Team Québec secures Inter-Provincial title; Parr leads
Golf Canada
It was another scorching day in Kamloops as the Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO brought the heat to Rivershore Estates and Golf Links while wrapping up the second day of play.
The 36-hole inter-provincial competition came to a close as Team Québec, consisting of Jean-Philippe Parr, Felix Bouchard, and James Newton, extended their day one lead to capture the title by six strokes. Hot on their heels was Team Ontario who challenged throughout the afternoon but fell short of closing the gap that Team Québec laid out yesterday.
Team Québec was boosted by an impressive showing from Team Canada National Squad member Jean-Philippe Parr. In the individual competition, the 18-year-old battled lofty temperatures and recorded eight birdies and an eagle to edge a one-stroke lead over teammate James Newton at 12-under after 36 holes. The round also ties the low Canadian Junior Boys Championship single-round scoring record set by Calvin Ross in 2017 and matched by Chris Vandette in 2019.
“I just did everything really solid today,” said JP. “Got off to a hot start and then just kept it in the fairway which gave me good chances to attack the pins, and then just putted really nicely and made some really good birdie putts. Overall just really solid golf overall!”
Heading into round three, Parr looks to stay consistent.
“Heading into tomorrow, just trying to keep the same gameplan and keep making birdies since there are so many birdies out there,” he added. “Also just going to try to be patient and most importantly have some fun.”
James Newton, 11-under for the tournament, is also a member of Team Canada National Junior Squad. The 18-year-old fired a 2-under-par 70 during today’s round and plays out of Royal Ottawa Golf Club in Gatineau, Qué.
Closely following and tying for the third spot on the leaderboard were Cooper Humphreys (Vernon, B.C.) and Matthew Javier (North York, Ont.). Fifteen-year-old Javier also occupies the lead in the 16-and-under Juvenile Division. Andre Zhu sits second and one stroke off the lead.
The winner will receive an exemption into the 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Daniel Island Club in Charleston, S.C., as well as a spot in 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.
Round three is set to commence tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. PT
Newton ties course record to lead day one of Canadian Junior Boys Championship
PHOTO: BERNARD BRAULT/ GOLF CANADA
Golf Canada
The Canadian Junior Boys Championship teed off today as 156 competitors headed to the mountain-side course, Rivershore Estates & Golf Links.
During the opening round, James Newton’s clubs were hotter than the weather in Kamloops. The Team Canada National Junior Squad Member – who plays out of Royal Ottawa Golf Club in Gatineau, Qué. – carded an opening round of 63 to tie the course record and lead the 83rd Canadian Junior Boys Championship by three strokes.
“I was hitting it well from tee to green today,” said Newton of the opening round. “I gave myself many birdie opportunities with my wedges, but my putter was on fire. Not only was I making birdie putts but also par saves.”
Newton’s 9-under-par 63 included an impressive seven birdies and an eagle on the 18th that marked the highlight of the 18-year-old’s day. He finished the round without a single blemish on this scorecard.
“My thought process tomorrow is going to be the same as it was today,” he added. “Stay patient and stay positive.”
A four-way tie for second chased Newton throughout the day, each finishing at six-under.
Vernon, B.C. native and Team Canada National Junior Squad member Cooper Humphreys saw a solid, bogey-free round with an eagle on his 13th hole. Humphreys won the Juvenile Boys Division last year during the 2021 Canadian Junior Boys Championship and has recently committed to Oregon State University.
“Today I hit the ball well and did a good job of minimizing my mistakes,” shared Humphreys. “I worked on my putting after and I think I found something that should help in the next few days!”
Antoine Jasmin from Blainville, Qué. found his groove on the last four holes leading to four consecutive birdies out of his total of eight. The 16-year-old plays out of Club de golf le Blainvillier.
Eighteen-year-old Denby Carswell carded seven birdies and one bogey. The Burnaby, B.C. resident graduated from high school in May 2022.
Matthew Javier also made eagle on 18. The 15-year-old hails from North York, Ont. and plays out of Scarboro Golf & Country Club.
In addition to tying for second in the individual competition today, Antoine Jasmin and Matthew Javier also share a piece of the lead in the 16-and-under Juvenile division. Each fired a round of 66 today.
Defending champions Team Québec consisting of Jean-Philippe Parr, Felix Bouchard, and James Newton, jumped out to an early lead in the 36-hole inter-provincial team competition. The trio combined for a score of 11 under par and a five-stroke lead over Team Ontario.
The winner will receive an exemption into the 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Daniel Island Club in Charleston, S.C., as well as a spot in 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.
Round two is set to commence tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. PT
Rivershore Estates & Golf Links opens doors for Canadian Junior Boys Championship
Golf Canada
Golf Canada’s 2022 championship season continues at Rivershore Estate & Golf Links in Kamloops, B.C. for the 83rd playing of the Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO, from Aug. 7-10.
This national championship, which was first held in 1938 in London, Ont., offers an opportunity for the top junior male golfers from coast-to-coast to compete against the best in their class in a 72-hole stroke play competition. This year, 156 players will clash on the west coast of Canada aiming to add the Silver Cup to their trophy cases.
“Golf Canada is excited to return to British Columbia for the Canadian Junior Boys Championship,” said tournament director Daniel Suppa. “I’m looking forward to seeing how the juniors play at the highest level this week. The calibre of this year’s field is amongst the best we’ve seen in recent history, and I know I will be thoroughly impressed. We’re confident that Rivershore will prove as a testy challenge as these elite juniors look to showcase their talents.”
Designed by Robert Jones Sr., Rivershore Estate & Golf Links is setup uniquely as a links-styled course that is buried in a desert-like setting and protected by the sagebrush hills above. Nestled along the shores of the South Thompson River, this championship course features 95 bunkers that are moderately surrounded by water hazards and other areas that will cause havoc for players of all calibres. The par-72 will play at a maximum of 6,852 yards for the 2022 Canadian Junior Boys Championship.
The championship has served as a significant milestone in several professional and amateur careers. Before playing on the PGA Tour, Abbotsford, B.C., native Nick Taylor captured the 2006 Canadian Junior Boys title. The championship counts Canadian Golf Hall of Fame members Doug Silverberg, George Knudson, Gary Cowan and Doug Roxburgh among its winners.
Headlining this year’s pool of competitors is none other than the defending champion, Jean-Phillippe Parr. In 2021, the 18-year-old made pars on the final eight holes at Club de Golf Vallée du Richlieu in his home province of Québec, to claim the Canadian Junior Boys Championship. The St Célestin, Qué., native carded rounds of 65-73-66-74 for a total score of 10-under par en route to the one-stroke victory.
Parr, a member of Team Canada’s National Junior Squad, returns this year looking to become the ninth back-to-back winner in the tournament’s history, and first since fellow Quebec-native Christopher Vandette accomplished the feat in 2018 and 2019.
Looking to spoil Parr’s attempt at a title defence are 11 of the remaining 12 players on the National Junior Squad, including Cooper Humphreys (Vernon, B.C.), who finished as the runner-up to Parr in last year’s competition. Eric Zhao (North York, Ont.), Ethan Wilson (St Albert, Alta.) and Félix Bouchard (Otterburn Park, Qué.), who won gold for Team Canada alongside Humphreys at the 2022 Toyota Junior Golf World Cup, are also in the field.
Ben MacLean (Niagara Falls, Ont.), James Newton (Ottawa, Ont.) and Owen Kim (Oakville, Ont.), who each secured top-10 finishes in 2021, are also returning to bid for the national title. Gavyn Knight (Parksville, B.C.), Malik Dao (Notre-Dame-de-Île-Perrot, Que.) and Mathieu Lafontaine (Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que.) round out the Team Canada contingent.
Returning this year is the interprovincial team competition. The interprovincial championship, first held in 1959, will be played in conjunction with the first 36 holes of the competition, with three-player teams vying for the team title. In rounds one and two the best two scores of the three golfers from each provincial team count towards the team’s score. The lowest aggregate score over rounds one and two determines the champion.
Team Québec are the reigning champions. Christopher Vandette and Laurent Desmarchais – who are coming off an interprovincial championship win at the 2022 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship – accompanied Logan Boucher at Covered Bridge Golf & Country Club in New Brunswick and bested the Albertans by eight strokes in 2019.
The Juvenile division – a subdivision for boys 16 and under – remains in place this year and will run concurrently with the Junior division through the 72-hole competition. Humphreys was awarded the Jack Bailey Trophy in 2021, winning by a commanding 13 strokes over runner-up Zhao. Since its inception in 1970, only ten players have won both the Junior and Juvenile division titles.
New to this year’s tournament is a purse payout. To align with the modernized Rules of Amateur Status, players at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship will now compete for a purse of $8,000 CAD. Amateur golfers may accept prize money up to a maximum of $1,200 CAD, and payouts will be awarded to the top-10 finishers and ties.
Practice rounds are scheduled for August 6th, followed by the official tee off to the championship on August 7th. A champion will be crowned at the conclusion of the final round on August 10th. The field will be reduced to the low 70 players (including ties) at the halfway point of the competition.
The winner will receive an exemption into the 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Daniel Island Club in Charleston, S.C., as well as a spot in 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.
For more information about the 2022 Canadian Junior Boys Championship click here.
Stouffer Joins Canadian Club of U.S. Senior Women’s Am Champs
Shelly Stouffer joined 3 other fellow Canadians as a U.S. Senior Women's Am champion, but the first to do so in Alaska. (USGA/Steven Gibbons)
United States Golf Association
In one of the most dominant performances in championship history, Shelly Stouffer breezed through the bracket to win the 60th U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur at Anchorage Golf Course. Stouffer put an exclamation point on the week with a resounding 4-and-3 victory over Sue Wooster in the 18-hole final to become the fourth Canadian to win the title.
Moments after Wooster missed an 8-foot birdie putt on the 15th, Stouffer, 52, of Nanoose Bay in the province of British Columbia, calmly rolled in a 3-footer for par to end the match. She raised her arms in celebration and hugged her 15-year-old son, Brett, who caddied for her throughout the championship in Alaska. It was an emotional end to a fulfilling week, the winning moment made all the more special because they could share it together.
“He knows my game because we play a lot together,” said Stouffer. “He was helping with reading the greens. He knows my clubs. He was awesome. He kept me calm.”
Stouffer sprinted out to an early advantage against Wooster and never looked back. She birdied the first hole to take a 1-up lead and doubled the lead with a winning par on the fourth. Stouffer moved three ahead when Wooster double bogeyed the par-5 sixth, and followed with wins on Nos. 8 and 9, the latter with a birdie, to take a commanding 5-up lead at the turn.
“I’ve been feeling really good about my game, and I didn’t really have a lot of nerves,” said Stouffer. “We kept to our game plan. I’m like, ‘Why change it now?’ And it totally worked in my favor, I think.”
Few would have guessed that Stouffer would raise the trophy after her inauspicious start on Saturday. She made five bogeys and two double bogeys in Round 1 of stroke play, needing 37 putts in a 9-over-par 81 that left her T-45.
But the next day, Stouffer was a completely different player. She rebounded with a 4-under 68 in Round 2 – the lowest in the championship by five strokes – to earn the No. 2 seed in match play. Stouffer never looked back, winning 37 holes and losing just eight over the course of her six matches.
For Wooster, it was another disappointing defeat in a Senior Women’s Amateur championship match – her third in the last four years. Her 15 match-play victories since 2018 are second only to three-time champion Lara Tennant in that span, but the 60-year-old Australian has no hardware to show for it.
A day after coming back from a 3-hole deficit against Christie Blasi in the semifinals, Wooster could not turn the tide against Stouffer. She managed to win only one hole on the day – with a par on the 14th – but it was too little, too late.
“I’m so proud of myself for making three finals in four years,” said Wooster. “I’m not going to give up on winning this trophy one day. It didn’t happen today, but things happen in funny ways. I think my day will come.”
Stouffer is the eighth Canadian to win a USGA championship and joins Marlene Streit (1985, 1994, 2003), Gayle Borthwick (1996, 1998) and Judith Kyrinis (2017) as Canadian winners of the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur.
What the Champion Receives
A gold medal
Custody of the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Trophy for one year
A 10-year exemption into the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur
An exemption into the 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles, Calif.
Two-year exemptions into the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur (2022 and 2023) and U.S. Senior Women’s Open (2023 and 2024)
Three Canadians at top of leaderboard following third round at Point Grey
Golf Canada
Despite the threat of rain in the forecast, skies remained dry over Point Grey Golf and Country Club for round three of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO. Canadians Robbie Latter and Eric Zhao lit up the leaderboard today, each shooting a cool 65 in the third round to tie for the top spot.
Latter, who calls Mississauga, Ont. home, carded five birdies and an eagle to ascend 14 spots in the race for the 117th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship title. The Southern Miss sophomore finished T25 at last year’s event and won the Future Links (now NextGen) Québec Championship as a 17-year-old in 2018.
“My ball striking was very good today,” stated Latter. “Having my brother on the bag today definitely helped!”
Though 14-year-old Eric Zhao faced challenges on the 11th hole, the birdies far outweighed the bogeys with an impressive total of nine filling his scorecard. The west coast seems to be treating the National Junior Squad member quite well this season. In May, Zhao was crowned Champion of the Junior Boys Division at the NextGen Pacific Championship in Nanaimo, B.C.
“Today, I focused on staying patient and accepting the shots I hit,” said Zhao. “I only thought about my current shot and never the past or future ones. It did help as I made two bogeys and a double but being aware of my emotions and redirecting my focus allowed me to come back.”
In tomorrow’s final round, Zhao looks to stay consistently calm.
“I want to do something very similar tomorrow. My only expectation is that I learn from this experience playing under heavy pressure,” said a humble Zhao. “I also don’t want to overthink anything and just focus on each shot as I play it, and maybe I’ll go home proud of myself.”
Rounding out the top three is St-Célestin, Que. native Jean-Philippe Parr. The 18-year-old shot his lowest round of the tournament at 67 to sit one stroke off the lead. Parr is also a member of Team Canada’s National Junior Squad.
Tomorrow promises to be an exciting battle of top amateur talent with an exemption into the 2023 RBC Canadian Open, as well as the 2022 U.S. Amateur Championship on the line. Not only will the winner etch their name into the historic Earl Grey Cup, but also into Canadian golf history – the competition being the oldest amateur championship in the country.
The awards ceremony will take place at approximately 3:00 p.m. PT at Point Grey Golf and Country Club.
Team Québec secures inter-provincial title; Turner takes lead
Golf Canada
Team Québec charged ahead to win the inter-provincial competition in a seven-stroke victory over the host squad, Team British Columbia. Laurent Desmarchais, Christopher Vandette, and William Forgues shot a collective 3 under to become the ninth team from Québec to secure the title since the Willingdon Cup became an annual competition in 1927. Reigning champions Team Ontario rounded out the top-3 at 6 over par.
In the individual competition, American Elijah Turner rose nine spots on the leaderboard to lead the pack during Tuesday’s second round at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO. The 23-year-old from Highland, Utah limited himself to two bogeys at Seymour Golf and Country Club, carding four birdies and an eagle on his final hole, the 9th hole, to set himself up well at the halfway point of the tournament.
“My caddie is a local member at Seymour and he was great at helping me manage around the course,” said Turner of his round today at Seymour Golf and Country Club. “It was important for me to hit fairways and stay out of trouble as much as possible. I had a nice run with 3 birdies in a row that were set up with good drives off the tee. I think I’m a good driver of the ball and that strength certainly helped me today. Seymour’s greens were very demanding today with tough pin placements. It took a lot of patience out there today on those greens. Both courses are just excellent,” he added.
Following closely, 22-year-old, Michael Haranhan Smith shot a 66 today finishing one shot back at -5. Haranhan Smith is one of a trio of Australians competing this week, with all three advancing to the third round.
“I think this course is definitely the one to score on, the back 9 can be tricky but you can definitely get it going on the front,” said Haranhan Smith of this round at Point Grey Golf and Country Club. “I’m a relatively good iron player which suits this golf course and the greens are pretty large but you need to be in the right section to give yourself a chance at holing some putts.”
Five Canadians sit inside the top-10 in a tie for eighth place including Jean-Philippe Parr (St-Célestin, Que.), Alex Zhang (Richmond, B.C.), Eric Zhao (North York, Ont.), Keith Ng (Richmond, B.C.), and Kai Iguchi (Banff, Alta.),
The winner of the championship will earn an exemption into the 2023 RBC Canadian Open at Oakdale Golf & Country Club, as well as the 2022 U.S. Amateur Championship being contested August 15-22 in Paramus, N.J.
The third round commences tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. PT at Point Grey Golf and Country Club.
Gutschewski leads by two at Canadian Men’s Amateur
Golf Canada
Point Grey Golf and Country Club and Seymour Golf and Country Club played host to 250 golfers this holiday Monday as play commenced for the 117th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO.
Elkhorn, Neb. native Luke Gutschewski had a hot start, making eight birdies to shoot a 65 for the day. Heading into his second season playing for Iowa State’s golf team, Gutschewski played a near bogey-free round, getting into the groove and making birdie on five consecutive holes in the middle of his round at Point Grey Golf & Country Club.
“I really just played solid all day, nothing too flashy,” said Gutschewski. “I did a good job of keeping it in play off the tee, left myself in good places when I missed greens, and then putted pretty nicely too.”
Despite the early lead, the 19-year-old isn’t getting too far ahead of himself. “It’s really a long week and we have a long way to go,” added Gutschewski. “If I can keep on doing what I’m doing and not get too wrapped up in the individual result of each shot then we can add up the scores at the end of the week and see what happens.”
Following closely, Banff, Alta. native Kai Iguchi sits just two strokes behind at -4. The 21-year-old recently finished fifth in the Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship and is competing in his first Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.
In addition to Iguchi, nine other Canadians ended round one inside the top-10 including Marc Sweeney (Saskatoon, Sask.), Christopher Vandette (Beaconsfield, Qué.), Jean-Philippe Parr (St-Célestin, Qué.), Jace Minni (Delta, B.C.), Nasheel Kassam (Vancouver, B.C.), Robbie Latter (Mississauga, Ont.), Tony Li (Vancouver, B.C.), Tyler Hull (Toronto, Ont.), Ryan McMillan (Winnipeg, Man.).
Tomorrow will mark the final day of play at Seymour Golf and Country Club after which the field will be cut to the low 70 players (including ties). The final 36 holes are scheduled to take place at Point Grey Golf and Country Club.
The winner of the championship will earn an exemption into the 2023 RBC Canadian Open at Oakdale Golf & Country Club, as well as the 2022 U.S. Amateur Championship being contested August 15-22 in Paramus, N.J.
After the halfway point of the Inter-Provincial competition Team Quebec, consisting of Christopher Vandette, Laurent Desmarchais, and William Forgues, leads by three strokes over Team British Columbia. Nine provinces and two territories will continue to battle for the Willingdon trophy tomorrow with Team Ontario looking to rally to defend their 2019 title.
Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship set to tee off in Vancouver
Jeff Vogan/ Golf Canada
Golf Canada
The 117th installment of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, tees off this week with 252 amateur golfers taking the stage in Vancouver.
The championship, which was first held in 1895, is the oldest amateur championship in the country. The inaugural tournament, held at Ottawa Golf Club in Gatineau, Qué., marked one of the first orders of business for the Royal Canadian Golf Association – now known commonly as Golf Canada.
One of nine national championships conducted by Golf Canada for the 2022 season, the Canadian Men’s Amateur will consist of 72 holes of stroke play taking place at two elite courses, Seymour Golf and Country Club, and Point Grey Golf and Country Club, with the latter celebrating its centennial anniversary. The field will be cut to the low 70 players (including ties) following 36 holes.
Point Grey Golf And Country Club
Practice rounds are scheduled for July 30th – 31st before the tournament officially kicks off on August 1st. Rounds will be played simultaneously at both properties for the first two rounds, with the final round and awards ceremony taking place at Point Grey G&CC.
“Golf Canada is proud to host this historic championship and bring together a field of top competitors from all over the globe,” said Mary Beth McKenna, Director, Amateur Championships and Rules. “Point Grey Golf and Country Club and Seymour Golf and Country Club are in excellent shape and will provide for an exciting competition as our competitors vie for the Earl Grey Cup.”
International talent will once again flock to the championship after COVID-19 complications restricted travel and thus, international inclusion. Among a field of strong international competitors are Connor Fewkes (Australia), Ching-Hung Su (Chinese Taipei), Jose Islas (Mexico), Tyler Wood (New Zealand), and Jackson Lake (U.S.A.).
As for the Canadian contingent, Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad member and Coquitlam, B.C. native A.J. Ewart will be counting on the home-province advantage to go all the way after finishing just two strokes shy of 2021 champion Max Sekulic last year. Other notable National Amateur Squad members in the field include Laurent Desmarchais (Longueuil, Qué.) and Chris Vandette (Beaconsfield, Qué.). Canadian Golf Hall of Famer and Vancouver, B.C. native Doug Roxburgh will be the only champion returning to the field having claimed titles in 1972, 1974, 1982, and 1988.
Doug Roxburgh at the 1974 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship
The winner of the championship will earn an exemption into the 2023 RBC Canadian Open at Oakdale Golf & Country Club, as well as the 2022 U.S. Amateur Championship being contested August 15-22 in Paramus, N.J.
New to this year’s tournament is a purse payout. To align with the modernized Rules of Amateur Status, players at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship will now compete for a purse of $8,000 CAD. Amateur golfers may accept prize money up to a maximum of $1,200 CAD, and payouts will be awarded to the top-10 finishers and ties.
Among the notable Canadian champions are Canadian Golf Hall of Fame honoured members Moe Norman (Kitchener, Ont.), Nick Weslock (Winnipeg, Man.), Gary Cowan (Kitchener, Ont.) and Doug Roxburgh (Vancouver, B.C.). PGA TOUR champions Nick Taylor (Abbotsford, B.C.) and Mackenzie Hughes (Dundas, Ont.) have also hoisted the coveted Earl Grey Cup.
Seymour Golf And Country Club
The 36-hole inter-provincial competition for the Willingdon Cup will also return this year after a two-year hiatus. Team Ontario are the reigning champions and are set to defend their 2019 title.
More information about the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship can be found here.
Yeji Kwon wins the 67th Canadian Junior Girls Championship
Golf Canada
OTTAWA, Ont. – As she marveled at the names etched into the Brokenshire Trophy, Yeji Kwon gasped in awe when she realized she was in the same company as Brooke Henderson.
Kwon, 16, fired a two-under par 70 in Friday’s final round to capture the 2022 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet, but I’m really happy and proud of myself; I’m really excited.”
Yeji Kwon
Words came few and far between from the Port Coquitlam, B.C., native following the victory. Instead, she let her play do the talking. With a four-stroke lead entering the day, Kwon stayed level-headed throughout, never allowing the gap to narrow down to less than three shots.
“I tried to block it (nerves) out as much as possible,” said Kwon. “I wasn’t playing the best today, but I tried my best out there to keep as calm as possible.”
Kwon, a member of Team Canada’s National Junior Squad, says her experience at the 2022 Toyota Junior Golf World Cup in late June helped her manage her emotions in the spotlight at The Marshes Golf Club.
“It’s a tournament with everyone from around the world. I learned so much, especially playing with other players and I think that really helped me stay more focused and play a lot better,” Kwon said.
After Lucy Lin cut the lead to four with a birdie on No. 11, Kwon stepped on the gas and cruised to the promise land, closing out in style with birdies on holes No. 13, 14 and 16. At that point, she knew she had done it.
“I saw the scoreboard and I was like, “Ok, let’s just try to make pars and get it done.”
Get it done, she did. Kwon tapped in on No. 18 to win by nine strokes and was showered in water by her teammates and competitors who stormed the green.
After an opening round 75, the British Columbian carded rounds of 67, 65 and 70 for a total score of 11-under par 277, en route to the national title. Kwon was also crowned champion of the Juvenile Girls division – a subdivision for girls 16 and younger.
With the hardware comes an exemption into the 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at Ashburn Golf Club in Halifax, Nova Scotia, as well as an entry into the 2023 U.S. Junior Girls Championship.
Kwon will also be awarded a cheque of $1,200. To align with the modernized Rules of Amateur Status, players at the Canadian Junior Girls Championship, competed for a purse of $8,000 CAD. Along with Kwon, top-10 finishers and ties earned a piece of the prize money.
12-year-old Lucy Lin earned the runner-up honours in both the Junior Girls and Juvenile Girls divisions. The Vancouver, B.C. native, who is only getting started on the national stage, finished the tournament at two-under par for a total score of 286.
Erin Lee of Langley, B.C., completed the all-British Columbia podium sweep with a third-place finish. Lee, who was under par in each of the first three rounds, started hot with three birdies in her first four holes, but struggled to establish any pressure thereafter. She closed out her tournament with a four-over par 76.
In the Juvenile Girls divisions, the bronze medal was shared by three participants: Amy Seung Hyun Lee, Alissa Xu and Anna Huang. Xu’s medalist honours are her second in as many weeks. The Richmond Hill, Ont., native finished as the runner-up at last week’s Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at Westmount Golf & Country Club.
Team Ontario – made up of Swetha Sathish, Sarah Gallagher, and Kelly Zhao – took home the Interprovincial Team Trophy. The Ontarians edged the British Columbians by five strokes in the team event, which concluded earlier in the week.
The 2023 Canadian Junior Girls Championship will be played at the Hampton Golf Club in Hampton, N.B.. Dates are to be announced in the coming months.
Click here for full results of the 2022 Canadian Junior Girls Championship.
Yeji Kwon takes command in third round of Canadian Junior Girls Championship
YEJI KWON IS A MEMBER OF TEAM CANADA'S NATIONAL JUNIOR SQUAD AND COMPETED FOR CANADA AT THE 2022 TOYOTA JUNIOR GOLF WORLD CUP.
Golf Canada
OTTAWA (July 28, 2022) – Automatic is one way to describe Yeji Kwon’s game in the third round of the Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO. And even that might not do it justice.
The Port Coquitlam, B.C., native set the new tournament-low with a seven-under par 65 and broke free from the traffic jam atop the leaderboard. For the second day in a row, Kwon eagled the par-4 1st, holing out from the fairway. Incredibly, her approach shot came from the exact same yardage as her attempt in Wednesday’s second round.
“I had 76 yards again. It was a little into the wind, so I held the same club as yesterday and it did the same thing, it just spun back and went in,” said Kwon.
Even her reaction was the same; I was like, “Oh my gosh!”
With the quick start, Kwon positioned herself atop the leaderboard early in her round and didn’t let up from there. The 16-year-old hit a speedbump on hole No. 5, but was mistake-free after that, making five birdies including a tap-in on hole No. 17 to extend her lead to four strokes going into Friday’s final round.
“Tomorrow going in, I’m not going to think about it much,” said Kwon. “I feel like I’m going to think of it as a first round and play my best. It’s the last day, I just want to keep as calm as possible and focus and try to go lower tomorrow.”
If so, she better plan to save some room in her luggage for a trophy or two. Kwon also leads the Juvenile Girls division – a subdivision for girls 16 and under – by five strokes over 12-year-old, Lucy Lin.
Kwon’s 65 is the lowest round at a Canadian Junior Girls Championship since Euna Han’s opening round 64 in 2019. Han is also a native of Port Coquitlam, B.C.
Lin had back-to-back birdies on holes No. 4 & 5, then drained consecutive birdies again on holes No. 16 & 17 but made three bogeys in between. The Vancouver, B.C., native finished her round at one-under par and four-under for the tournament. She is alone in third place.
Erin Lee maintained her steady play at The Marshes Golf Club in Ottawa, Ont., this week, with another round in the red numbers. The Langley B.C., local rolled in six birdies in round three, en route to a one-under par 71. The Long Beach State University commit holds sole possession of second place and will play in the final pairing on Friday, alongside Kwon and Lin.
Alissa Xu and Lindsay McGrath rounded out the top-5, at three-under par for the tournament and still very much in contention for the national championship. Xu fired a three-under par 69 on moving day, while McGrath followed up yesterday’s 66 with a one-over par 73.
Final round tee times are scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m., with the leaders teeing off at 9:50 a.m. An awards ceremony will follow the conclusion of play. Team Ontario will be awarded the Interprovincial Team Trophy and a national champion will be crowned for the individual competition.
The winner of the Canadian Junior Girls Championship will earn an exemption into the 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, as well as the 2023 U.S. Junior Girls Championship.
