The top up-and-coming players in the country are currently tackling the Quilchina Golf and Country Club (QGolf Club) at the Royale Cup Canadian Junior Girls Championships.
The 72-hole event, which teed off yesterday and concludes on Friday, features 128 top Canadian and U.S. juniors competing for the Brokenshire Trophy. It is the seventh time the event has been played in B.C.
"We have an exceptional field for the 2011 Royale Cup Canadian Junior Girls Championship," said Golf Canada Tournament Director Cam Crawford. "The top junior girls in the country along with some talented competitors from the U.S. are tackling the beautiful yet challenging QGolf Club. We are thrilled to be back in British Columbia for what is sure to be a competitive and exciting tournament."
Team Canada's Development Squad will be well-represented in Richmond as five members will be vying for the championship including; Augusta James (Bath, ON), Leilanie Kim (Surrey), Taylor Kim (Surrey), Jisoo Keel (Coquitlam) and Brogan McKinnon (Mississauga, ON).
Keel won the CN Future Links Pacific Championship and finished third at the CN Canadian Women's Tour event in Squamish. The 15-year-old also placed third on the CN Canadian Women's Tour Order of Merit, earning herself an exemption into the upcoming LPGA Tour CN Canadian Women's Open at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que. - Aug. 22-28.
Headlining the list of American competitors is Elyse Smidinger of Maryland and Mabel Wong of California. Smidinger, 17, won the 2010 and 2011 Maryland State Junior Girls Championship, while 14-year-old Wong won the 2011 Northern California Junior Girls Championship.
After today's second round, the field will be cut to the low 70 and ties. An interprovincial team championship will also take place in conjunction with the first two rounds of stroke play.
The host club is being represented by Stephanie Wong (17), Nayan Calsin Murdoch (15), Janet Zhang (13) and Gen Nugent (17).
