Richmond golfer Christine Wong set a 72-hole scoring record score to capture her second B.C. Women's Amateur title at the Christina Lake Golf Club.
Coming off her third-round course record seven-under 65, Wong closed out her impressive victory with a 2-under-par 70, 274 total (70-69-65-70-274), the lowest the championship has witnessed since it went to a four-round format back in 2006. Ironically, the previous record of 275 was held by another Richmond golfer Kira Meixner in 2008.
The Quilchena Golf and Country Club member and standout at San Diego State University, staved off unrelenting pressure at the onset by Port Coquitlam's Soo-Bin Kim of Port Coquitlam who just wouldn't seem to give up on the title.
Going into Friday's final round, Wong knew she had to remain poised and in a groove if she wanted to take the crown.
"My whole routine from when I woke up and got to the course was exactly the same as it has been all week although I was really nervous going into the final round of the Amateur with the lead," said the 20-year-old. "I struggled with my game on the first six holes, making two birdies then a double bogey. I was obviously very nervous but was able to get it back after that."
Her lead looked like it was beginning to slip not because of poor play but thanks to birdies from Kim on holes 4, 6, 7 and 10, bringing it to as little as three strokes.
"Soo-Bin [Kim] is an excellent player, a clutch player and was able to get a few birdies and narrow my lead, which made me even more nervous," said Wong. "I had to tell myself that I still had a lead at that point. Right when she got [the lead] to three, I was able to make three birdies in a row and get it back. I was more myself on the back nine."
Her three birdies in a row on holes 11, 12 and 13 added to Wong's impressive domination of the back nine, which saw her go a total of -11 par on the inward half over the four days of the championship.
She would close out the final five holes with four pars and a lone bogey on the par 5, 430 yard 15th where she was admittedly feeling the heat of the lead and had to calm herself down.
"I looked down at my right hand on the 15th and it was shaking like I have never seen it shake before, like I couldn't even stop it" laughed Wong. "I told myself that I have been in this situation before and to simply get on the green, two putt and move on to the next hole."
Wong was lucky to have had the previous experience of winning, which she did so in back in 2010 by claiming her first Amateur title, as the course was set up difficult on the final day.
"The tee boxes were moved back and the pins tucked in the corners," she added. "The course was set up today harder than any other day this week. I was able to hit it in the right places when I needed to and made some key putts to win the Championship."
As a member of Canada's amateur team, a number of other high profile summer events are on the horizon for Wong before she heads back to San Diego for her senior year.
