Richmond teen Alisha Lau overcame wet playing conditions and a competitive field to capture Golf Canada’s CN Future Links Prairie Championship on the weekend in Prince Albert, Sask.
The 15-year-old fired an impressive 1-under 71 in the final round, to hold off Delta’s Mary Parsons by one stroke. The event was dominated by B.C. golfers sweeping the top five positions, including another local player — Katherine Chan — finishing tied for fourth.
Lau entered the championship hoping to improve upon her runner-up finish last year to fellow Team Canada Development Squad member, Jaclyn Lee of Calgary.
“Last year Jaclyn won, she is a close friend and a close competitor and to have my name next to hers after winning is really nice,” said the Quilchena junior. “It has shown me that it is still early in the season and I just have to keep fighting and anything can happen.”
The Burnett Secondary student credited her strong start when reflecting upon the victory.
“I had a pretty good start on the front nine, I was 2-under and I hadn’t made a bogey so I was cruising along pretty well, but the back was a little bit bumpier. I had to start grinding pretty hard. Mary was putting up a really good fight and it’s not over until it’s over.”
Lau’s first bogey of the day came on the 15th hole. By the 18th, Parsons had climbed to within a single stroke – reclaiming the distance at which she had begun the day. Lau drained her putt for par on the final hole to secure the win. She had opened the tournament with a 74 and followed with a 73 on Saturday.
The victory gives her direct entry into the Canadian Junior Girls Championship. Lau has also earned an exemption into a future event on the Canadian Women’s Tour.
As a top-five finisher, Chan also secured a spot at the Canadian Juniors. She carded three consecutive rounds of 77. The nationals will also take place in Saskatchewan — Aug. 4-7 at the Deer Park Golf Course in Yorkton.
In other junior golf news, Bryce Ko’s game was sizzling under sunny skies at the Swan-e-Set Resort and Country Club in Pitt Meadows to easily capture the Pee Wee Boys title on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour June 6-7.
The 11-year-old fired rounds of 71-73 to finish a whopping 24 strokes ahead of his nearest rival.
Ko’s tournament highlight was draining a 70 foot putt, which gave him the confidence to go on and win his second MJT Peewee division title this season.
Prior to her trip to Saskatchewan, Chan played in the MJT event and won the Girls’ 15-19 title with rounds of 78-73 despite tough pin placements. The result also shortlisted her for to play for MJT Team Canada at the International Junior Classic in Australia this October.
