2013 Bantam Championship
Final Recap
Roy Kang and Alisha Lau Claim Bantam Championship Titles at Qualicum Beach
Qualicum Beach, British Columbia (BRITISH COLUMBIA GOLF)- Roy Kang of North Vancouver and Alisha Lau of Richmond posted under-par final rounds to claim the 2013 British Columbia Bantam Boys’ and Girls’ titles at the Qualicum Beach Memorial Golf Club in Qualicum Beach, British Columbia.
Kang, a 14-year-old member of the Swan-e-Set Bay Resort in Pitt Meadows, closed his Championship in style during today’s final round, posting a 2-under-par 68 on a day that featured wind gusts and overcast skies. His two-day 69-68-137 (-3) total gave him a two shot victory over first round leader and fellow 14-year-old A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam.
“It was a tough one out there,” stated Kang, a 10th grader who is getting prepared to go back to school in a couple of weeks.
“I had some birdies and bogeys and I tried to grind it out. I didn’t know if I was going to win so I just kept trying to make par. It was a great win.
With the win, Kang joins the likes of Eugene Wong (2002, 2003, 2004), Adam Svensson (2007) and Ewart (2011) on the Harry White Trophy as champion.
Ewart, playing in the group ahead of Kang on the 9-hole Qualicum Beach Memorial GC, fought his way to a 1-over-par 71 today, remaining under-par for the Championship but two off Kang’s pace. Ewart’s two-day 68-71-139 total proved that his win two years ago was not a once-in-a-lifetime flash of brilliance but a step in the right direction towards successful junior and amateur golf well into his future.
Finishing alone in third was Tristan Mandur, 14 of Mill Bay and a member at the Arbutus Ridge Golf and Country Club. Mandur, playing alongside Ewart, posted rounds of 69-72-141 (+1) over the course of 36-holes to close out a successful British Columbia Golf Championship season that featured this accomplishment and a T6 at last week’s Juvenile Boys’ Championship at Crown Isle GR.
Tying Kang’s round-of-the-day at 68 was Khan Lee, 13 of Surrey and a student at the Lab at Northview Golf and Country Club. If it were not for an opening round 75,K. Lee could have potentially challenged Kang for the overall title.
Defending champion Callum Davison, 13 of Duncan, finished in seventh place with a two-round line of 71-75-146 (+6).
In the Girls’ division, 13-year-old Alisha Lau of Richmond broke the log-jam at the top of the leader board to claim victory by a single stroke over playing competitor Hannah Lee, 13 of Surrey. Lau, a member of the Quilchena Golf and Country Club, handled the title pressure like a seasoned veteran, contrary to what she stated after her round.
“It was kind of nerve-wracking because I didn’t know where my competitors were in the group behind me,” she claimed.
“It was a tough battle but I tried to grind it out the best I could and I just fought for it.”
Alisha Lau kisses the Bantam Girls' trophy following win
Fought for it she did, posting a final round 1-under-par 69 that complimented her opening round even-par 70. Her 139 total allowed her to be the only Bantam Girl under-par following two rounds.
Finishing alone in second was H. Lee who showed a calmness over her two rounds, posting back-to-back even-par 70′s to finish the tournament at 140 (E). Five strokes back of Lau in third place was Mary Parsons, 14 of Delta. Parsons mirrored H. Lee’s consistency, posting rounds of 72-72-144 to finish the Championship at +4.
The low Vancouver Islander in the Girls’ division was recent Juvenile Girls’ standout Shirin Anjarwalla, 13 of Nanaimo. Anjarwalla again proved that she is close to breakthrough as a provincial champion, posting rounds of 70-75-145 (+5).
Defending champion Kathrine Chan, 14 of Richmond, finished alone in seventh with a 76-76-152 (+12) total.
British Columbia Golf would like to thank the Qualicum Beach Memorial Golf Club for hosting the Bantam Championship. The course, celebrating its 100th Anniversary in 2013, got rave reviews from players and parents alike.
“It is a very nice course. It was a tough track through the first four or five holes but it is good to have that kind of challenge at these kinds of tournaments,” mentioned Lau in her acceptance speak
“Thank you to the entire golf club, it was a great couple of days.”
For Boys’ final results, please click here
For Girls’ final results, please click here
Round One Recap
Qualicum Beach, British Columbia (BRITISH COLUMBIA GOLF)- A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam holds a one stroke margin in the Bantam Boys’ Championship while three girls sit tied for the lead in the Bantam Girls’ Championship with one round remaining at the Qualicum Beach Memorial Golf Club in Qualicum Beach, British Columbia.
Ewart, a 14-year-old member of the Pitt Meadows Golf Club and the 2011 Bantam Boys’ champion, made a strong case to become a repeat champion of this event, opening with a 2-under-par 68 during gusty conditions on the tree-lined par-70 Qualicum Beach Memorial Golf Club layout. This opening tally leaves him one-stroke ahead of two chasing competitors in Tristan Mandur, 14 of Mill Bay and Roy Kang, 14 of North Vancouver.
Kang and Mandur were the only other players to break par during today’s first round, carding 1-under 69′s in their bid for the 36-hole title featuring British Columbia’s most talented golfers aged 14 and younger.
Sitting at even-par and in a perfect position to put pressure on the leader is Daniel Sun, 13 of Surrey. Sun, a Fraser Valley Zone 3 player, carded the score of 70 that featured four straight birdies on holes 7-10, his 4th-7th of the day. The 71-player field is playing the 9-hole Qualicum Beach Memorial GC in a shotgun format whereby each player will play 18-holes on each day of play.
Alone in fifth is defending champion Callum Davison, 13 of Duncan. Davison, looking to repeat his performance from last years’ Championship at Merritt G&CC, posted an up-and-down 1-over-par 71 that featured five birdies, four bogeys and one double bogey.
Fort St. John’s Jake Lane, 14, is alone in sixth and will have to make an early charge at Ewart after posting an opening round 72, four strokes back of the lead.
In the Girls’ division, three golfers are log-jammed at the top of the leader board heading into tomorrow’s final round. Shooting opening round even-par 70′s were a trio of 13-year-olds in Surrey’s Hannah Lee, Richmond’s Alisha Lau and Nanaimo’s Shirin Anjarwalla.
All three golfers have been on a recent roll, placing within the top ten in last weeks’ British Columbia Juvenile Girls’ Championship at Crown Isle GR. Anjarwalla, a member of the Nanaimo Golf Club, lead the charge last week, finishing in fourth place after holding the lead heading into the final round of the Championship. Lau finished fifth while Lee closed out the Championship in a T7 position.
Sitting in fourth place in the Girls’ division after today’s round is 14-year-old Mary Parsons of Delta. Parsons, a member of the Delta Golf Club, fired a respectable 2-over-par 72 on the oceanside layout. Two strokes back of her and only four off the pace thanks to a 4-over-par 74 is Natalie Chu, 14 of Vancouver and a member at Point Grey Golf and Country Club. Cecile Kwon, 13 of Maple Ridge, is in sixth after shooting +5 (75) during her first 18-holes
Defending champion Kathrine Chan, 13 of Richmond, sits in a tie for seventh place at +6 after opening her title defence with a 76. Last weeks’ standout victor in 13-year-old Sumie Francois of Burnaby is in a tie for ninth after struggling her way to an 8-over-par 78.
Final round action will begin tomorrow at 10:00am with a shotgun start. Spectators are welcomed and encouraged to attend as entrance is free of charge.
For Boys’ tee times and full scores, please click here
For Girls’ tee times and full scores, please click here
Follow along on social media using the official hashtag #BCBantams
CLICK HERE FOR ROUND ONE PHOTOS
Preview
Qualicum Beach, British Columbia (BRITISH COLUMBIA GOLF)- The Qualicum Beach Memorial Golf Club in Qualicum Beach, British Columbia is set to play host to the 2013 British Columbia Bantam Boys’ and Girls’ Championship on August 26-27, 2013.
Showcasing the up-and-coming golf talent 14 years of age and younger, the provincial Bantam Boys’ and Girls’ Championship acts as a springboard for competitive level golfers to gain important tournament exposure before they reach the junior ranks.
Defending his 2012 Boys’ title will be Callum Davison, 13 of Duncan and a member of the Duncan Meadows Golf Club. Eager to take the limelight from Davison will be a number of challengers including Mill Bay’s Tristan Mandur, 14, 14-year-old Roy Kang of North Vancouver, Fort St. John’s Jake Lane, 14 and 2011 Bantam Boys’ champion A.J. Ewart, 14 of Coquitlam.
Hoping to defend her 2012 Girls’ title is 13-year-old Kathrine Chan of Richmond. Chan will be up against serious competition including 13-year-old Sumie Francois of Burnaby who just recently won the British Columbia Juvenile Girls’ title at Crown Isle GR. Others who will challenge Chan in her title defence are Shirin Anjarwalla, 13 of Nanaimo, Alisha Lau, 13 of Richmond, Hannah Lee, 13 of Surrey and 14-year-old Abigail Rigsby of Courtenay.
Playing as a par-70 5,310 yard course for the Boys’ and a par-70 4,846 yard course for the Girls’, Qualicum Beach Memorial Golf Course will be an honest test of skill when the 71-player combined field begin play in the 36-hole event featuring no cut on Monday morning.
Contested since 2002, the Bantam Boys’ Championship trophy features names like amateur standout Eugene Wong (2002, 2003 & 2004), a star at the University of Oregon while playing for the Ducks. Others include Team Canada Development Squad members Adam Svensson (2006 & 2007) and Kevin Kwon (2008), as well as 2012 BC Summer Games gold medalist Curtis Chan (2009).
Beginning one year after the Boys’, the Bantam Girls’ Championship began in 2002 with past champions including Jessica Wallace (2003), Sue Kim (2004 & 2005), Anica Yoo (2006) and Jisoo Keel (2007).
Spectators are welcomed and encouraged to attend. Entrance is free of charge.
For Boys’ tee times, please click here
For Girls’ tee times, please click here
Follow along on social media using the official hashtag #BCBantams