Christina Lake Golf Club to host women’s provincial amateur golf tournament this week
By Erin Perkins
Six local Christina Lake Golf Club members are set to golf alongside 66 other competitors from across the province during the 2012 British Columbia Women’s Amateur/Mid-Amateur Championships, July 3-6.
Round one tee time starts at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow (Tuesday, July 3) and at regular intervals all morning long as the top women golfers test their skills at the 18-hole, par 72, 6,189 yardgolf course known for its black sand traps.
For local amateur golfers, this tournament will give them the opportunity to rub elbows with some high-calibre golfers, get some tournament experience right on their home course.
The women participating from the Christina Lake Golf Club include Christina Lake residents, Mackenzie Field, Connie Kotash, Patricia Lawrence and Wanda Flack and Grand Forks residents Colleen Verigin and Paz Alguire.
“I’m a little nervous,” admits Colleen Verigin a day before the tournament. “There are five other members (from the Christina Lake Golf Club) attending and I’m more comfortable knowing they will be out there too … I do not expect to be in a running of any kind but I like to golf and I’m competitive. I can’t wait to see the calibre of golfers. Hopefully I will play well and learn.”
Verigin has been golfing for the past 10 years and has been a member of the Christina Lake Golf Club for the past eight.
“I used to be a softball pitcher and my husband did everything he could to get me to golf – I couldn’t even hold a club,” recalls Verigin, who is now sold on the sport.
Christina Lake Golf Course removing soggy spots after rain
While the 72 players and numerous spectators expected for the four-day tournament do not pose any concern for the staff of the Christina Lake Golf Course, the weather does.
Thanks to the torrential down pour experienced on Sunday, July 1, the maintenance crew spent much of Monday, July 2 clearing up the soggy zones on the course.
“Hopefully the weather will just hold on and it will be nice out for a change,” said golf club staff member Shimmer Lawrence.
“We’re looking forward to seeing some high quality golfers from across the province,” said Kevin Maffioli, Christina Lake Golf Club general manager.
Maffioli said this is the first time the CLGC has hosted this tournament and the opportunity has provided a lot of exposure for both the club and the community.
The final day, Friday, July 6 there will be an award presentation of the 107 year-old Flumerfelt Cupat the club house starting at 3 p.m.
The top three winners of this tournament will go on to represent the province at the Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship from July 24 to 27 at the Lethbridge Country Club in Lethbridge, Alberta.
Players to look out for
The tournament will attract a host of golfing talent including double title 2011 championship winner Christina Proteau of Port Alberni and 2010 amateur champion Christine Wong of Richmond.
Golf enthusiasts may also want to watch for 2012 CN Canadian Women’s Tour winner Jisoo Keel of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam’s Anica Yoo who was a third place finisher in the 2011 tournament, Team Canada member Taylor Kim of Surrey and 2012 USGA Girl’s Junior qualifier Naomi Ko of Victoria.
Spectators are always welcome but Lawrence reminds people to use off-course etiquette, turn their cell phones off and give the players quiet respect.
For more information about BC Golf visit www.britishcolumbiagolf.org. To learn more about the Christina Lake Golf Club visit www.christinalakegolfclub.com.
