Ontario nabs Inter-Provincial Team Championship at Canadian Women’s Amateur
Mike Masaro / Golf Canada
MISSISSAUGA, ON – Team Ontario has reclaimed the Inter-Provincial Team Championship for the third time in four years, finishing eight shots clear of Team Manitoba at the 112th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO at The Toronto Golf Club in Mississauga, Ont. on Wednesday.
Team Ontario was represented by Kaprice Park (Oakville, Ont.), Kaylan Green (Toronto, Ont.) and Lilli Downer (Keswick, Ont.). Park’s 3-over 74 and Green’s 4-over 75 counted towards the team score in the opening round with Downer’s 3-over 74 and Park’s 5-over 76 counting for round two.
Team Ontario finished with a collective score of 15-over, ahead of Team Manitoba at 23-over. Team Quebec closed out the top three at 24-over. The two lowest scores of three count towards the team’s daily combined score.
“It means a lot to know that our hard work is paying off and that we were the province to end up on top,” said Park.
For the trio, as important a milestone as it was to win the team championship, doing it with friends made it that much more special.
“It’s all always fun to play with Lilli and Kaylan, they’re really good friends and competitors and I always like to play with them,” added Park.
Downer added the win with her friends was definitely special, “I didn’t expect to be on the team coming into the Ontario Am, but I had an awesome week there and got to play with Kaprice in the third round which was fun and we got to see Kaylan win. It was really exciting and I am really happy we got it done.”
Green, who won the Ontario Women’s Amateur earlier this month echoed her teammates.
“It means a lot to represent the province and come out on top, and it means a lot to play with my friends.”
Trio co-lead 112th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship
The battle for the Duchess of Connaught Gold Cup is heating up with three players currently tied atop the leaderboard at 1-under.
Among them is 2023 champion and Team Canada member Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. who fired the low round of the day, a 2-under 69, thanks in large part to one particular aspect.
“My putting was so good,” said Kim, who concluded Wednesday’s second round with only 25 putts required.
“I put myself in some really crappy situations and had to make up and down for par and I pulled through,” added Kim.
Kim’s experience and success at both the national and collegiate level clearly helped guide her through the difficult circumstances due to weather that the field has faced through the first two days.
“Course management was great, I managed the wind well and I made sure to get some rest this morning.”
Kim’s full day included 25 holes, having to conclude her final seven holes of round one early Wednesday. She was complimentary of the staff at The Toronto Golf Club.
“It’s a really good test and with the scores and how high they are, it’s a true national championship.”
Tied with Kim are Eliana Saga of Stevenson Ranch, Calif. who shot a 1-under 70 for her second round and Kylie Chong of Torrance, Calif. who finished with an even par 71. The trio currently hold a one-shot lead over Veronika Kedroňová of Czechia who finished her second round with a 1-over 72 and Kynadie Adams of Gallatin, Tenn. who was not able to begin her second round.
After three stoppages of play on Tuesday, players were able to play the full day on Wednesday, thanks to better conditions with the exception of strong winds throughout the day. The horn was sounded at 9:07 p.m. EDT to conclude play due to darkness with only three players not finishing their second round.
Seventy-eight (78) players in the field of 156 will begin their second round when play resumes at 7:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday. Following completion of the second round, the low 70 players and ties will advance to the third round of play, which is expected to begin at 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
Along with earning the Duchess of Connaught Gold Cup, the winner will receive an exemption into the field for the 2026 CPKC Women’s Open at Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton, Alta., August 19 – 23 and the 2026 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship in Ooltewah, Tenn., August 4 – 9.
Having debuted in 1901 at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Que., the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship stands as one of the oldest amateur golf events in the world. Current LPGA Tour stars Ariya Jutanugarn (2012), Brooke Henderson (2013), Hye-Jin Choi (2016), Jennifer Kupcho (2017), and Yealimi Noh (2018) have all lifted the Duchess of Connaught Gold Cup, presented annually to the Canadian Women’s Amateur champion – though none have matched Marlene Stewart Streit’s 11 victories that helped her become the first-ever Canadian inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame (2004).
For the current leaderboard at the 112th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO along with tee times please click here.
