Vancouver, B.C. – Humid and sunny conditions made for a great start at Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver, B.C. as the first round of the Canadian Junior Girls Championship presented by BDO got underway on Monday. The leaderboard was stable throughout the day as 16-year-old Ha Young Chang found herself atop of the leaderboard with an incredible start after carding a 4-under 68.
Chang of Surrey, B.C. tallied three birdies on her first opening –nine holes including back-to-back on holes 12 and 13 and another on 17, all of which were par 5’s. Chang also fired two birdies on her back –nine to close out her round.
“I think I played really well today, made a lot of birdies on the par 5’s, but I made one bogey where I pulled my drive, but I kept strong,” said Chang. “I tried to stay calm by making more pars and keeping it steady and I just feel really amazing because I want to keep it up and play more steady golf heading into tomorrow’s round.”
Chang is enjoying a successful season highlighted by finishing as runner-up and breaking a course record with a round of 65 at the 119th B.C. Women’s Amateur at Balfour Golf Course in Balfour, B.C. in June and placing first place in the GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open in the Amateur Division.
Shauna Liu (Maple, Ont.) is two shots back of Chang at 2-under 70, while Addison Kartusch from (Winnipeg Man.) and Vanessa Zhang (Vancouver B.C.) are tied for third place after shooting a 1-under 71, and are three strokes back of Chang.
Clara Ding (White Rock, B.C) is currently fifth at even par. Luna Lu (Burnaby B.C), Swetha Sathish (Oakville, Ont.) and Clairey Lin (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.) are all heading into the second round tied for sixth place, five strokes back of Chang.
Team British Columbia consisting of Ha Young Chang, Amy Seung Hyun Lee (Langley, B.C.) and Chelsea Truong (Victoria, B.C) lead the Inter-Provincial team competition at even par and take a four shot lead over Team Manitoba into Tuesday’s second round.Team Manitoba is represented by Addison Kartusch, Jeri Laflech (Winnipeg, Man.) and Cala Korman (Killarney, Man.).
“My shots and my putting were good overall. My goal today was to make birdies on the par 5’s,” stated Chang. “Before this tournament I practiced a lot on my wedge shots so I think that really helped me and I am glad my team is winning for this year, hopefully we can keep it up.”
The Inter-Provincial team competition will wrap up for the Mary Pyke trophy tomorrow at the conclusion of the second round.
The 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Champion will receive an exemption into the 2024 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship and 2025 U.S Girls Junior Championship, if eligible. In addition, the winner will receive $1,200 CAD.
For the leaderboard following Monday’s opening round of the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, please click here.
For more information on the 2024 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, and Levelwear. For more information and scheduling visit www.golfcanada.ca/competitions-calendar/.