Golf Options Endless For BC Junior Golfers

Team Canada Development Squad Member Alisha Lau Has Played In Saskatchewan, Alberta And British Columbia This Summer And Has Weathered Ups And Downs As She Works On Her Game - Image Credit Alfie Lau

by Alfie Lau

When 14-year-old Tiffany Kong Monday qualified for the CP Women’s Open, perhaps the people most happy for her were her BC teammates from the Western Canadian Summer Games.

“What a great achievement for Tiffany,” said Alisha Lau, “I’ll try and go and cheer for her on Friday.” 

Lau, a member of Team Canada’s Development Squad, can’t see her friend until Friday because she’s competing in the BC Juvenile Girls Championship at Spallumcheen until Thursday afternoon.

“I thought about trying to Monday qualify as well,” said Lau, “but I don’t think I’m quite ready to play an LPGA event.”

Lau was just being honest about her up-and-down season, which she admits hasn’t been as good as last year’s results, but she understands golf is about weathering the ups-and-downs and trying to remain patient even when the results don’t come.

For Lau, playing against girls her own age, and having fun while still competing hard, is why she’s happy to be at Spallumcheen, trying to win a trophy. 

The BC team of Lau, Kong, Hannah Lee and Shirin Anjarwalla didn’t get back from Wood Buffalo, AB until late Sunday and it all adds up to players making the best decision for their individual golf games. “I did think about it,” said Lee about going down the same road as Kong, “but I’ve played a lot of golf and I’m so tired right now.” 

Lee cited as an example not getting to the Interior until 1:30 a.m. Monday and then playing a practice round at Spallumcheen almost in a daze. “I had to see the course before playing the tournament,” said Lee, “but I didn’t have a lot of expectations because I know how much golf I have played.”

All Lee did in her opening round was shoot a (-3) round of 68, which included her getting to (-6) for her first 10 holes before giving 3 shots back at the end of her round.

image credit alfie lau

AJ Ewart Won Double Gold At The Western Canada Summer Games After Finishing Fifth In The Canadian Junior Boys. He's Hoping To Add The BC Juvenile Title To His Golf Resume

Lee’s golf has included several triumphs, including winning the Canadian Juvenile Championships in Saskatchewan, winning double gold at the Western Canadian Summer Games – gold for the BC girls team and gold in the individual golf event, ahead of Kong in second and Lau in third – along with third place at the BC Junior Girls and a T7 at the BC Women’s Amateur – and it’s clear that Lee knows best how to manage her schedule.

It’s the same decision-making process for the boys at Spallumcheen, who have a wealth of playing options and have to decide for themselves what’s best for them. 

Take Roy Kang and AJ Ewart, for example. Kang played as part of the BC team at the Eddie Hogan Cup in Portland, OR in early August, then played the PNGA Junior Boys in Pendleton, OR, where he reached the 36-hole final, ultimately losing to Idaho’s Joshua Gliege.

Ewart finished fifth at the Canadian Junior Boys in Quebec and could have played the Canadian Amateur in Ontario the week after, but chose to come home and take some time before heading to Wood Buffalo, where he was also a double gold medallist, with both a team and individual win in boys’ golf. 

While Ewart can concentrate on golf, it’s his support system, namely dad Brad, who is left to literally do the dirty work. Brad was getting change to do loads of laundry at his hotel, proof that while it looks glamorous playing golf to win a championship, there’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work that has to be done.

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