SAINTE-MARIE, Que. – Ruihan Kendria Wang shot an 8-under 64 to take a four-shot lead following the opening round of the 2025 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO at Club de golf Sainte Marie in Sainte-Marie, Que.
The 16-year-old Team Canada NextGen member from Vancouver, B.C. opened her round with four straight birdies and went on to record nine on the day en route to setting a new women’s course record at Club de golf Sainte-Marie. In addition, Wang’s round ties the lowest record in tournament history, originally set by Euna Han of Port Coquitlam, B.C. in 2019 at Lethbridge Country Club in Lethbridge, Alta.
“I’m really honoured by that,” said Wang after finding out she set a new women’s course record. “I thought this course would be really challenging but I just ended up hitting good shots today and maintained little mistakes. It was great, I am very honoured.”
Following a run of birdies to start, Wang followed up with two more on the front and added three on the back nine and credited her driving and her putting for helping her achieve her own personal best round.
“I find when those (driver and putter) are good my round ends up pretty well and honestly the weather was perfect, there was very little wind,” added Wang.
The weather unfortunately took a turn during the afternoon, as winds grew heavy and rain began to fall forcing an hour-long stoppage in play shortly before 2:30 p.m. local time.
Maggie Zhang of Richmond, B.C. is alone in second at 4-under followed by Carlee Meilleur of Lansdowne, Ont. at 3-under. Defending champion and Team Canada NextGen member, Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont. is currently tied with Team Canada teammate Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C. for fourth at 2-under.
Wang also leads the Juvenile division (players aged 16 and under) over Zhang. Liu and Lin are tied for third at 2-under with Ceilidh Spare of North Gower, Ont. and Alexis Card of Cambridge, Ont. tied for fifth at 1-under.
Wang added that will stick to her game plan and play the course as she planned during her practice round.
“I know an 8-under round is very rare so whatever I do tomorrow, I won’t be disappointed with it,” added Wang.
In the battle for the Inter-Provincial Team Championship, Team British Columbia (B.C.) opened its defence of the Mary Pyke Trophy by shooting a collective 6-over to lead Team Alberta by one.
Team B.C. is represented by Emma Kral of Victoria, B.C., Cadence Ko of Richmond, B.C. and Zhehui Yu of Burnaby, B.C. Kral and Ko both posted rounds of 3-over 75 to have their scores count towards the team total following the opening round. Each day, the lowest two of three individuals 18-hole scores will count towards the team total.
Team Alberta sits at 7-over with Team Ontario (9-over), New Brunswick (16-over) and Manitoba (18-over) rounding out the top five in the inter-provincial team competition.
The 134-player field will be cut to the low 70 players and ties with the top ten juvenile and ties following Thursday’s second round.
The Canadian Junior Girls Championship was first contested in 1955 and operated by the former Canadian Ladies Association (CLGA) until the amalgamation of CLGA and Royal Canadian Golf Association (now Golf Canada) in 2005.
The Canadian Junior Girls Championship has a long list of distinguished past champions that have etched their name on the Brokenshire Trophy. Past champions include, Canadian Golf Hall of Famers Sandra Post (1964-66), Betty Stanhope (1956), Judy Darling (1957), Gail Harvey Moore (1958-1960) and Gayle Borthwick (1961). In addition, LPGA Tour players, Alena Sharp (1999), Brooke Henderson (2012) and Maddie Szeryk (2013). Stollery Family Team Canada Women’s Head Coach Salimah Mussani (1996) is also a past Canadian Junior Champion.
The 2025 Canadian Junior Girls champion will receive an exemption into the 2026 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship and the 2026 Canadian Junior Girls Championship and 2026 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship, if eligible.
For the leaderboard following the opening round of the 2025 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO, click here.
GOLF CANADA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Golf Canada annually conducts more than 30 golf competitions and qualifiers nation-wide – including 11 National Amateur Championships – which play host to more than 3,000 domestic and international athletes from all corners of the world. In partnership with our host clubs, thousands of volunteers, provincial golf associations and our proud sponsors, Golf Canada is dedicated to supporting player development through world-class competition since our inception in 1895. Officiated by certified Canadian Rules of Golf officials, Golf Canada’s amateur competitions are fully compliant with golf’s international governing bodies and include marquee events such as the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships as well as the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. Golf Canada’s amateur championships are proudly supported by BDO Canada, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Titleist, FootJoy, Coca-Cola, Sport Canada, and Levelwear. For more information and scheduling visit www.golfcanada.ca/competitions-calendar/.
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