Friends Alisha Lau And Hannah Lee Competing And Having Fun

Good Friends And Friendly Competitors, Hannah Lee (L) And Alisha Lau (R) - Image Credit Jeff Sutherland

by Alfie Lau

At the heart of it, Alisha Lau and Hannah Lee are two 15-year-olds having a great time.

Besides the fact they’re two of the best young junior golfers in the province, they’re both competing with and against each other at this week’s British Columbia Golf Amateur & Mid-Amateur Women’s Championship at Duncan Meadows Golf Course.

Paired together, along with American Madisen Bentley, Lau and Lee both shot opening rounds of (+1) 73, one shot out of the lead. 

“I do try to play my own game, take it shot by shot, but it’s pretty cool to play with Hannah,” said Lau, a Richmond native. “We never get to play together. There’s been times at tournaments when we think we’re going to be paired for the final round, but it doesn’t happen.”

Lee, who lives in Surrey and hones her craft at the Golf LAB at Northview with Matt Palsenbarg and his team, was also excited to play with one of her best friends. “I’m pretty relaxed when I play with Alisha,” said Lee. “I’m a pretty steady player and so is Alisha, so we just go out and have a lot of fun.”

It was only natural that the two of them decided to play as best-ball partners and they’re also right in the mix in that competition. There’s also no jealousy between the two, as Lau was named last year as part of the Team Canada Development Team.

So while Lau is playing with and learning beside fellow Team Canada members Jaclyn Lee, Naomi Ko and Michelle Kim (the fifth member Grace St-Germain is not playing the BC Women’s Amateur), Lee is taking the opportunity to learn and see if she can earn that designation. “I’m happy for Alisha and that’s something I would love to get to,” said Lee.

After this week’s tournament, they’ll get to play against each other at Cordova Bay in Victoria for the British Columbia Junior Girls Championship. Later this summer, they’ll get to play as two of the four members of Team BC at the Western Canadian Summer Games in Wood Buffalo, AB.

Alisha’s mother Linda is excited both of them have this opportunity. “They are such good friends and they’ll get to represent BC together,” said Linda. “I think they’re going to have a great time there.”

And since they’re both still so young, they’re also eligible to play the British Columbia Juvenile Championships at Spallumcheen in Vernon after their return from Alberta.

Add in an expected appearance for both at the Canadian Juniors and it’s going to be a busy – and fun – summer for the two good friends. “It’s always super fun when we get out and play,” said Lau. “I’m looking forward to everything we have planned for this summer.”

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