Christine Wong of Richmond, B.C., won the BC Golf Women’s Amateur Championships held last week at the Christina Lake Golf Club.
Competing against 68 women from across the province, Wong was able to take the lead early in the championship.
Kyla Inaba of Kelowna took the mid-amateur championship and placed fifth in the amateur championship.
Carol Brown, tournament chair for Women’s Amateur B.C. Golf, noted that though Tuesday was quite wet, the last three days were good.
“We had to suspend the tournament two or three times but everybody hung in there and teed off again at 4 o’clock and finished the round,” she said. “We finished off the week with beautiful weather.”
Brown stated that the next tournament is the Nationals at the end of July.
“We have a great champion and Christine Wong will represent us very well,” she added.
Executive Director of B.C. Golf Kris Jonasson agreed.
“The quality of the play was outstanding and we have some excellent women players in British Columbia,” he said. “I would encourage all golfers to come and see if they can break Christine Wong’s score.”
The original women’s record at the Christina Lake Golf Club was 68 but was broken twice in one day. The first time another participant managed a 67 par, before Wong scored at 65 to hold the new record.
Winner Christine Wong thanked her family and fellow competitors.
“Thank you for everything this week,” she said. “To the golf course volunteers and the (Christina Lake Golf Club) general manager, Kevin Maffioli, the course is in great shape and I think the greens were in top condition after the rain.”
Maffioli said, “Having all these talented golfers from around British Columbia is exciting for the area and it’s exciting to have their families here in the Boundary area. The golf was great and the organization went well.”
This is the first time the golf club has hosted the women’s amateur and mid-amateur tournament, but it won’t be the last.
Christina Lake Golf Club has also hosted five other BC Golf League events, including the Men’s Amateur in 2002, BC’s Junior in 2004, B.C. Senior Ladies in 2005 and Juvenile in 2007.
“It’s hard to quantify that in terms of the exposure you get in terms of knowing that all the golfers in B.C. are focusing here this week. The exposure for Christina Lake, Grand Forks and the area is really good because we’ve had a lot of people who haven’t come here before and enjoying it so it’s exceptional,” concluded Maffioli. “It’s pretty exciting and I’m hoping to invite them over for another one in the next couple of years.”
Soo-Bin Kim and Megan Osland will join Wong at the Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship in Lethbridge, Alta. from July 24 to 27.