The competitive season for B.C. Golf concluded in Kelowna with Richmond’s Karen Zhang capturing the provincial Bantam Girls title.
The 36-hole tournament was played under grey skies at the Two Eagles Golf Course and Academy, as winds carried smoke from American wildfires into the Okanagan.
Zhang shot a (+1) 66 to go with her opening round (-2) 63 to finish at (-1) 129 for the tournament. The Quilchena Golf and Country Club junior had entered the final round with a one stroke cushion over Akari Hayashi. The Victoria competitor couldn’t make up any ground, with no birdies on the day en route to a (+2) round of 67 and (+1) 131 for the tournament.
Claire Lovan of Eaglequest Coyote Creek and Julie Ju of Seymour Golf & Country Club finished tied for third at (+3) 133.
“I am excited to win this title,” said Zhang. “I hit a lot of good approaches today and I missed some putts, but I’m happy I held on.”
Zhang started out hot, with back-to-back birdies at 2 and 3 before a bogey on 5 left her at (-1) 31 for the front nine.She shoot a (+2) 35 on her back nine, but that was still enough for victory.
Hayashi, 12, couldn’t get anything going at all on the front nine, recording a bogey on the fifth and making the turn at (+1) 33. It wasn’t much better on her back, as the youngster lamented her lost opportunities.
“I’m so sad I didn’t make any birdies today,” said Hayashi. “I did have a lot of fun playing with Karen and I cheered for her to win because it’s her last Bantam and she played so well.”
Zhang said she appreciated Hayashi’s support.
“It was really comfortable playing with Akari,” said Zhang. “She’s really nice and we talked a lot on the course and that made it really comfortable for me. I really enjoy playing with her.”
Best of all for Zhang, she now gets to proudly show off her Titleist 2015 Champion’s bag.
“That’s a pretty nice prize to get,” added Zhang. “I’m pretty happy.”
Zhang joins a list of winners that includes Richmond’s Kathrine Chan (2012 and Alisha Lau (2013).
Both those girls competed at the B.C. Juvenile Championships, which wrapped up on Aug. 20 at the Spallumcheen Golf and Country Club.
Each finished with with a 217 total in the 54-hole event to end up tied for fifth. Lau, who was fresh off winning gold and bronze for B.C. at the Western Canada Games, carded rounds of 71-71-75. Chan shot 72-74-71.
On the boys side at the Bantam Provincials, Richmond’s Michael Crisologo finished fourth with rounds of 66-69 to end up five back of winner Sean Buckles of North Vancouver.
