RED DEER, Alta. – The world’s best amateur golfers are set to compete in the 106th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship taking place at Red Deer Golf & Country Club in Red Deer, Alta. from July 22-26.
The championship was first held in 1901, making it one of the oldest golfing competitions in the world. Red Deer Golf & Country Club will play host to 156 players from 13 countries over four stroke play rounds.
“Golf Canada is delighted to present the 2019 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at such a terrific venue,” said Dan Hyatt, the Tournament Director. “We are confident Red Deer Golf & Country Club will challenge some of the top amateur golfers as they showcase their skills.”
First organized in 1919 and on its current site since 1922, Red Deer Golf & Country Club is among the 150 oldest continuously active golf courses in Canada. The club has hosted numerous provincial and national championships, including the 1976 Alberta Open (won by Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Moe Norman), the Alberta Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championship and the Canadian Golf Club Professional Championship. Red Deer Golf & Country Club is also slated to host the 2022 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship.
“The Red Deer Golf and Country Club membership and staff are anxious to host the 106th Canadian Women’s Amateur,” said Don McFarlane, General Manager of Red Deer Golf and Country Club. “Our golf course is in great condition, and we feel a great fit for this National Championship. We are proud of our facility, and look forward to showcasing it, and our community to the 156 participants and to those watching. The venue and our enthusiastic and supportive membership will ensure good competition, and a memorable week for all.”
In 2018, Yealimi Noh of Concord, Calif. won the championship by a single stroke over Dylan Kim of Sachse, Tex. Noh trailed Kim by a single stroke entering the final round and her even-par 71 was enough for her to capture the title. It was a tremendous week of golf for Noh, who made only four bogeys over the 72 holes.
Current LPGA Tour star Brooke Henderson (Smiths Falls, Ont.) is a recent winner of the event, having captured the title in 2013. Former U.S. Women’s Open Champion Ariya Jutanugarn and reigning Augusta National Women’s Amateur Champion Jennifer Kupcho each won the Canadian Women’s Amateur in 2012 and 2017, respectively.
(Red Deer Golf & Country Club)
A full field of competitors will compete for the Duchess of Connaught Gold Cup and the title of Canadian Women’s Amateur champion, including Team Canada National Amateur Squad member Brigitte Thibault of Rosemère, Que., and Tiffany Kong of Vancouver, who was the low Canadian in 2018.
An inter-provincial team championship will be played in conjunction with the first 36 holes of the competition, with three-player teams vying for the inter-provincial title. Team British Columbia, consisting of Mary Parsons (Delta, B.C.), Christina Proteau (Port Alberni, B.C.) and Naomi Ko (Victoria, B.C.) shot a combined 8 over par to capture British Columbia’s second straight team championship.
The field will be reduced to the low 70 and ties for the final two rounds.
In addition to claiming the title of 2019 Canadian Women’s Amateur champion, the winner will earn exemptions into the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Miss., and the 2019 CP Women’s Open at Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ont. from August 19-25.
Additionally, the low Canadian will earn an exemption into the 2019 CP Women’s Open.
NOTABLES
Brigitte Thibault, Rosemère, Que.
The Team Canada National Amateur Squad member is the highest ranked Canadian in the field (No. 176). Having recently concluded her sophomore season at Fresno State University, Thibault is enjoying a successful 2019 season, winning the Mountain West Conference Championship and the 2019 Ontario Women’s Amateur. The 20-year-old participated at the 2019 Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship and was named to the 2019 Pan-Am Games team in June.
Sarah Dunning, Waterloo, Ont.
A member of the University of Guelph women’s golf team, Dunning qualified for the championship by winning the 2019 Canadian University/College Championship in May. The victory came in dramatic fashion, with Dunning draining a 25-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole to win the tournament by one stroke. She has played the Canadian Women’s Amateur on six occasions.
Andrea Lee, Hermosa Beach, Calif.
Formerly the No. 1-ranked woman on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Lee has played at the last two U.S. Women’s Open Championships. She led the United States to the gold medal in the team event at the 2017 World University games, placing fourth in the individual competition in the process. Lee finished runner-up at the 2016 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship as a 17-year-old.
Lucy Li, Redwood Shores, Calif.
Li has reached as high as No. 4 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Only 16 years old, Li holds the record for the youngest qualifier at the U.S. Women’s Amateur (10 years old in 2013) and the U.S. Women’s Open (11 years old in 2014). She won the silver medal in the mixed team event at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics.
Tiffany Kong, Vancouver
Kong was among the leaders through the first two rounds of last year’s Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, eventually finishing in a tie for 14th as the low Canadian. She continued her solid play by finishing in a tie for third at the 2018 Canadian Junior Girls Championship a week later. Kong helped Canada to a fourth-place result at the 2018 World Junior Girls Championship.
Emilia Migliaccio, Cary, N.C.
Currently ranked No. 9 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Migliaccio is the reigning Atlantic Coast Conference individual champion, having won the event as a member of the Wake Forest University golf team. The 20-year-old participated at the 2019 Arnold Palmer Cup as a member of Team USA.
More information about the 2019 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship can be found here.