2013 Junior Girls’ Championship

Final Recap

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Oleksiew Hangs On for British Columbia Junior Girls’ Championship

Oleksiew, Alix Kong and Team Canada’s Naomi Ko represent Team BC at upcoming Royale Cup Canadian Junior Girls’

Langley, British Columbia (BRITISH COLUMBIA GOLF)- Jamie Oleksiew gave a couple strokes back to the field but was able to hang off a charging Alix Kong for her first British Columbia Junior Girls’ Championship hosted by the Belmont Golf Course in Langley, British Columbia.

Oleksiew, 17 from Surrey and a member of the Colorado University Women’s Golf team, had built a sizeable eight-stroke-lead over the course of her first 54-holes and needed only a three-over-par 74 final round to finish the Championship at -4 (71-69-66-74-280), two strokes ahead of her nearest competitor Alix Kong, 16 of West Vancouver.

After going through the paces over the first 17-holes, Oleksiew would relinquish three-strokes with an uncharacteristic triple-boegy 18th hole. Thanks to her great play over the first three days, that triple bogey was a mere blip on the radar of an outstandingly played championship.

Asked about her win, Oleksiew was proud overall but critical of her finish.

“The last hole, I mean I hit a good tee shot but the wind caught it and it didn’t end up in a very good spot. I had to punch out, flew the green and ended up getting into trouble,” she said

“I am pretty happy overall because this is the first tournament that I have finished under par and the first time I have won anything with BC Golf. I am pretty proud of myself and I shot a course record (in yesterday’s third round) which I have never done before.”

Oleksiew was playing in the final group with Kong and Team Canada Development Squad member Naomi Ko, 15 of Victoria and a member of the Royal Colwood Golf Club, a fact that never seemed to phase her.

“I knew that I had to keep to my own game strategy and not get distracted with how they were playing,” she said.

Kong, bouncing back in her closing 36-holes after a lacklustre second round, put all the pressure she could on the front-running Oleksiew with a three-under-par 68 today, getting her total to -2 overall (71-74-69-68-282). Unfortunately for the Capilano Golf and Country Club member, she would finish two strokes back of the eventual champion.

“Alix played a ground round today, she made plenty of birdies and a lot of par saves,” mentioned Oleksiew.

Ko, the other player in the lead group, would post a final round one-under-par 70, sealing third place all to herself at +2 overall (72-70-74-70-286), a position that would make her the final member of Team BC, along with Kong and Oleksiew, heading to the Royale Cup Canadian Junior Girls’ at the Cherry Downs Golf and Country Club in Pickering, Ontario from July 30- August 2.

“Naomi and Alex are really good players so I think we have a really good chance of winning at the Canadians,” said a happy Oleksiew.

British Columbia Golf would like to thank the Belmont Golf Course, the West Coast Golf Group and all of their staff for their support of amateur golf in British Columbia. The consensus from the players in the Championship was how well maintained the golf course was, an opinion that was echoed by the champion Oleksiew.

“I have played Belmont a lot over the years but this is the best condition I have ever seen it in.”

Oleksiew will now head to the CN Future Links Western Championship at Wolf Creek Resort in Ponoka, Alberta.

Round Three Recap

Oleksiew Goes Low to Open an Eight Stroke Lead at British Columbia Junior Girls’ Championship

Oleksiew is the only player under par for the Championship; Alix Kong bounces back during day three to get into solo second

Langley, British Columbia (BRITISH COLUMBIA GOLF)- Jamie Oleksiew carded a Championship low five-under-par third round to open up an eight stroke lead heading into the final round of the 2013 British Columbia Junior Girls’ Championship hosted by Belmont Golf Course (par 71, 6013 yards).

Oleksiew, 17 from Surrey and a member of the Colorado University Women’s Golf team, had a very impressive round of 66 thanks to seven birdies, one eagle, two bogeys and a double bogey. Her three round -7, 206 total (71-69-66) puts her eight strokes ahead of her nearest competitor in 16-year-old Alix Kong of West Vancouver.

Oleksiew credits her great round with remaining patient at Belmont.

“I tried to stay really patient out there. It is a long golf course. I made a lot of birdies and was able to start off with an eagle [on her second hole] so that helped.”

Oleksiew eagled the par-5 second hole, birdied the fourth before bookending a double bogey five on the par-3 eight with birdies on seven and nine. Making the turn in three-under-par, Oleksiew would trade birdie with bogey on 10 and 11 before carding three birdies in a four hole stretch between holes 14-17. Unfortunately she would close out her round with a bogey on the last, a detail she didn’t seem to mind.

Asked about her game plan for tomorrow’s final round in the hopes of closing out her first Junior Girls’ title, the soon-to-be 19-year-old (celebrates her birthday next month) was very mature.

“[My mindset] will be the same as today. I am going to go out and play my own game and not focus on what anyone else is doing.”

Part of this maturity can be credited to her play in the Pac-12 for the Colorado University Buffalos.

“The Pac-12 has a lot of good players which forces me to really play good golf. When I went down there, I was forced to relearn how to play the game so it has really helped me out.”

Sitting in solo second is Kong at +1 (71-74-69-214). True to her reputation, the Capilano Golf and Country Club member backed up a lacklustre performance in yesterday’s second round with a two-under-par 69 that featured an eagle, three birdies and three bogies.

Alone in third is Team Canada National Development Squad member Naomi Ko of Victoria. Ko, 15, posted a round three score of 74, allowing herself to play in the final pairing tomorrow.

One other player posted a below-par score during today’s final round and that was Delta’s Annie Yang. Yang, 18, squeaked under par in today’s round with a one-under-par 70. Yang’s 217 total (78-69-70) has her in fourth place, one stroke back of Ko in third.

Taking home the 54-hole Net title was 17-year-old Breanna Croxen of New Westminster and a member of Mayfair Lakes Golf Club

A cut took place following the third round to the low 35 players and ties at 250 or better.

The top three finishers following tomorrow’s final round will be granted spots on Team BC for the 2013 Royale Cup Canadian Junior Girls’ Championship being held at Cherry Downs Golf and Country Club in Pickering, Ontario from July 30-August 2, 2013.

Spectators are welcome to attend the Championship and entrance into the venue is free of charge.

Please click here for starting times and scoring information

To follow along on Social Media, use the official hashtag #BCJUNIORS

Round Two Recap

Oleksiew Opens Two Stroke Lead at British Columbia Junior Girls’ Championship

Three players under par on day two of Championship

Langley, British Columbia (BRITISH COLUMBIA GOLF)- Jamie Oleksiew opened up a two stroke lead after the half way point of the 2013 British Columbia Junior Girls’ Championship hosted by Belmont Golf Course (par 71, 6013 yards).

Oleksiew, 17 from Surrey and a member of the Colorado University Women’s Golf team, carded the best round-of-the-day with a two-under-par 69 that featured five birdies, one bogey and a double bogey. Oleksiew started her round off with the double bogey and struggled slightly on the front nine before posting a flawless back nine that saw four birdies. Her 140, -2 total (71-69) after two rounds puts her a pair of strokes ahead of Victoria’s Naomi Ko.

Ko, 15 and a member of Team Canada’s National Development Squad, put together a fine round to post an even-par 142 total after day two. Ko would seesaw birdies and bogeys during her second round but was able to come out with a one-under-par, 70. Her rounds of 72-70 keep her well within grasp of Oleksiew heading into the final two rounds.

Alone in third is Alix Kong of West Vancouver. The 16-year-old stumbled slightly during round two, posting a three-over-par 74. Her two round 145 total places her five strokes behind the pace setter Oleksiew but with her strong tournament experience and relentless ability to bounce back with excellent rounds, Kong will no doubt remain on the top of the leader board heading into Thursday and Friday.

Tying Oleksiew’s round-of-the-day was Delta’s Annie Yang. Yang, an 18-year-old member of Kings Links by the Sea, pieced together a flawless front nine at three-under-par before giving a single stroke back coming in to post the 69. Yang now sits at 147 (78-69) after two rounds, seven strokes back of Oleksiew.

Taking home the 36-hole Zone Team gross competition was the tandem from Zone 4 in Kong and Sumie Francois, 13 of Burnaby. Finishing runner-up was Zone 3 featuring Surrey’s Michelle Kim, 15 and Keanna Mason, 16 of Maple Ridge.

On the net side, Julie Dereniwsky, 17 of Kimberley and Mackenzie Field, 18 of Christina Lake and representing Zone 1 would finish runner-up to the due from Zone 6 of Shirin Anjaqwalla, 13 of Nanaimo and Megan Ratcliffe, 14 of Bowser.

The Junior Girls’ Championship is a 72-hole stroke play competition with a cut after 54-holes to the low 35-players and ties. Also incorporated into the competition is a 54-hole net competition with awards being given to 1st and 2nd place following the end of round three.

The top three finishers at the 2013 B.C. Junior Girls’ Championship will be granted spots on Team BC for the 2013 Royale Cup Canadian Junior Girls’ Championship being held at Cherry Downs Golf and Country Club in Pickering, Ontario from July 30-August 2, 2013.

Spectators are welcome to attend the Championship and entrance into the venue is free of charge.

Please click here for starting times and scoring information

To follow along on Social Media, use the official hashtag #BCJUNIORS

Round One Recap

Two Share Lead After Round One of British Columbia’s Junior Girls’ Championship

Seven players sit within four strokes of the lead after round one

Langley, British Columbia (BRITISH COLUMBIA GOLF)- Alix Kong and Jamie Oleksiew opened the 2013 British Columbia Junior Girls’ Championship hosted by Belmont Golf Course (par 71, 6013 yards) with even-par rounds to share the lead heading into tomorrow.

Kong, 16 of West Vancouver and a member at Capilano Golf and Country Club, had a round featuring three birdies and three bogeys to post the even par 71. The 17-year-old Oleksiew (pictured above at last week’s Women’s Amateur), a member of the Colorado University Buffalo Women’s Golf team and resident of Surrey, would only make two birdies and two bogeys during her round in perfect golfing conditions.

Sitting tied for third place after round one is Team Canada’s Naomi Ko of Victoria. Ko, 15, had only two blemishes on her card compared to the lone birdie on the par-4 ninth hole, shooting a very respectable one-over-par 72 to keep herself a stroke back of the leaders. Tied with Ko is Kelowna’s Madison Kapchinsky. Kapchinsky, playing in her final British Columbia Junior Girls’ Championship due to being 18 years old, would equal Ko at 72 after making two birdies and three bogeys during her first round.

The Junior Girls’ Championship is a 72-hole stroke play competition with a cut after 54-holes to the low 35-players and ties. Also incorporated into the competition is a 54-hole net competition with awards being given to 1st and 2nd place following the end of round three.

The top two finishers at the 2013 B.C. Junior Girls’ Championship will be granted spots on Team BC for the 2013 Royale Cup Canadian Junior Girls’ Championship being held at Cherry Downs Golf and Country Club in Pickering, Ontario from July 30-August 2, 2013.

Spectators are welcome to attend the Championship and entrance into the venue is free of charge.

To follow along on Social Media, use the official hashtag #BCJUNIORS

Preview

British Columbia’s Junior Girls’ Championship Set for Belmont Golf Course

Richmond, British Columbia (BRITISH COLUMBIA GOLF)- British Columbia’s most talented junior-aged female golfers are ready to challenge the Belmont Golf Course in Langley with the hopes of capturing the British Columbia Junior Girls’ Championship from July 2-5, 2013.

Hosted at the par 70, 6013 yard Belmont Golf Course,the British Columbia Junior Girls’ Championship features female golfers, ages 18 and younger, who are poised to navigate the Les Ferber design in a quest to join the rank of those who have hoisted the S.C. Sweeny Trophy as champions, including Dawn Coe (1978 & 1979), A.J. Eathorne (1993-1995), Sue Kim (2005 & 2008) and defending champion Anica Yoo.

Yoo will not be in next week’s field due to age restrictions which means a new champion will rise from the field of 56 come Friday afternoon.

Favourites to crack the winner’s circle this year are Team Canada Development Squad members Kathy Lim, 15 of Langley and Naomi Ko, 15 of Victoria. Playing excellent golf of late as of late and also considered favourites are Kelowna’s Madison Kapchinsky, 18, Maple Ridge’s Keanna Mason, 16, Colorado University Buffalo Jamie Oleksiew, 18 of Surrey and 18-year-old Valentina Trillo of Port Moody and a member of the UBC Thunderbirds Women’s Golf team.

Others with a number of years left on their junior golf eligibility who would like to begin their efforts of creating a dynasty with their first titles are West Vancouver’s Alix Kong, 16, Surrey’s Michelle Kim, 15, 13-year-old Sumie Francois of Burnaby and the 2012 British Columbia Bantam Girls’ champion Kathrine Chan, 13 of Richmond.

The Championship is a 72-hole stroke play competition with a cut after 54-holes to the low 35-players and ties. Also incorporated into the competition is a 54-hole net competition with awards being given to 1st and 2nd place following the end of round three.

The Zone Team competition is held concurrently with the first and second rounds of the Championship. The Zone Team gross and net competitions use the combined 36-hole gross and net scores for each Zone Team member. The Zone Team consists of players who are chosen by each zone in advance of the provincial championship.

The top two finishers at the 2013 B.C. Junior Girls’ Championship will be granted spots on Team BC for the 2013 Royale Cup Canadian Junior Girls’ Championship being held at Cherry Downs Golf and Country Club in Pickering, Ontario from July 30-August 2, 2013.

Spectators are welcome to attend the Championship and entrance into the venue is free of charge.

Click here for information on pairings, scores and start times

To follow along on Social Media, use the official hashtag #BCJUNIORS