Julia Alexander-Carew has officially cemented herself as the top women’s university golfer in Canada, capturing individual gold at the 2025 Golf Canada Canadian University/College Championship, held June 3–6 at Rivershore Golf Links in Kamloops.
The UBC Okanagan Heat sophomore closed out the event in spectacular fashion, firing a final-round 67 (five-under par) to finish at seven-under overall — enough to hold off a strong contingent of UBC Thunderbirds and clinch the national title.
“It was a really good year for me and closing it out with this type of win is huge,” said Alexander-Carew.
With the victory, she also earns an automatic berth into the 111th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, set to take place July 22–25 at the Riverside Country Club in Saint John, New Brunswick.
“It was an unbelievable week capped off by an amazing final day performance,” said Heat head coach Clay Stothers. “It was one of the greatest days I have had as a coach. I am so proud of Julia and believe this is just a start of something amazing for her and her career.”
Alexander-Carew’s Heat teammates — Lauren Nedo, Emily Cornwall, and Bess Chan — helped secure a second-place team finish for the second consecutive year. Nedo and Cornwall placed seventh and eighth individually, with Chan tying for 17th. It marks the women’s team’s fourth straight national podium finish.
Stothers added, “I am very proud of the girls who are seeing first hand their hard work paying off. We have come so far in a very short time as a program. The future is extremely bright.”
On the men’s side, UBCO’s five-man team made the cut and placed ninth overall at 45-over par (1,197). Ryan Gillis led the way, finishing tied for 12th at even par — a performance capped by a hole-in-one in his final round.
Meanwhile, Rivershore Golf Links earned praise for delivering championship-caliber conditions. Superintendent Eric Newnham and his team implemented an aggressive maintenance plan, including verti-cutting, top-dressing, and greens rolling to ensure firm and fast surfaces.
“Hosting a national event during peak season is no easy task, but our crew delivered,” said Newnham in Rivershore’s June newsletter.
As the event concluded, the course transitioned to planned improvements including irrigation intake upgrades, bunker renovations, and more efficient mowing practices.
The UBC Thunderbirds captured both the men’s and women’s team titles, with standout performances from players including Una Chou, Aidan Schumer, and Dylan MacDonald, who kept the Thunderbirds in contention throughout the week.
Quote Attributions:
Quotes from Julia Alexander-Carew and Clay Stothers reported by Jordy Cunningham, Kelowna Capital News
Course quote from Eric Newnham via Rivershore Golf Links June newsletter