SUNDRE – A fairly steady on-and-off again drizzle of rain that fortunately did not deteriorate into an all-out downpour was not enough to deter a group of nearly two dozen young women from competing in a USGA qualifier hosted at the Sundre Golf Club.
“It was worrisome for sure, the couple of days leading up,” said Sam Meek, tournament coordinator with Golf Canada, referring to weather that had left organizers concerned about the prospects of pulling the plug.
“But we were fortunate to catch a break in the weather system that’s moving through Alberta and the area,” Meek said on Monday, June 19 from the local club’s restaurant while 23 women from Canada and the U.S. were competing on the fairways for two available spots at the 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship.
Although a qualifier for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, the tournament was organized by Golf Canada, which hosts a number of amateur and professional events for the USGA, said Meek.
“Being a national organization, it’s important to have them all across the country,” he said when asked how the Sundre Golf Club ended up being selected."
“For the women’s amateur (qualifier), we were slated to host in Alberta this year,” he said, adding a Golf Canada team had been in contact with the local club throughout the past winter.
“They stepped up to host the event,” he said, heaping praise on head golf pro Scott Shouldice and the Sundre staff for being great to work with and going onto add that the tournament went off without a hitch despite the weather.
“We are really enjoying the scenic views that the course has to offer and I think that the women are happy to be here,” he said, later expressing gratitude to Sundre and the local golf club for hosting the event.
According to a Golf Canada recap posted on the organization’s website, Kelli Ann Strand, of Challis, Idaho, secured top spot after shooting three-under 69 to earn medalist honours. Lauren Kim, of Surrey, B.C., secured the second place spot after shooting a two-under 80.
The 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur is scheduled to be hosted on Aug. 7-13 by the Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles, Calif.
