Abigail Rigsby Shoots Course Record 65, Wins BC Juvenile Girls At Spallumcheen
Courtenay, BC's Abigail Rigsby Is The 2015 BC Juvenile Girls Champion Following A Course Record Performance At Spallumcheen In Vernon - Image Credit Alfie Lau
by Alfie Lau
VERNON (August 20) - Courtenay’s Abigail Rigsby shot a new course record (-6) 65 at Spallumcheen Golf & Country Club on Thursday to win the BC Juvenile Girls Championship by three strokes over Surrey’s Hannah Lee.
Rigsby had a spotless card, with six birdies, including a downhill 20-footer on her last hole that saw her better the previous course record, a (-4) 67 shot by Mary-Ann Hayward at the 2013 Canadian Senior Women’s Championship.
“I just found out at the scoring tent that I had set the new course record,” said Rigsby, who was playing her final tournament of the season and final BC Juvenile.
“It’s pretty surreal,” said Rigsby as she was doused with a champion’s water shower by friends Megan Ratcliffe and Mary Parsons. “I’ve played some really good golf ever since the Canadians, where I broke par there for a round. I came back to my home course (Crown Isle) and shot a 69 and I’ve just played really well.”
Trailing by four strokes heading into the final round, Rigsby reeled off three straight birdies and overhauled Lee by the fifth tee box en route to her first BC Golf championship.
“I couldn’t believe all those putts dropped,” said Rigsby. “I can’t really explain it, but it felt good to get ahead.”
Rigsby, who started her round on the 10th hole, had several other birdie opportunities on her opening 9. After hitting a huge drive up the right side of the par-4 14th, she had a 15-foot birdie putt that just stayed out.
At the 15th, she had another makeable 12-foot birdie putt which wouldn’t fall. She would capitalize on the par-3 17th and finish her first nine in a solid (-4) 31.
After another birdie on the 5th, Rigsby could see victory in sight, even as she nervously played the par-5 8th. “I hit a really bad second there, but I still made par,” said Rigsby. “And I hit a couple nice shots on 9 and I was pretty happy to make that birdie.”
Lee couldn’t get anything going as she played the back nine with Rigsby and Alisha Lau. As Rigsby was making birdies to reel the Surrey native in, Lee made a bogey on the 12th hole and her four-shot cushion was gone.
On the 13th, Lee was lucky to find her drive in bounds on the left side and after hitting her approach short, she couldn’t get up-and-down for par and the tournament had a new leader. Lee would make her lone birdie for her front nine on the par-5 18th.
image credit alfie lau
Abigail Rigsby Went Out In Style In Her Last Appearance As A BC Juvenile
Lee would make two bogeys on the front nine before back-to-back birdies on 5 and 6 got her to within two strokes of Rigsby. But that was the end of the birdies for Lee, who said she couldn’t be happier for the winner.
“Abi played well and I tried to close the gap, but she just didn’t make any mistakes,” said Lee. “I’m so happy for her because it’s her last BC Juvenile and she played the best out of all of us out here.”
Delta’s Amanda Minni made a big charge up the leaderboard, making 3 birdies on her front nine to get to red figures, (-1) for the tournament as she made the turn to the 1st hole.
Minni was happy to find her drive stayed in bounds on the first, where she made par to keep the momentum going. Minni would finish at (-2) 69 and even for the tournament and solo second place.
But the day belonged to Rigsby, who couldn’t wait to get her new Titleist golf bag with 2015 Champion embroidered on it. “I needed a new golf bag,” said Rigsby. “It’s a great way to finish off my season.”
BEST BALL
In the best ball competition, the team of AJ Ewart and Khan Lee won the title after shooting a (-9) round of 62 to finish at (-22) 191, two strokes better than the second place team of Keaton Gudz and Tristan Mandur. The all-girl team of Megan Ratcliffe and Abigail Rigsby finished third at (-19) 194.
For full results of the BC Juvenile Girls at Spallumcheen, please click here: