Hampton, N.B. – Top junior golfers from across North America will come together at Hampton Golf Club in Hampton N.B. from July 23-27 to compete in the 68th playing of the Canadian Junior Girls Championship presented by BDO.
The impressive field is led by eight members of the Team Canada NextGen squad—Alissa Xu (Richmond Hill, Ont.), Michelle Xing (Richmond Hill Ont.), Yeji Kwon (Port Coquitlam, B.C.), Luna Lu (Burnaby, B.C.), Anna Huang (Coto De Cazo, CA), Carlee Meilleur (Lansdowne, Ont.), Lindsay McGrath (Oakville, Ont.) and Martina Yu (Coquitlam, B.C.).
Yeji Kwon comes in as the defending champion, having won last year’s championship by eleven strokes. After an opening round 75, the British Columbian carded rounds of 67, 65 and 70 for a total score of 11-under par 277, enroute to the national title. Kwon was also crowned champion of the Juvenile Girls division for girls 16 and younger.
In total, 37 of Canada’s top golfers from the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) are included in the 130-player field along with 2 international competitors.
“The 2023 Canadian Junior Girls Championship will be a memorable event for all players, staff and volunteers involved,” said Golf Canada Tournament Director Dan Hyatt. “Hampton Golf Club has stepped up in a major way, committing over 100 volunteers to the championship and has done an amazing job engaging the local community and embracing this National Championship. The golf course will be in excellent shape and will be a great test to all of the players.”
A practice round will be conducted Sunday, July 23 prior to the championship’s opening round on Monday, July 24. Following the first two rounds of play, the field will be reduced to the low 70 players and ties with the top ten juvenile and ties included in the final two rounds.
A tie breaker, if necessary, will be decided by a hole-by-hole playoff immediately following the conclusion of play.
Located in the town of Hampton, The Hampton Golf Club is known as one of the most scenic and popular 18-hole golf courses in all southern New Brunswick. Suitable for golfers of all levels, the course overlooks Darlings Lake with the hills of Kings Country offering a striking view.
“Hampton is extremely excited to be able to showcase our fantastic course to the country, Hampton is very proud of the product we offer, thanks to our Superintendent Andy Magee’s hard work and dedication, said Head Golf Professional at Hampton Golf Club, Jon Garron. “Hampton is truly a member’s course and they all come together to showcase the club when hosting major events as shown by over 100 volunteers. We cannot wait to see some tremendous play from all the competitors and wish them the best as they compete for a National Championship.”
The Championship was first contested in 1955 and operated by the former Canadian Ladies Association (CLGA) until the amalgamation of CLGA and Royal Canadian Golf Association (now Golf Canada) in 2005.
The Canadian Junior Girls Championship has a long list of distinguished past champion names on the Brokenshire Trophy, including Canadian Golf Hall of Famers Sandra Post (1964-66), Betty Stanhope (1956), Judy Darling (1957), Gail Harvey Moore (1958-1960) and Gayle Borthwick (1961) along with current LPGA Tour players Brooke Henderson (2012), Maddie Szeryk (2013) and Alena Sharp (1999). Stollery Family Team Canada Women’s Head Coach Salimah Mussani (1996) is also a past Canadian Junior Champion.
An inter-provincial team competition will take place over the first two rounds. Each day, the lowest two of three individual 18-hole scores will count towards the team total. The lowest aggregate score over rounds one and two determines the inter-provincial team champions, who will claim the Mary Pyke Trophy.
The Ontario trio of Shauna Liu (Maple, Ont.), Joline Truong (Mississauga, Ont.) and Aryn Matthews (Little Britain, Ont.) will look to defend the province’s team title.
The new purse payout that was introduced in 2022 will continue at this year’s championship. To align with the modernized Rules of Amateur Status, players at the Canadian Junior Girls Championship will compete for a purse of $8,000 CAD. Amateur golfers may accept prize money up to a maximum of $1,200 CAD, and payouts will be awarded to the top-10 finishers and ties.
The 2023 Canadian Junior Girls champion will receive an exemption into the 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship and 2024 U.S Girls’ Junior Championship, if eligible.
Golf Canada recognizes the financial resources required to play in a national championship. Accordingly, Golf Canada is pleased to provide needs-based financial assistance grants to help reduce the cost of competing in both the Canadian Junior Girls Championship and Canadian Junior Boys presented by BDO again this year. These available funds would not be possible without the support and generous donation of the Gary Cowan Heritage Fund and the Canadian Seniors Golf Association.
For more information on Golf Canada’s Financial Assistance Grant Program click here.
For more information on the 2023 Canadian Junior Girls Championship click here.
GOLF CANADA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Golf Canada annually conducts more than 30 golf competitions and qualifiers nation-wide – including nine National Amateur Championships – which play host to more than 3,000 domestic and international athletes from all corners of the world. In partnership with our host clubs, thousands of volunteers, provincial golf associations and our proud sponsors, Golf Canada is dedicated to supporting player development through world-class competition since our inception in 1895. Officiated by certified Canadian Rules of Golf officials, Golf Canada’s amateur competitions are fully compliant with golf’s international governing bodies and include marquee events such as the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships as well as the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. Golf Canada’s amateur championships are proudly supported by BDO Canada, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Titleist, FootJoy, Sport Canada, Levelwear and JOURNIE Rewards. For more information and scheduling visit www.golfcanada.ca/championships.