Christine Wong Claims Record Victory at Women’s Amateur

Final Round Recap

Team Canada member Christine Wong sets 72-hole record score to capture her second British Columbia Women’s Amateur title at Christina Lake Golf Club.

Coming off her third-round course record seven-under 65, Wong closed out her impressive victory with a two-under-par 70, 274 total (70-69-65-70-274), the lowest the Championship has witnessed since it went to a four-round format back in 2006. The previous record was a 275 total held by Kira Meixner in 2008.

A native of Richmond and member at Quilchena G&CC, Wong staved off unrelenting pressure at the onset by Soo-Bin Kim of Port Coquitlam who just wouldn’t seem to give up on the title.

Going into day, Wong knew she had to remain poised and in a groove if she wanted to take the crown. “My whole routine from when I woke up and got to the course was exactly the same as it has been all week although I was really nervous going into the final round of the Amateur with the lead.”

“I struggled with my game on the first six holes, making two birdies then a double bogey. I was obviously very nervous but was able to get it back after that.”

Her lead looked like it was beginning to slip not because of poor play but thanks to birdies from Kim on holes 4, 6, 7 and 10, brining it to as little as three strokes.

“Soo-Bin [Kim] is an excellent player, a clutch player and was able to get a few birdies and narrow my lead, which made me even more nervous,” said Wong. “I had to tell myself that I still had a lead at that point.”

“Right when she got [the lead] to three, I was able to make three birdies in a row and get it back. I was more myself on the back nine.”

Her three birdies in a row on holes 11, 12 and 13 added to Wong’s impressive domination of the back nine at Christina Lake GC, which saw her go a total of -11 par on the inward half over the four days of the Championship.

Wong would close out the final five holes with four pars and a lone bogey on the par 5, 430 yard 15th where she was admittedly feeling the heat of the lead and had to calm herself down.

“I looked down at my right hand on the 15th and it was shaking like I have never seen it shake before, like I couldn’t even stop it” laughed Wong. “I told myself that I have been in this situation before and to simply get on the green, two putt and move on to the next hole.”

Wong was lucky to have had the previous experience of winning, which she did so in back in 2010 by claiming her first Amateur Championship, as the course was set up difficult on the final day. “The tee boxes were moved back and the pins tucked in the corners. The course was set up today harder than any other day this week.”

“I was able to hit it in the right places when I needed to and made some key putts to win the Championship.”

When asked about the win, Wong could only compliment her friend. “I really look up to Soo-Bin because we are good friends and she is such a good player. I guess I am just proud of both of us.”

While Wong and Kim were duking it out for top spot, systematically climbing the leaderboard was Megan Osland of Kelowna, who closed out the Championship with an impressive final two round line of 66-70, 281 total (72-73-66-70-281). At one point, Osland was tied with Kim for second thanks to an impressive chip-in eagle on the par 5, 430-yard 15th hole.

The race for second however didn’t last long as Kim birdied the par 4, 375-yard 17th and Osland bogeyed. With a final hole par, Kim’s four-round-total was brought to 278 (70-70-71-67-278) including a days-best final round five-under-par 67, good enough for solo second with Osland finishing solo third.

As a result of their great performances, Wong, Kim and Osland will now represent British Columbia on Team BC at the Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship to be held at Lethbridge Country Club in Lethbridge, Alberta on July 24-27, 2012.

Wong’s game plan going into nationals is pretty simple, “go out and play like I did this week.”

Rounding out the top five was Team Canada Development Squad member Taylor Kim of Surrey (71-73-71-70-285) and recently crowned Mid-Amateur champion Kyla Inaba of Kelowna (69-71-74-71-285) who both finished tied for 4th.

First round leader A. Ram Choi of Surrey finished the Championship with a respectable two-under-par 286 total (67-73-75-71-286) and defending champion Christina Proteau of Port Alberni rounded out those finishing under par with a one-under-par 287 total (71-71-72-73-287).

British Columbia Golf would like to thank all of the staff and volunteers at Christina Lake Golf Club for the generosity and hospitality while hosting the Women’s Amateur. Without your support, this Championship could not have happened.

For full results, click here

Round Three Recap

Christine Wong widened her gap on the field at the BC Golf Women’s Amateur and Mid-Amateur Championships following a course-record seven-under-par 65 at Christina Lake Golf Club (Par 72, 6,189 yards).

Wong, a native of Richmond and member of Team Canada, started the day with a one-stroke advantage over the field in the Amateur division. Her course-record setting round was very impressive as she started the first three holes at level par, only to explode and go seven under through her next eleven holes. This eleven hole stretch featured birdies on the 4th, 5th, 9th, 11th and 14th as well as an eagle-three on the par 5, 474-yard 11th, the second for her in two rounds.

When asked about her course record performance, Wong was extremely modest. “The course was in great shape and the greens were rolling really well. I guess I was just lucky a few of my putts dropped.”

“I always get nervous during tournament golf but I am getting more used to validating any birdies I make and I was able to do that today so I am happy.”

Wong now goes into the final round with a -12 par, 204 total (70-69-65-204). Sitting in a tie for second is Kelowna’s Megan Osland who held a newly established course record at six-under-par 66 (72-73-66-211) for about 15-minutes before Wong came in one shot lower. Thanks to her third round, Osland sits with a -5 total score for the Championship.

“The conditions were perfect today. I was able to play really well on the front nine and come in steady,” said Osland, the San Jose State University sophomore.

“There are some great players in the field so I am going to have to come out tomorrow and play another solid round to have a chance.”

Soo-Bin Kim of Port Coquitlam is the other player in the Amateur division in a tie for second with Osland at five-under-par. Kim, a past runner-up in 2009, matched Wong’s eagle total by recording her second of the Championship on the par 5, 470-yard 4th hole en route to a one-under-par 71, 211 total (70-70-71-211). Compliments of a one-under-par 71 (69-73-71-213), Amanda Baker of Nanaimo sits alone in fourth place with a -3 total for the Championship.

On the Mid-Amateur side, a new champion was crowned as second round division leader Kyla Inaba of Kelowna was able to hold off defending champ Christina Proteau of Port Alberni and take the Mid-Amateur title in a three-hole playoff.

Inaba relinquished her start-of-the-day two-stroke lead to Proteau very early on in the round thanks to a triple-bogey seven on the par 4, 410-yard 6th hole.

“I had to take an unplayable and then things just kind of blew up from there,” professed Inaba on the triple bogey. “I just continued to play shot-by-shot from there as best I could.”

Both players continued in their round with relative normality until defending champion Proteau decided to go on a run, making three birdies in a row on holes 13,14 and 15. This streak was partially matched by Inaba who birdied 14 and 15.

“Those were some pretty big birdies by both of us,” stated Inaba. “I think I made a 45-footer on 14 and Christina [Proteau] made a 20-footer. That was good to keep us both in it.”

After matching bogey’s on the 17th hole and par on the final, both players sat at -2 total for the Championship forcing a sudden death playoff. Proteau finished the day at even-par 72, 214 total (71-71-72-214) and Inaba at +2, 74 (69-71-74-214).

Heading to the par-4 18th hole for the first sudden death hole, both players managed to make par. The second hole went to the par-4 10th where Inaba had a 3-footer for the win, only to miss with what she called a “yip that didn’t even hit the hole.” Both players walked away with bogey five, forcing a third playoff hole where Inaba redeemed herself, making a 3-footer for par to Proteau’s bogey.

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet but it sure does feel darn good to be the Mid-Amateur Champion,” laughed Inaba.

Also decided following the third round play was the Master-40 division champion and that goes to Shelly Stouffer of Nanoose Bay. Coming into the day only one stroke ahead of recently crowned Women’s Super Senior champion Alison Murdoch of Victoria, Stouffer capped her Championship with a five-over-par 77, good enough for a 228 total (78-73-77-228) and the division title. She also finished third in the Mid-Amateur division.

“This feels good. It was a lot of fun out there,” expressed Stouffer. “It always feels good to win.”

Stouffer, the 2011 Canadian Master-40 champion, has only recently got back into amateur golf. She was re-instated as an amateur in 2011 after playing professionally on the Canadian Women’s Tour as well as taking time off for her kids.

“There is always pressure playing tournament golf and with having taken some time off to be with my kids, this win does feel great.”

Finishing tied runner-up in the division was Murdoch along with Sandra Turbide of Maple Ridge.

Final round action for the Women’s Amateur is set to take place tomorrow at 7:30am. Spectators are welcome to attend and entrance is free of charge.

For final round tee times, please click here

For Amateur results, please click here

For full Mid-Amateur/Master-40 results, please click here

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A. Ram Choi of Surrey leads the charge after round one of the BC Golf Women’s Amateur and Mid-Amateur Championship at Christina Lake Golf Club (Par 72, 6,189 yards).

Choi, a member of Vancouver Golf Club, vaulted her way up the leaderboard into the lead with an impressive five-under-par 67, thanks in large part to seven birdies, five of which came on her inward half.

This five-under score gives Choi the lead in the Amateur division by only two strokes over Kyle Inaba of Kelowna and pre-tournament favourite and 2011 runner-up Amanda Baker of Nanaimo. Both players managed to keep their composure throughout the numerous delays, firing identical three-under-par 69’s. Sitting tied in fourth place and only three off the lead are Richmond’s Christine Wong and Port Coquitlam’s Soo-Bin Kim. Both players were able to shoot two-under-par 70’s. Wong won this Championship back in 2010 when it was held at Arbutus Ridge Golf Club and is poised to make a run for her second title.

On the Mid-Amateur side, Inaba holds a narrow two-shot margin of lead over defending 2011 champion Christina Proteau of Port Alberni. Proteau made four birdies and three bogies on the day, leaving herself well within reach of defending both the Amateur and Mid-Amateur titles from last year.

Alone in third-place in the Mid-Amateur division is recent Super Senior champion Alison Murdoch of Victoria. Murdoch had a relatively uneventful outward half, only to somewhat stumble coming in to card a still-respectable two-over-par 74.

The Championship also features a Master-40 division, of which Murdoch is out front but followed closely by Sandra Turbide of Maple Ridge and fellow islander Kim Evans of Nanaimo, both competitors posted five-over-par 77’s.

Following the completion of the second round, the Club Team (gross and net) and Zone Team (gross and net) champions will be announced. After day one, Zone 2 is leading both the gross and net divisions. The players competing for the Club Team will be determined after tomorrows play.

Second round action continues Wednesday July 4th 2012 at 7:30am at Christina Lake Golf Club. All spectators are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

For full results, please visit www.britishcolumbiagolf.org or download the free iPhone, Android or Blackberry Application.

Championship Preview

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