Golf Canada – Michelle Liu becomes youngest player ever to earn exemption into the CP Women’s Open by finishing as low Canadian

RED DEER, Alta – Brianna Navarrosa of San Diego, Calif., shot 4 under 68, overcoming a four-stroke deficit to capture the 106th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship held at Red Deer Golf & Country Club on Friday.

Michelle Liu of Vancouver finished as the low Canadian of the tournament, becoming the youngest player ever to earn an exemption to the CP Women’s Open. Liu carded a final round of 2 over, finishing at 1 over on the tournament in a tie for 12th. 

Liu will be aged 12 years, nine months and six days when the 2019 CP Women’s Open tees off on August 22 at Magna Golf club in Aurora, Ont. 

“I’m very proud of myself, especially being able to play with so many well-known professional players,” said Liu. “I started off today not very well – at three over through four holes and I was like ‘oh, this may not happen.’ I managed to get back and get my scoring under control.”

Navarrosa won the championship with a tap-in par putt on the par-4 No. 18. Jennifer Chang (Cary, N.C.) was one stroke behind Navarrosa – narrowly missing a 15-foot birdie putt to force a playoff. 

This is Navarrosa’s second tournament win of the season, having claimed the Buick Shanshan Feng AJGA Girls Invitational in February. By claiming the Duchess of Connaught Gold Cup, the 17-year-old earns exemptions into the 2019 CP Women’s Open and the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship.

“Going into today I was really hoping just to get a top three and stay consistent throughout the whole day,” said Navarrosa. “Of course I wanted to win. I wasn’t nervous going into the back nine, I was hyped to sink some putts. This will be my first LPGA event. I just want to have a good experience. If things don’t work out well, it’s ok. Just being there is an honour.”

Chang finished at 9 under par after firing 2 under 70 on Friday. 

The 54-hole leader, Andrea Lee of Hermosa Beach, Calif., shot 3 over on Friday and finished in third place. 

Alyaa Abdulghany (Newport Beach, Calif.) made a charge up the leaderboard to finish fourth. Abdulghany entered the final round at even-par and her round of 7 under 65 was the lowest round of the tournament. 

NOTE TO MEDIA: Photos from the final round can be accessed here (Credit: Justin Naro/ Golf Canada). 

2019 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship final results

1. Brianna Navarrosa, San Diego, CA, *68-72-70-68-278 -10
2. Jennifer Chang, Cary, NC, *69-67-73-70-279 -9
3. Andrea Lee, Hermosa Beach, CA, *66-71-69-74-280 -8
4. Alyaa Abdulghany, Newport Beach, CA, *75-71-70-65-281 -7
5. Therese Warner, Kennewick, WA, *70-73-68-73-284 -4
5. Lucy Li, Redwood Shores, CA, *71-71-72-70-284 -4

Full results can be found here.

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GOLF CANADA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Golf Canada annually conducts more than 20 championships nation-wide 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 RBC, Canadian Pacific, Sport Canada, Levelwear, Titleist and FootJoy. For more information and scheduling visit www.golfcanada.ca/competitions.

GOLF CANADA 
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For more information:

Graham Neysmith
Media & Public Relations
Golf Canada
(t) 514-435-4389
(e) gneysmith@golfcanada.ca