Andrea Lee leads heading into final round of Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship
Justin Naro/ Golf Canada
Golf Canada
RED DEER, Alta. – Andrea Lee (Hermosa Beach, Calif.) shot 3-under-par 69 at Red Deer Golf & Country Club on Thursday and heads into the final round of the 106th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship with a three-stroke lead.
Lee held a share of the lead after the opening round, but fell to second after 36 holes. The No. 2-ranked golfer on the World Amateur Golf Ranking sunk four birdies in the third round, moving herself to 10 under for the tournament.
“I played really solid today and had a good front nine,” said Lee. “On the back, I just stayed really patient. I made nine straight pars and played steady golf. It’s a really tough field and a lot of top amateurs are out here competing, so it’s always fun and exciting to be out here.”
After roaring into the lead with a first round of 6 under 66, Lee was quiet in round two, shooting 1 under. The USGA has committed to send at least two players to both the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championship since 2017, and Lee’s play at the 2019 edition of the competition is a direct result of that commitment.
Round two leader Jennifer Chang (Cary, N.C.) shot even-par, leaving her at 7 under for the tournament.
Brianna Navarrosa (San Diego, Calif.) remained in third place, four back of Lee, with a round of 2 under.
The low round of the day belonged to Therese Warner of Kennwick, Wash. Warner shot 4 under 68, moving into fourth position at 5 under for the tournament.
The low Canadian heading into the final round is 12-year-old Michelle Liu of Vancouver. Liu was bogey-free in round two, but carded 1 over on Thursday, sitting in a tie for sixth.
The final round of competition will see the first groups tee off at 7:30 a.m. from holes No. 1 and No. 10.
The 2019 Canadian Women’s Amateur individual champion will earn an exemption into the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and the 2019 CP Women’s Open at Magna Golf Club from August 19-25. Should the winner be a non-Canadian, the low Canadian will also earn an exemption to the 2019 CP Women’s Open.
Jennifer Chang leads after 36 holes at Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship
Justin Naro/ Golf Canada
Golf Canada
RED DEER, Alta. – Jennifer Chang of Cary, N.C., vaulted herself into the lead in the second round of the 106th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship held at Red Deer Golf & Country Club in Red Deer, Alta.
Chang moved atop the leaderboard with a round of 5 under 67, the lowest score in the second round and her second consecutive round in the 60s. The No. 13-ranked player on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Chang was bogey-free on Wednesday, leaving her at 8 under for the tournament.
“I thought I played pretty well [yesterday] at 3 under and today I really took it up a notch,” said Chang. “The wind blows pretty hard, so I’m just going to do the same thing each and every day and take it one shot at a time.”
Andrea Lee (Hermosa Beach, Calif.) sits in second place, one stroke behind Chang. The No. 2-ranked golfer on the World Amateur Golf Ranking made back-to-back birdies on the par-5 No. 4 and the par-3 No. 5, finishing the second round at 1 under.
Brianna Navarrosa of San Diego, Calif., sits in third at 4 under, having shot even-par in the second round.
After sharing the first-round lead with Lee, Zoe Campos (Valencia, Calif.) carded a round of three over, falling into a tie for fourth with Min A Yoon (Republic of Korea) and Emilee Hoffman (Folsom, Calif.), five shots back of Chang.
Michelle Liu is the low Canadian after 36 holes. The 12-year-old Vancouver product fired a bogey-free round, sinking two birdies to bring her score to 2 under, good for a tie for seventh position.
Seventy-two players have advanced to the final two rounds of the championship. The first groups will tee off Thursday at 7:30 a.m. from holes No. 1 and No. 10.
Team Ontario won the Inter-Provincial team competition, with Emily Zhu (Richmond Hill, Ont.), Sarah Dunning (Waterloo, Ont.) and Tiana Cruz (Richmond Hill, Ont.) combining for a score of 18 over. Team British Columbia finished in second, two shots back.
This is Ontario’s first time winning the Inter-Provincial competition since 2014 and their 39th time claiming the team championship since it was inaugurated in 1947.
Play was suspended for 71 minutes, resuming at 4:30 p.m., due to inclement weather.
The 2019 Canadian Women’s Amateur individual champion will earn an exemption into the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and the 2019 CP Women’s Open at Magna Golf Club from August 19-25. Should the winner be a non-Canadian, the low Canadian will also earn an exemption to the 2019 CP Women’s Open.
Americans Lee and Campos share early lead at Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship
Zoe Campos (Justin Naro/ Golf Canada)
Golf Canada
RED DEER, Alta. – World No. 2 Andrea Lee (Hermosa Beach, Calf.) and Zoe Campos (Valencia, Calf.) share the lead after the first round of the 106th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship held at Red Deer Golf & Country Club in Red Deer, Alta.
Both Campos and Lee fired opening rounds of 6 under 66.
Campos played nearly flawless golf in the opening round, making seven birdies. Her lone bogey came on her very last hole – the par-4 No. 9 (she started on the back nine). Campos is no stranger to competing in Canada, as she finished third at the 2018 World Junior Girls Championship at Camelot Golf & Country Club in Cumerland, Ont.
“I thought I played well, everything was pretty much on point,” said Campos. “The course is really tough. The greens are really hard, and you have to manage where you land them. The fairways are really narrow, so you have to be accurate on everything.”
Lee, currently the No. 2-ranked player on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, finished her round strong with three birdies on her final four holes.
Sarah-Ève Rheaume is the low Canadian after the first round at 4 under. The Quebec City product made three birdies on both the front nine and the back nine, and sits in a tie for third heading into the second round.
Ty Akabane (Danville, Calif.) and Brianna Navarrosa (San Diego, Calif.) are tied with Rheaume at 4 under.
Team Québec, consisting of Brigitte Thibault (Rosemère, Que.), Annie Lacombe (Laval, Que.) and Sasha Laoun (Montreal), leads the inter-provincial team competition at 4 over. British Columbia, the two-time defending champions, sit a stroke back.
The 2019 Canadian Women’s Amateur individual champion will earn an exemption into the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and the 2019 CP Women’s Open at Magna Golf Club from August 19-25. Should the winner be a non-Canadian, the low Canadian will also earn an exemption to the 2019 CP Women’s Open.
Red Deer Golf & Country Club set for Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship
(Red Deer Golf & Country Club)
Golf Canada
RED DEER, Alta. – The world’s best amateur golfers are set to compete in the 106th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship taking place at Red Deer Golf & Country Club in Red Deer, Alta. from July 22-26.
The championship was first held in 1901, making it one of the oldest golfing competitions in the world. Red Deer Golf & Country Club will play host to 156 players from 13 countries over four stroke play rounds.
“Golf Canada is delighted to present the 2019 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at such a terrific venue,” said Dan Hyatt, the Tournament Director. “We are confident Red Deer Golf & Country Club will challenge some of the top amateur golfers as they showcase their skills.”
First organized in 1919 and on its current site since 1922, Red Deer Golf & Country Club is among the 150 oldest continuously active golf courses in Canada. The club has hosted numerous provincial and national championships, including the 1976 Alberta Open (won by Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Moe Norman), the Alberta Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championship and the Canadian Golf Club Professional Championship. Red Deer Golf & Country Club is also slated to host the 2022 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship.
“The Red Deer Golf and Country Club membership and staff are anxious to host the 106th Canadian Women’s Amateur,” said Don McFarlane, General Manager of Red Deer Golf and Country Club. “Our golf course is in great condition, and we feel a great fit for this National Championship. We are proud of our facility, and look forward to showcasing it, and our community to the 156 participants and to those watching. The venue and our enthusiastic and supportive membership will ensure good competition, and a memorable week for all.”
In 2018, Yealimi Noh of Concord, Calif. won the championship by a single stroke over Dylan Kim of Sachse, Tex. Noh trailed Kim by a single stroke entering the final round and her even-par 71 was enough for her to capture the title. It was a tremendous week of golf for Noh, who made only four bogeys over the 72 holes.
Current LPGA Tour star Brooke Henderson (Smiths Falls, Ont.) is a recent winner of the event, having captured the title in 2013. Former U.S. Women’s Open Champion Ariya Jutanugarn and reigning Augusta National Women’s Amateur Champion Jennifer Kupcho each won the Canadian Women’s Amateur in 2012 and 2017, respectively.
(Red Deer Golf & Country Club)
A full field of competitors will compete for the Duchess of Connaught Gold Cup and the title of Canadian Women’s Amateur champion, including Team Canada National Amateur Squad member Brigitte Thibault of Rosemère, Que., and Tiffany Kong of Vancouver, who was the low Canadian in 2018.
An inter-provincial team championship will be played in conjunction with the first 36 holes of the competition, with three-player teams vying for the inter-provincial title. Team British Columbia, consisting of Mary Parsons (Delta, B.C.), Christina Proteau (Port Alberni, B.C.) and Naomi Ko (Victoria, B.C.) shot a combined 8 over par to capture British Columbia’s second straight team championship.
The field will be reduced to the low 70 and ties for the final two rounds.
In addition to claiming the title of 2019 Canadian Women’s Amateur champion, the winner will earn exemptions into the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Miss., and the 2019 CP Women’s Open at Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ont. from August 19-25.
Additionally, the low Canadian will earn an exemption into the 2019 CP Women’s Open.
NOTABLES
Brigitte Thibault, Rosemère, Que.
The Team Canada National Amateur Squad member is the highest ranked Canadian in the field (No. 176). Having recently concluded her sophomore season at Fresno State University, Thibault is enjoying a successful 2019 season, winning the Mountain West Conference Championship and the 2019 Ontario Women’s Amateur. The 20-year-old participated at the 2019 Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship and was named to the 2019 Pan-Am Games team in June.
Sarah Dunning, Waterloo, Ont.
A member of the University of Guelph women’s golf team, Dunning qualified for the championship by winning the 2019 Canadian University/College Championship in May. The victory came in dramatic fashion, with Dunning draining a 25-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole to win the tournament by one stroke. She has played the Canadian Women’s Amateur on six occasions.
Andrea Lee, Hermosa Beach, Calif.
Formerly the No. 1-ranked woman on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Lee has played at the last two U.S. Women’s Open Championships. She led the United States to the gold medal in the team event at the 2017 World University games, placing fourth in the individual competition in the process. Lee finished runner-up at the 2016 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship as a 17-year-old.
Lucy Li, Redwood Shores, Calif.
Li has reached as high as No. 4 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Only 16 years old, Li holds the record for the youngest qualifier at the U.S. Women’s Amateur (10 years old in 2013) and the U.S. Women’s Open (11 years old in 2014). She won the silver medal in the mixed team event at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics.
Tiffany Kong, Vancouver
Kong was among the leaders through the first two rounds of last year’s Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, eventually finishing in a tie for 14th as the low Canadian. She continued her solid play by finishing in a tie for third at the 2018 Canadian Junior Girls Championship a week later. Kong helped Canada to a fourth-place result at the 2018 World Junior Girls Championship.
Emilia Migliaccio, Cary, N.C.
Currently ranked No. 9 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Migliaccio is the reigning Atlantic Coast Conference individual champion, having won the event as a member of the Wake Forest University golf team. The 20-year-old participated at the 2019 Arnold Palmer Cup as a member of Team USA.
More information about the 2019 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship can be found here.
Noh captures 2018 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship Title
Yealimi Noh(Photo: Chuck Russell/Golf Canada)
Golf Canada
VANCOUVER, B.C. – Yealimi Noh shot even par 71 to capture the Duchess of Connaught Gold Cup at the 105th playing of the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship on Friday at Marine Drive.
It was another beautiful sunny day and Noh carded a single birdie and a single bogey to shoot her only round in the 70s.
Noh and Dylan Kim duked it out all day. Noh made the turn even after recording her only birdie and only bogey and Kim made the turn also firing a birdie and bogey but still sat one shot ahead.
It wasn’t until Kim bogeyed hole 11 where the duo sat tied through the next 6 holes.
Coming up to the 18th tee the two sat tied at even par. Kim pulled her tee off to the left in the rough and hit her second shot fat and it landed only about 20 or 30 yards ahead, that’s when Noh knew she had a chance to take the lead and decided to change her club.
“I changed clubs, I was about to hit the yardage but then I just wanted to be safe and I’m just going to hit it on the green. I clubbed up and just hit a short shot, I was just going for the green,” said the 17-year-old.
Noh hit her ball off the fairway on to the left of the green and successfully pared the hole where Kim bogeyed it.
“I didn’t think at the beginning of the day I would win. I thought I would shoot at least a couple under, because there was also the other group in front of us. I never try to let my guard down. I think coming through 16, 17, 18 I wasn’t really thinking about it, just wanted to get through each hole.” said Noh.
Just this month Noh has won the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship and the Girl’s Junior PGA Championship, as well as celebrated her 17th birthday on July 26.
“This month has been a whirlwind, the beginning of the year I set my goals for the three this month and this summer, since I’m not playing as much this summer,” said the 2018 Canadian Women’s Amateur Champion. “The biggest goal of mine was to win, well, all of them, but I didn’t think I would win all of them. I would have been really happy to just win one out of three. Winning three in a row is just crazy.”
Kim finished 2-over for the day and a total score of 10-under 274 for the tournament. The 21-year-old from Sachse, Tex. took home the silver medal as well as the Marlene Stewart Streit trophy which, after almost 15 years, was reinstated this year.
Tiffany Kong remained the low scoring Canadian. She finished the tournament 2-over 286 with a share of 14. The Vancouver B.C. native has earned exemption into this year’s CP Women’s Open in August.
Kong is excited at opportunity to play this year at the CP Women’s Open and feels better equipped to play this year than she did three years ago, at age 14, when she played in the CP Women’s Open at Vancouver Golf Club.
“Well, three years ago I was hitting decent for my age but compared to the pros I was like 60 yards behind — hi, I’m way back here. I had to hit 3-woods onto some greens. There were some holes where I couldn’t even reach it with a 3-wood. So now I think I have a better chance of playing better.” said Kong.
Three players walked away with a share of third after carding 9-under 275: Lilia Kha-Tu Vu from Fountain Valley, Calif., Allisen Corpuz from Waipahu, HI. and Gina Kim from Chapel Hill, N.C.
Noh’s victory earns her an exemption into both the 2018 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and the CP Women’s Open at Wascana Country Club on August 20-26, 2018.
Three share lead through two rounds at Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship
Yealimi Noh, Dylan Kim and Gina Kim(Golf Canada)
Golf Canada
VANCOUVER, B.C. – Gina Kim, Yealimi Noh and Dylan Kim all sit 7-under after the second round of the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at Marine Drive on Wednesday.
Gina Kim started the day at 4-under then carded three birdies and a bogey on her front nine. She made the turn and fired three more birdies and a bogey to finish with a 3-under 68, one stroke lower than her score on Tuesday.
“I thought it was a fairly solid round. My shots were really consistent, and I managed to play all the smart shots today and the putts were dropping. I’d say overall I was pretty happy with what I came out with,” said the 18-year-old from Chapel Hill N.C.
“This course is narrow and tricky in its own way. Considering yesterday went pretty well I thought why not just continue to go with what I’ve been doing, and I think it worked out again today and I think I’m going to keep going with that for the rest of the week,” she said.
Dylan Kim came in at 2-under today after starting with two birdies and a bogey on her front nine. The 21-year-old from Sachse, Tex. ended strong with a beautiful birdie on hole 18.
“I got off to a good start and then I went a little rough in the middle there, but I’m proud of the way I finished. I finished with a birdie and that was really nice. I also had a nice par on hole 17, which is a hard hole, so I’m really glad I got through that one,” she said.
Dylan Kim recorded a 66 on Tuesday, to tie Yealimi No’s new course record before Jennifer Kupcho carded a 7-under 64.
“I thought the pins were tougher today, when I was looking at them before my round I was thinking ‘Ok today is going to be a little tougher, I need to be a little bit smarter today,’” said Dylan Kim.
Yealimi Noh from Concord, Calif. also came in at 2-under and had a strong round. She recorded 5 pars in a row on her front nine before adding a birdie to her scorecard. Right before she made the turn she recorded another birdie on hole 9. She finished her back nine with a bogey and a third birdie.
Tiffany Kong, a former Team Canada Development Squad member, recorded a 3-under 68 to land herself in fourth and as the low Canadian. She sits 5-under par for the tournament, just two strokes behind the lead trio.
73 players have advanced to the final two rounds of the national championship. The first groups will tee off Thursday at 7:30 a.m. from holes 1 and 10.
Team British Columbia won the inter-provincial competition after the team consisting of Naomi Ko, Mary Parsons and Christina Proteau shot a combined 8 over par through the two-round event. Team Ontario came in second at 13 over par and Quebec finished 9 back in third.
The 2018 Canadian Women’s Amateur title, the individual champion will earn an exemption into the 2018 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and – along with the low Canadian – the CP Women’s Open at Wascana Country Club on August 20-26, 2018.
Kupcho grabs early lead at Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship
Jennifer Kupcho (Photo Credit: Golf Canada)
Golf Canada
VANCOUVER, B.C. – Jennifer Kupcho shot a 7-under-par 64 during the opening round of the 105th playing of the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at Marine Drive Golf Club on Tuesday.
Kupcho, from Westminster, Colo., carded seven birdies and an eagle on the par 5 13thhole during her round. She was close to recording an eighth birdie on hole 9 but, unfortunately, the ball lipped out.
“I was hitting a lot of fairways, hit a lot of greens, and just made a lot of putts. I was making putts from everywhere,” said Kupcho. “It’s a narrow course so I just tried to keep it straight.”
“The course was really scorable. I was surprised from the practice round yesterday, it seemed like it was going to be difficult, but today I came out and it was just a really scoreable course,” said the current No. 1 ranked amateur golfer.
The Women’s course record was beat earlier in the morning by Yealimi Noh from Concord, Calif.when she recorded a 5-under 66. Dylan Kim from Sachse, Tex. then tied Noh’s new record before Kupcho came in at 7-under to break the record for a second time.
The initial course record was a 4-under 68 set by Annika Sorenstam in 1992 when Marine Drive co-hosted the World Amateur Team Championships in Vancouver where Sorenstam won the individual title.
Yealimi Noh and Dylan Kim sit tied for second just two strokes behind Kupcho. Both players finished with 6 birdies and a bogey on their scorecards.
Two players sit tied in fourth place at 4-under: Alyaa Abdulghany from Newport Beach, Calif., and Gina Kim from Chapel Hill N.C.
Team British Columbia leads the inter-provincial competition after the team consisting of Naomi Ko, Mary Parsons and Christina Proteau shot a combined score of 2-over par. Team Ontario sits in second at 5-over par.
The 2018 Canadian Women’s Amateur title, the individual champion will earn an exemption into the 2018 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and – along with the low Canadian – the CP Women’s Open at Wascana Country Club on August 20-26, 2018.
Canadian Women’s Amateur set to kick off at Marine Drive
Marine Drive Golf Club
VANCOUVER — The women’s course record at Marine Drive Golf Club is 68 and chances are you may be familiar with the player who set that mark. Here’s a hint: she’s Swedish and has 72 LPGA Tour wins.
That’s right, Annika Sorenstam holds that record at Marine Drive, which way back in 1992 co-hosted the World Amateur Team Championships in Vancouver where Sorenstam won the individual title.
Sorenstam’s record has stood for the last 26 years, but some think it could finally fall when an exceptionally strong field gathers for the 105th playing of the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, which goes July 24-27 at Marine Drive.
“It’s a fantastic field,” says Doug Roxburgh, the legendary Marine Drive member who played in that World Amateur tourney in 1992. “The No. 1, 2 and 6 ranked women in the world will be there and a whole bunch more in the top 50 and top 100.”
Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster, Colo., and Lilia Kha-Tu Vu of Fountain Valley, Calif., are ranked 1 and 2 in the current World Amateur Golf Rankings and that is exactly how they finished at last summer’s Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont.
Kupcho returns as defending champion and the 21-year-old has enjoyed a terrific 2018 season that includes winning the individual title at the NCAA Women’s Golf Championships this spring playing for Wake Forest University. Earlier this month, Kupcho finished tied for 16th at the LPGA Tour’s Marathon Classic in Ohio. She went wire to wire at last year’s Canadian Women’s Amateur and beat Vu by five shots.
Vu, a 20-year-old who plays for the UCLA Bruins, has already won four times this year, including the Pac-12 Championship. Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand, currently ranked sixth in the world, is the other top-10 player in the field at Marine Drive.
A spot in the 156-player field was a hot ticket as Golf Canada received 241 applications. The fact Marine Drive is playing host to the event likely played a part in that demand. The venerable private club, which is located on Southwest Marine Drive in south Vancouver, is a classic design of prolific architect A.V. Macan. It opened for play in 1922 and is renowned for producing a number of great players, including Roxburgh, Stan Leonard, Richard Zokol and Marilyn Palmer O’Connor.
At 6,361 yards from the tips, Marine Drive is not a long course by today’s standards, but it is tight and demands precision shot-making.
“They are playing the golf course basically kind of between the white and blue tees,” said Tim Tait, the longtime director of golf at Marine Drive. “It is going to be about 6,200 yards.
“The ladies par is generally 73, but it is going to play as 71 for the tournament. The par 4s are challenging here at Marine and most of our par 3s are also challenging. I think you are going to see the final four holes determine who wins the championship. They are very tough. Three long par 4s and a tough par 3.”
A strong Canadian contingent will be on hand to try and keep the Duchess of Connaught Gold Cup — awarded to the winner — on home soil. Augusta James, back in 2014, was the last Canadian to win the event. Canadian LPGA star Brooke Henderson won it in 2013.
All four members of Canada’s national amateur team — World No. 16 Maddie Szeryk (London, Ont.), No. 26 Jaclyn Lee (Calgary), No. 177 Naomi Ko (Victoria, B.C.) and No. 249 Grace Ste. Germain (Ottawa) — are in the field. They will be joined by development squad members Celeste Dao of Notre-Dame-de-I’lle-Perrot, Que, Monet Chun (Richmond Hill, Ont.), Ellie Szeryk (London, Ont.) and Alyssa DiMarcantonio (Maple Ont).
Ko had the top Canadian finish at last year’s Canadian Women’s Amateur, where she tied for third spot. She recently got her first look at Marine Drive.
“It’s pretty exciting to be here and getting to see the course before the rest of the field,” said Ko, a former Canadian Junior Girls champion who is heading into her senior year at North Carolina State University. “It is an advantage for sure.”
Ko knows a couple of Marine Drive members well in national men’s team member Chris Crisologo and Roxburgh, who recently retired as Golf Canada’s director of player development.
“It is comforting to know people here, so I will probably kind of try to get the little secrets, the inside info from them,” Ko said.
Ko will be joined by B.C. Women’s Amateur champion Mary Parsons of Delta and B.C. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion Christina Proteau of Port Alberni as British Columbia tries to defend its inter-provincial team title won last year at Cutten Fields. That competition takes place during the first two rounds of the tournament.
Avril Li, the Canadian University-College champion from Port Moody, B.C., has a spot in the field and has been doing some extra practising to prepare for the event.
“It is definitely motivating when you see such a strong field,” said Li, who is heading into her senior year at the University of British Columbia. “I have been practising as much as I can these days.”
“This is a tournament where if you come and play well it is a confidence-booster and you can kind from learn from these great players as well. It is a privilege to play in the same event as people ranked that high in the world.”
Roxburgh, the 13-time B.C. Amateur and four-time Canadian Amateur champion, is serving as co-chair of the tournament and is delighted with the way the club’s members are supporting the event.
“It’s been great,” Roxburgh said. “We have 125 volunteers, maybe 110 from the club and 15 from other clubs. We have been busy and the members have come through. We are hoping to put on a really good tournament.”
The winner and top Canadian at Marine Drive will earn exemptions into the CP Women’s Open, which goes Aug. 23-26 at Wascana Country Club in Regina. Admission to the Canadian Women’s Amateur at Marine Drive is free.
105th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship heads to Marine Drive
(Marine Drive Golf Club)
VANCOUVER, B.C. – Marine Drive Golf Club is prepared to host the world’s premier female amateur golfers from July 23-27 for the 105th playing of the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.
The top-two ranked players on the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) headline the 156-player field as Marine Drive hosts the Women’s Amateur Championship for the first time. World No. 1 and defending champion Jennifer Kupcho headlines the group alongside Lilia Kha-Tu Vu (No. 2) and Patty Tavatanakit (No. 6).
Designed in 1922 by the late Arthur Vernon Macan, Marine Drive has been home to many champions. The 6,300 yard, par 71 course is known for its difficulty and has continued to provide an exceptional test of golf. Macan will be celebrated at RBC Hall of Fame Day on July 24 during the RBC Canadian Open as one of two inductees this year into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame for his excellence in Canadian golf architecture.
“We are so excited to host the 105th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at Marine Drive in the beautiful city of Vancouver,” said Tim Tait, Director of Golf at Marine Drive. “We look forward to welcoming the world’s up-and-coming stars to Marine Drive, and crowning the next champion of this storied tournament.”
LPGA stars Brooke Henderson (2013) and Ariya Jutanugarn (2012) are two of many great champions to have hoisted the Duchess of Connaught Trophy before moving on to the professional ranks.
“This tournament has proven to be a stepping stone for many amateurs working towards joining the professional ranks,” said Tournament Director, Dan Hyatt. “Eight of our past 10 winners, including 2013 champion Brooke Henderson, have gone on to find success as professionals. We are very excited to write the next chapter of the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at Marine Drive.”
In 2018, the Marlene Streit Trophy will be awarded to the runner-up for the first time since its retirement in 2006. Streit, a Canadian golf Hall-of-Famer, holds the record of 11 victories at the Canadian Women’s Amateur.
All four members of Team Canada’s Amateur Squad will be in attendance: World No. 16 Maddie Szeryk (London, Ont.), No. 26 Jaclyn Lee (Calgary, Alta.), No. 177 Naomi Ko (Victoria, B.C.) and No. 249 Grace St-Germain (Ottawa, Ont.). Céleste Dao of Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, Que., will be joined by her fellow Team Canada Development Squad members Monet Chun (Richmond Hill, Ont.), Ellie Szeryk (London, Ont.) and Alyssa DiMarcantonio (Maple, Ont.).
In addition to Kupcho, Vu, Tavatanakit, Szeryk and Lee, players in the field from the top-30 world rankings include Mariel Galdiano (No. 19), Haley Moore (No.25) and Emilia Migliaccio (No. 27). Also included in the field is Avril Li, who earned her spot in the event after winning the 2018 Canadian University/College Championship.
A practice round will be conducted on July 23 prior to the championship’s opening round. Following the first two rounds of play, the field will be reduced to the low 70 players and ties. A tie for the championship will be decided by a hole-by-hole playoff immediately following the conclusion of play.
An inter-provincial team championship will take place in conjunction with the first two rounds of play. British Columbia’s Naomi Ko, Michelle Kim and Gloria Usu Choi claimed the team title in 2017.
The winner of the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship will earn an exemption into the CP Women’s Open from Aug. 20-26 at the Wascana Country Club in Regina, Sask.
For more Information on the 2018 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship including the full field, starting times and live scoring, click here.
NOTABLES Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont. The National Amateur Squad member is the highest ranked Canadian in the field (No. 16). The three-time All-American golfer already has two wins in 2018: the Bruzzy Challenge and Dale McNamara Invitational. In 14 events this season, the 21-year-old has five top-five finishes and eighteen top-twenty finishes. She captured both the BC Women’s Amateur Championship and Women’s Western Amateur Championship.
Jaclyn Lee of Calgary, Alta. The Team Canada National Amateur Squad member has made a name for herself this season with wins at the NCAA Big Ten Championship and Westbrook Invitational and six top-ten finishes, including a tied for fifth at the NCAA Women’s Medal Championship. The 21-year-old recently climbed up ten spots to No. 26 in the world rankings after a strong showing at the Meijer LPGA Classic and making it to the semi-finals at the Ladies British Open Amateur Championship.
Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster, Colo. The defending champion and current world No. 1 has three wins so far this season: the NCAA Medal Championship, the NCAA Tallahassee Regional and the Bryan National Collegiate. Kupcho won the event last year by a 5-stroke margin. The 21-year-old amateur most recently finished T16 at the Marathon LPGA.
Lilia Kha-Tu Vu of Fountain Valley, Calif. The current world No. 2 has four victories in 2018 so far: the Pac-12 Championship, the Arizona Wildcat Invitational, Bruin Wave Invitational and the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge. The 20-year-old placed second in this event last year.
Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand The current world No.6, Tavatanakit has won three of the seven 2018 tournaments she has played in, including the NCAA San Fransisco Regional, Pac-12 Championship and Silverado Showdown.
FAST FACTS Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship is among the oldest golfing competitions in Canada.
The champion will earn an exemption into the CP Women’s Open from Aug. 20-26 at the Wascana Country Club in Regina, Sask.
Ten provincial teams with three players each will compete in an inter-provincial championship that will take place in during the first two rounds.
The Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship is an ‘A’ ranked event on the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
Last year’s champion: Jennifer Kupcho from Colorado, current world No. 1 amateur golfer.
Recent past winners and current LPGA major winners include Brooke Henderson (2013), Ariya Jutanugarn (2012)
During the 1901 season, the Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Que. hosted the first competition which was won by Canadian Lillas Young.
Canadian Marlene Streit has the most wins at the event (11) in its history: 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1963, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1973.
Canadian Mary Ann Lapointe is the oldest to ever win the event at 44-years-old.
Judy Darling Evans and Dora Darling are the only mother-daughter combo to win the event.
Five golfers have won the tournament at least three years in a row: Mabel Thomson, Dorothy Campbell, Marlene Stewart Streit, Debbie Massey and Lisa Meldrum.
The Duchess of Connaught was donated in 1914 as the new championship trophy, Dorothy Campbell had won the Lady Grey Trophy outright in 1912 after her third consecutive victory.
The tournament was not held between 1939-1946 because of WWII.
The Marlene Streit trophy, awarded to the runner-up, will be returning for the first time since its retirement in 2006.
ABOUT THE COURSE Designed by A.V. Macan, who will be inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame at the 2018 RBC Canadian Open.
Established 96 years ago.
6,300 yard, par 71 golf course
Host Club for past Canadian Men’s, Men’s Senior and Junior Boys Championships.
