Rina Kawasaki wins 112th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship
Story: Mike Masaro / Golf Canada | Photo: Christian Bender / Golf Canada
MISSISSAUGA, ON – Rina Kawasaki entered the final round with the lead and did not let up to win the 112th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO at The Toronto Golf Club in Mississauga, Ont. on Friday.
Kawasaki closed with her third consecutive round in the 60’s (72-69-68-69-278) to finish the tournament at 6-under, winning by four shots over 2023 champion and Team Canada member Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C.
“It’s really an honour to be part of such a historic tournament. 112 years of history is really impressive and to do it at such a historic venue is really amazing,” said Kawasaki after being presented with the Duchess of Connaught Gold Cup.
“I would have been happy walking away with a top 10 finish, so it’s really amazing,” she added.
Kawasaki entered Friday with two holes to play as a handful of the field needed to close their third rounds. She finished with two pars, while Kim finished bogey, par, par giving Kawasaki a one shot lead heading to the first tee at 11 a.m. EDT.
Kawasaki got her final round off to a strong start with a birdie on the opening hole to take a two shot over Kim, which increased to three following a bogey from Kim on two. The tension increased after both Kawasaki and Kim carded birdies on three before Kawasaki dropped a stroke the next hole, decreasing her lead to two.
Kawasaki’s lead rose to three again following a bogey from Kim on eight. Another big swing on the leaderboard closed the front nine as Kim’s birdie coupled with Kawasaki’s bogey put the 2023 champion to within one of the lead.
Kawasaki’s strong play on the back nine all tournament guided her on Friday recording birdies on Nos. 13 and 17 to head to the 18th with a three-shot lead. While she admitted she “felt the nerves coming in” during the back nine, it never showed, playing with a calm and cool precision throughout.
On No. 18 a perfectly placed drive set up for an easy par to win the championship. Kawasaki finished her back nine at a collective 8-under for the week and credited being able to start most of her rounds on No. 1 which allowed her to shake off any mistakes from the front and finish strongly.
The 16-year-old who was born in Tokyo, Japan, moved to Hawaii with her family at the age of three and later to Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. where they currently call home. Kawasaki was playing and visiting Canada for the first time and regardless of winning the national championship it made a memorable impression on her.
“I didn’t know what to expect, it’s my first time in Canada, ever since I landed here the people have been so nice.
“Toronto Golf Club, the people are amazing. Everything has exceeded my expectations. It’s really amazing. The volunteers, the members and staff I just feel everyone welcomed us with an open heart and that’s what I really enjoyed about this week,” she added.
Equally as memorable in winning a national championship is getting to do it with family by your side. Kawasaki’s father Yasu has served as her caddy and was on the bag for her this week and Kawasaki thinks they make a pretty good duo.
“I feel I am more go for the pin, go for the number and my dad is more like hold up, just think about it, it’s a really good clash of personalities and we’ve been a really good duo this week and I hope we will be a really good duo forever,” she said with a smile.
Kawasaki will be returning to Canada next month to compete at the 2026 CPKC Women’s Open at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton, Alta. from August 19 – 23, it will be her first appearance competing on the LPGA Tour.
“Feels amazing, it’s going to be different in the field itself. I am really excited. Going pro is one of my dreams when I grow up so I think being able to stand in the field of the pros that I aspire to be one day and to see what makes them so good and what makes me not so different from them, I am really excited to see that.”
In addition to the CPKC Women’s Open exemption, she will also receive an exemption into the 2026 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship in Ooltewah, Tenn., August 4 – 9. Kawasaki also receives an exemption into the 113th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO at Priddis Greens Golf & Country Club in Calgary, Alta., from July 19 – 23, 2027.
Kim finished solo second at 2-under while a trio finished tied for third at 1-under including Aphrodite Deng (Calgary, Alta.), Angelina Tolentino (Mount Laurel, N.J.) and Jie-En Lin of Chinese Taipei. Deng tied the low round of the week with a 5-under 66 on Friday, Tolentino carded the same score for her third round.
On Wednesday, Team Ontario reclaimed the Inter-Provincial Team Championship for the third time in four years, finishing eight shots clear of Team Manitoba. Team Ontario was represented by Kaprice Park (Oakville, Ont.), Kaylan Green (Toronto, Ont.) and Lilli Downer (Keswick, Ont.).
Team Ontario finished with a collective score of 15-over, Team Manitoba finished second at 23-over and Team Quebec closed out the top three at 24-over.
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).
