the Symetra Tour, the official development circuit of the LPGA. In her rookie season, she made 10 cuts in 10 starts and captured her first professional title at the Island Resort Championship, beating Japan’s Mitsuki Katahira in a playoff. Her consistency and composure under pressure earned her a trip to the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament at the end of the year.
Kaufman tied for 23rd at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament, securing full membership on the LPGA Tour for the 2014 season. The pathway from a small South Dakota town to the LPGA was built on steady improvement, strong amateur credentials, and the confidence gained from a winning start on the Symetra Tour.
Kim Kaufman Career
Early Career (2013)
Kaufman’s first year as a professional in 2013 was spent almost entirely on the Symetra Tour, where she made an immediate impact. She never missed a cut, posting 10 made cuts in 10 starts, and earned her maiden professional victory at the Island Resort Championship. The playoff win over Mitsuki Katahira demonstrated her ability to close out tournaments, an important trait as she set her sights on the LPGA Tour.
Her reliable play throughout the season helped her reach the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament, where she finished tied for 23rd. That result was enough to earn her LPGA Tour membership for the following year, completing a smooth transition from decorated amateur to tour professional.
LPGA Tour Rookie Season (2014)
In her 2014 rookie campaign on the LPGA Tour, Kaufman quickly showed that she belonged at the top level. She tied for fourth at the North Texas LPGA Shootout and tied for fifth at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, two of her strongest results of the year. She finished the season ranked 58th on the money list, a solid start for a first-year player adjusting to the demands of full-time LPGA competition.
Breakthrough Years (2015–2016)
Kaufman’s 2015 season featured her best LPGA finish to date, a runner-up result at the Blue Bay LPGA in China. The strong performance helped her finish 45th on the money list, continuing her upward trajectory. The Blue Bay result marked her arrival as a contender on tour and remains one of the defining moments of her career.
In 2016, Kaufman crossed the $1 million mark in career earnings after tying for seventh at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia, a major personal milestone. She also climbed to a career-high No. 67 in the Women’s World Golf Rankings later that year, reflecting years of consistent work. She wrapped up 2016 ranked 53rd on the money list, cementing her status as a full-time LPGA player.
Setbacks and Comeback (2017–2020)
Kaufman’s momentum was slowed in 2017 and 2018. After a 58th-place finish on the money list in 2017, she was diagnosed with mononucleosis while competing in Japan and suffered a wrist injury after falling down a flight of stairs during her recovery. The health setbacks caused her to slip to 123rd on the money list in 2018, forcing her to attend the inaugural LPGA Q-Series, where she tied for 11th to retain her playing privileges for 2019.
By 2020, Kaufman returned to the Symetra Tour, where she won the Four Winds Invitational and finished third on the money list, reminding the golf world of her competitive ability. The victory added a second professional title to her resume and helped rebuild her confidence.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Kaufman’s most memorable career moments are her 2015 runner-up finish at the Blue Bay LPGA, her playoff victory at the 2013 Island Resort Championship, and her Four Winds Invitational win in 2020. Crossing the $1 million mark in career earnings after the 2016 Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia stands as another defining achievement, along with her quarterfinal run at the 2009 U.S. Girls’ Junior.
Kim Kaufman Career Wins
Kim Kaufman has recorded three professional wins, all of which have come on the Epson Tour, the LPGA’s official development circuit. Her victories span from her rookie professional season in 2013 to her return to the tour in 2020, demonstrating both early promise and resilient comeback form.
Epson Tour Highlights
Kaufman’s first Epson Tour win came at the 2013 Island Resort Championship, where she defeated Japan’s Mitsuki Katahira in a playoff to claim the title in her rookie season. She later added the Four Winds Invitational in 2020, another full-field Epson Tour victory, while finishing third on the final money list. Her three career Epson Tour wins place her among the more accomplished players to have developed through the tour in recent years.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond her Epson Tour titles, Kaufman has logged strong LPGA Tour finishes, including a runner-up at the 2015 Blue Bay LPGA and a tie for fourth at the 2014 North Texas LPGA Shootout. In major championships, her best results include a T29 at the 2017 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, a T32 at the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open, and a T66 at the 2018 Chevron Championship.
Kim Kaufman Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Kaufman was raised in Huron and Clark, South Dakota, in a family that supported her early development in golf. Her South Dakota roots shaped her work ethic and competitive drive, with local junior golf providing the foundation for her future success. While specific details about her parents and siblings are not publicly documented, her hometown community played a clear role in her growth as a young athlete.
Personal Life
Kim Kaufman is married to Sweden-born professional golfer Johan Wolkesson, who has also served as her caddie, including at the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open. The couple shares a deep connection through the sport, with Wolkesson providing both personal and professional support throughout her career. Kaufman resides in Fort Worth, Texas, where she continues to train and compete.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Kim Kaufman continues to compete at the professional level, drawing on a decade of experience across the Epson Tour and LPGA Tour. Her three career Epson Tour victories and history of strong LPGA finishes provide a platform for renewed competitiveness on the circuit.
Kaufman’s game has long been built on accuracy, course management, and the ability to perform in windy conditions, qualities that suit a wide range of tournament venues. The continued support of her husband, Johan Wolkesson, both at home and on the bag has been a stabilizing force in her preparation and performance.
Looking ahead through the remainder of 2025, Kaufman will look to add to her professional win total and climb back into the upper tier of the Epson Tour money list. Her track record of overcoming injuries and slumps suggests she remains capable of contending whenever her game clicks into form.
