Christina Proteau Wins Fifth British Columbia Women’s Mid-Am, Shelly Stouffer Shoots 68, Falls One Stroke Short
Christina Spence Proteau Accepts The Jackie Little Trophy For The Fifth Time From Longtime British Columbia Golf Volunteer George Faithfull - Image Credit Alfie Lau
by Alfie Lau
Port Alberni’s Christina Spence Proteau outlasted a furious charge from Fairwinds Golf & Country Club’s Shelly Stouffer to win her fifth British Columbia Women’s Mid-Amateur title on Thursday at Duncan Meadows Golf Course.
Proteau’s final round (+1) 73 saw her finish at (+7) 223, one stroke ahead of Stouffer in the 54-hole tournament. Proteau entered the final round tied with Victoria’s Bree Sharratt, six strokes ahead of Stouffer, but Stouffer shot the first under-par round of the tournament, her (-4) round of 68 including four birdies in her final five holes.
Proteau said she knew Stouffer was making a charge when she saw Stouffer checking out the walking scoreboard on the 17th hole. Proteau then promptly hit her wedge to two feet, making birdie and a comfortable enough lead to play the final hole conservatively. A five-foot par putt sealed the deal for Proteau, who thanked all of the family and friends who made this win possible.
With husband Jim on the bag and son Jameson being taken care of by Jim’s parents, Proteau was able to concentrate on golf and winning her third consecutive Jackie Little Trophy, and the fifth time in seven years (2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015) she’s won the trophy. “It’s really special,” said Proteau. “This one is probably the most special.”
image credit alfie lau
Shelly Stouffer Tees Off On The 17Th At Duncan Meadows, A Hole She Would Birdie En Route To A (-4) Final Round, Just One Stroke Behind Winner Christina Spence Proteau Of Port Alberni
Proteau said that since she had Jameson in December, she’s only played 15 total rounds of golf, with many of those tournament rounds. “I’ve tried to use it as a challenge just to see what you can do with not very much. Can you still compete? Is it still worth doing?” said Proteau. “I just scored really well, my putting and chipping were really strong,”
Stouffer, who’s married to Fairwinds Director of Golf Ward Stouffer, is camping with her family and put the initials of all her loved ones on her golf ball for good luck. Before she came to Duncan Meadows Thursday, she received encouraging words from her husband. “Ward told me this morning to go six shots better (than her second round 75),” said Stouffer. “I went 7.”
Stouffer took advantage of the tee being moved up on the par-5 17th and just missed an eagle putt, a critical stroke that would have come in handy.
After hitting a bad drive on 18, Stouffer hit her 7-iron approach tight and canned the putt, which she accentuated with a fist pump.
Stouffer was very happy with her Thursday round.
“I was just thinking I had to hit good shots, just keep focussed on what I was doing, pick my targets and make my putts,” said Stouffer. “I guess I putted pretty well today. I didn’t miss any short ones today.”
Stouffer was undone by an opening round (+9) 81, which put her into chase mode the last two days. Sharratt ballooned to a (+10) round of 82 to finish at (+16) 232, nine strokes behind Proteau.
Eight of the Mid-Amateur women qualified to play the final round of the British Columbia Amateur at Duncan Meadows on Friday. The first tee time is 7:30 a.m. and spectators are encouraged to come out and cheer the competitors on. Admission is free.
For full results from Duncan Meadows, please click here