Young Canadians Learning Fast Down South

Last Updated on Sunday, 22 April 2012 20:42 Sunday, 22 April 2012 19:37

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Over the last few years more and more of Canada's top young golfers have been heading south of the border to big name United States universities on golf scholarhips and it has become increasingly clear that they are not just there to fill a spot.

Many of the young men and women from the Great White North are playing prominent roles on their respective NCAA golf teams.

In her most recent outing Richmond, B.C.'s Chrisitine Wong managed a runner-up finish to Texas Christian University’s (TCU) Sanna Nuutinen after losing in a four hole playoff. Wong and Nuutinen finished the 54-hole tournament at +1. 

Earlier in the season Team Canada’s Wong, a junior at San Diego State University, captured individual medalist honors at the Bruin Wave Invitational at El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana, Calif., for her second win of the season and her fourth career collegiate victory.

And she's not alone in producing these kind of results as witnessed by a few other notable finishes for Canadian golfers in NCAA tournaments. 

North Vancouver, B.C. native Eugene Wong (no relation to Christine) led his Oregon Ducks team to the title at the Aggie Invitational at the Traditions Golf Club in Bryan, Texas. Oregon claimed the team title thanks to four Ducks placing in the top five. 

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Former Team Canada member Wong had five birdies on his back nine in the final round, leaving him with a one-under 71 on the day to go with rounds of 73 and 75 in the first and second rounds respectively.

He finished the tournament at +3 and finished in third place in the individual portion of the event. 

Wong started the week as the 70th ranked amateur in the world. His tie for third was a better finish than several other highly ranked amateurs including the 7th ranked amateur in the world, Dylan Fratelli, the 20th ranked amateur in the world, Talor Gooch and 43rd ranked John Catlin.

Yet another Team Canada member, Jennifer Kirby - playing for the University of Alabama, finished off a strong tournament on Sunday to close out the SEC Women’s Golf Championship at Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
 
The Paris, Ont. native battled windy conditions over the weekend but still managed to put together rounds of 76-75-78 to complete her week at +13 and finish in a tie for 8th place as she helped her team to a third place finish overall. This followed on the heels of her win last month
 
Team Canada's head coach Tristan Mullally was in Arkansas helping Kirby this week and believes that after another strong performance, she may be among the ones to beat as the NCAA Championships approach.
 
"Jennifer hung in today battling really blustery conditions on a very difficult golf course," Mullally said. "Following last month's victory with another top ten, Jennifer will be among the favourites at next month's regionals."
 
Kirby captured the first medalist honor of her career and the No. 2 Alabama women's golf team posted a 12-shot victory at the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic on at the University of Georgia Golf Course to start the month of April.
 
 
 
 
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By Bryan Outram

Bryan Outram has been editor-in-chief for Inside Golf for the past eight years.

http://www.insidegolf.ca

More articles by Bryan Outram