RICHMOND HILL— The 2017 Ontario Women’s and Junior Girls’ Match Play Championships wrapped up on Aug. 9 from DiamondBack Golf Club in Richmond Hill. After two full days of matches, it came down to defending champion, Pickering’s Crystina Kertsos and Brampton’s Karyn Lee Ping for the Women’s title, while Aurora’s Vanessa Chychrun and Toronto’s Catherine Zhang battled it out for the junior championship.
Kertsos defends Women’s Match Play title
Lee Ping, a Brampton Golf Club member, jumped out to an early lead taking the second hole. However, it would be short lived. Kertsos, from York Downs Golf & Country Club, squared the match on the third and took the lead on the fourth. After taking the sixth hole, Kertsos won the ninth and was 3up at the turn.
Kertsos began to pull away on the back nine. She took the 11th hole and then the 13th to move to 5up with five holes to play. Lee Ping sank a long birdie putt on the 14th to stay in the match and almost repeated the feat on the 15th. However, she came just short and Kertsos won the match 4&3 to defend the title.
“It means a lot to repeat as champion,” said Kertsos. “I loved every second of it. It feels really great to go back-to-back. This course’s conditions are great and it really sets up nicely to my eye. The first win was definitely special because it was my first provincial title but repeating just goes to show that it wasn’t a fluke.”
Kertsos began the tournament as the top seed and received an opening round bye. In the quarter finals she beat Grafton’s Danielle Sawyer 3&2. In the semi finals she took out Unionville’s Julia Hodgson 4&3.
As for Lee Ping, she entered the event as the sixth seed and defeated Stouffville’ s Ivy Steinberg 2&1 in the opening round. Next, she bested Mississauga’s Melany Chong in the quarter finals, but needed 20 holes to do so. She then beat Ridgeway’s Madeline Marck-Sherk in the semis 3&2.
About the Ontario Women’s Match Play Championship
The Ontario Women’s Match Play Championship was first played in 1975 and has several notable past champions including: World, Canadian and Ontario Golf Hall of Fame member Marlene Stewart Streit, six-time champion Mary Ann Hayward, Terrill Samuel, and Heather Kuzmich.
For full tournament information, including round by round results, see the tournament page at: https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao17/event/gao1744/index.htm
Chychrun takes Ontario Junior Girls’ Match Play title
Chychrun, from Beacon Hall Golf Club, got out to a good start by taking the opening hole. However, Zhang, a Station Creek Golf Club member, squared the match with a par on the third. Zhang would then go 1up on the seventh before Chychrun brought it back to all square on the eighth, and it remained that way as they went to the back nine.
On the 10th, Chychrun regained the lead. She would add to it on the 12th and then went 3up on the 14th. With Zhang missing a par putt on the 15th, Chychrun captured the title by a score of 4&3.
“Winning this is pretty exciting,” said Chychrun. “Coming into the year my goal was to win one tournament and I did that here. This is the biggest win for me, so far. When I was on the back nine with the lead, I realized someone has to win this tournament and thought that it might as well be me.”
Chychrun began the championship as the second seed and won her opening-round match over Woodstock’s Madeline Choi 9&7. In the quarters she had a 3&2 win over Thornhill’s Lauren Zaretsky. In the semis, she bested Brampton’s Brooke Rivers 2&1 to move onto the finals.
As for Zhang, she started as the fourth seed and won her first match 2&1 over Brampton’s Amanda Kerr. In the quarters she matched up with Aurora’s Lexie McKay and won that match 2&1. Then, in the semi finals, she took out the defending champion, Markham’s Hailey McLaughlin, in 19 holes to reach the finals.
About the Ontario Junior Girls’ Match Play Championship
The Junior Girls’ Match Play Championship has been contested since 1982. Female golfers under 19 years of age, before August 1, are eligible to compete. Notable past champions include: Alena Sharp, Stefi Markovich, Christina Yoon, Elizabeth Tong and Grace St-Germain.
For full tournament information, including round by round results, see the tournament page at: https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao17/event/gao1743/index.htm
Golf Ontario would like to thank ClubLink and DiamondBack Golf Club for hosting the Championships. Thanks also to the Golf Ontario volunteers who make these events possible.
