Many of North America’s elite senior women amateurs are ready to compete for the Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Senior Championship which takes place Aug. 20-22 at Spallumcheen Golf and Country Club, in Vernon, B.C.
The field of 107 players competes for the Ada Mackenzie Trophy over three rounds of stroke play. Simultaneously, the first two rounds of the championship feature an inter-provincial team competition and a Super-Senior championship, which is open to players 60 years of age and older.
“We are thrilled that Spallumcheen Golf and Country Club will have the opportunity to host this national championship,” said Mary Beth McKenna, Golf Canada Tournament Director. “The strong field that we have in attendance this year is sure to be treated to a beautiful golf course and a wonderful championship. We could not ask for a better conclusion to the 2013 Royale Cup events.”
Headlining the field will be 2013 Canadian Golf Hall of Fame inductee Alison Murdoch of Victoria, B.C. Murdoch will attempt to take home a record fifth Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Senior Championship title in her home province. Murdoch has also had success in international competition winning both the British and Irish Senior events.
This year’s field also consists of Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member and two-time Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Senior Champion Mary Ann Hayward of Aurora, Ont. Hayward, who was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2007, won back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011. Her illustrious career includes four Canadian Amateur Championships, five Ontario Amateur Championships, six Quebec Amateur Championships and an extraordinary 12 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur titles.
Also in the field is two-time Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Senior Champion Jackie Little of Port Alberni, B.C. who won back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2009. Previously this season, Little won her second Alberta Senior Ladies Championship title.
In addition to competing for the Ada Mackenzie Trophy, competitors vie for the Royale Cup Champions Trophy. This commemorative trophy honours each of the three women’s Canadian amateur champions (junior, amateur and senior) crowned each season by Golf Canada. The Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Amateur Champion, Team Canada National Squad member Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., and the Royale Cup Canadian Junior Girls Champion, Maddie Szeryk of Allen, Texas, had their names etched on the trophy earlier this season.
The winner of the 2013 Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Senior Championship also earns an exemption into the 2013 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship being played September 21-26 at CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, Calif.
The inter-provincial team championship features three-member teams competing in conjunction with the first two rounds of stroke play. Each day, the best two of three scores will count towards the two day team total. This year, Team Ontario looks to defend their title as provincial champions with Hayward, Andrea Blackwell of Kingston, Ont., and Ivy Steinberg of Stouffville, Ont.
Conducted since 1971, the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship has featured many of the country’s top senior golfers. Canadian Golf Hall of Fame members Murdoch, Hayward, Marlene Streit, Gayle Borthwick, Marilyn O’Connor and Margaret Todd all own senior titles.
The Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Senior Championship is contested over three rounds of stroke play (54-holes). The field is open to players who have reached the age of 50 by the date of the first round, Aug. 20, 2013.
Practice rounds will be held Monday, Aug. 19. Championship play will be conducted Tuesday, Aug. 20 through Thursday, Aug. 22 with 18 holes of stroke play each day. Any tie after 54 holes will result in a hole-by-hole playoff.
A complete list of competitors, starting times and full post-round results for the 2013 Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Senior Championship can be found here.