Collingwood, ON – Paris, Ontario native Jennifer Kirby successfully defended her Investors Group Ontario Women’s Amateur title on Thursday, earning an impressive ten stroke victory over the rest of the talented field of Ontario’s best female amateur golfers.
Kirby, 19, set the stage for a successful run at a second title by firing a blazing bogey-free 68 in the first round at Collingwood’s picturesque OslerBrook Golf and Country Club to grab a five-stroke lead. She added an even-par 72 on the second day, carding only a single bogey through 36 holes as the rest of the field struggled to break par on the challenging course.
Conditions in the third and final round were not built for scoring, with blustery winds whipping across the escarpment. Kirby teed off with a four-stroke lead and a distinct advantage on a day when it was unlikely any other golfers would be able to deliver low scores and catch the 2009 champion. A less consistent round saw Kirby trading four birdies and four bogeys as she navigated the course, but early on it was clear that Kirby was going to run away with the title. She closed out with her second 72 of the tournament to finish with a total score of 212 (68-72-72), four-under par.
“The pin placements today were more difficult and the wind was definitely a factor,” said Kirby of her third round performance. “Being in the lead and having won before makes it tough because it’s hard not to put too much pressure on myself to win.”
Kirby credits her older brother Patrick, who was on the bag for Kirby through all three rounds, for keeping her grounded and taking the edge off during the tournament.
“He’s really good at keeping me calm, out there we were just talking about whatever, anything but golf,” she explained. “I stuck to my game plan and it worked out.”
All eyes have certainly been on Kirby following her phenomenal 2009 season that saw her capture both the Ontario Women’s Amateur and Canadian Women’s Amateur titles, not to mention both the Ontario and Canadian junior titles and the Toronto Star Amateur. In 2010, she delivered an impressive top-10 finish in her NCAA Championship debut as a freshman at the University of Alabama, and made an appearance at last week’s U.S. Women’s Open.
Kirby will now enjoy a well-deserved weeklong break from competition as she prepares to defend her title at the Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Amateur, taking place at Ontario’s Kingsville Golf and Country Club from July 26-30.
Second place went to Newmarket’s Delaney Howson, 18, who made a charge up the leaderboard to earn runner-up honours. Several young competitors spent the final round vying for second place, with Howson coming out on top by adding a final round one-over 73 to her previous 75 and 74 for a total score of 222, six-over par.
Alone in third place was Mississauga’s Brogran McKinnon, 15, who finished a stroke behind Howson at +7. The recent 2010 Toronto Star Women’s Amateur champion struggled in the third round with four double-bogeys, but the young player showed off her scoring potential throughout the tournament and picked up the bronze medal.
Four golfers tied for fourth place at nine-over par, including Brittany Marchand of Orangeville who sat in second place for most of the tournament, but had a disappointing third round where she failed to make any birdies against a string of bogeys. Also in fourth place was Toronto’s Michelle Lee, familiar with the course after picking up the Junior Girls Match play title at OslerBrook in 2008, and GAO Public Player and Brampton resident Vanessa Leon.
Rebecca Lee-Bentham of Toronto and Nicole Vandermade of Brantford, Kirby’s fellow Team Canada members and recent competitors at the U.S. Women’s Open, finished 7th and tied for 9th respectively.
The Investors Group Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship also determines the four person inter-provincial team that will represent Ontario at the upcoming Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Amateur. Team Ontario will consist of Kirby, Howson, McKinnon and Lee, with Lee earning her spot in a playoff victory over Marchand and Leon.
Also contested in the event is the District Team Championship. In the Low Gross division, the Scarborough District Team of Howson, Gail Pimm of Stouffville, Julia Hodgson of Unionville and Ivy Steinberg of Cedar Valley took home the title. In the Low Net Division, the York District team of Sarah-Anne Smurlick and Debbie Court of Toronto, Elizabeth Tong of Thornhill and Marion Reid of Etobicoke came out on top.
The Investors Group Ontario Women s Amateur Championship is open to Ontario female amateur golfers with a handicap factor not exceeding 12.0. First contested in 1904, the event was played for the 95th time this week. Past winners include 1968 LPGA Championship winner Sandra Post (1964), LPGA player Alena Sharp (1989), Marlene Stewart Streit, who holds the record for the most Ontario Women s Amateur Championships with 11 ( 51, 56, 57, 58, 68, 69, 70, 72, 74, 76, 77), and five time champion Mary Ann Hayward, who won in 1983, ’90, ’95, ’96 and ’97.
The Golf Association of Ontario would like to thank the staff and members of OslerBrook Golf and Country Club for the use of their beautiful course and outstanding hospitality throughout the week, and Investors Group for their continued support of amateur golf in Ontario.
- story courtesy the GAO
