ELMIRA – The week at the 2017 Investors Group Ontario Junior Girls’ Championship belonged to London’s Ellie Szeryk, as the 15-year-old capped it off by claiming the title on July 7 at Elmira Golf Club.
It was never really in doubt for Szeryk, who won her second provincial title, the other being the 2016 Investors Group Junior Girls’ Spring Classic. Szeryk began the day with a nine-shot lead and was even after nine, thanks to back-to-back birdies on the fourth and fifth holes. Szeryk’s start to the back nine was a little rocky, with a bogey on 10 and a double on 11, but thanks to her cushion, Szeryk was never under any threat from the field. She went on to card a four-over (74) final round bringing her tournament total to five-over (73-70-68-74-285).
After the win, Szeryk spoke about what she did well during the week. “I think my approach shots were pretty good. I kind of struggled off the tee but I managed to get up and make par or bogey at worst. I am going to work on my driver and longer irons as I go into my next tournament.”
Szeryk, who had a course record during the third round, was unaware of the feat. “I didn’t know it was the course record. I was actually trying to go even lower because I had a lot more birdie chances and was frustrated being only two-under. I just tried to shoot around even to put myself in good position for the final round.”
Earning the silver medal was Toronto’s Sarah Beqaj. Beqaj, a member of Team Ontario and the Toronto Golf Club, sat in second after the third round but the gap was too large for her to overcome. She began well with a birdie on the first hole, but made the turn at three-over. She would go on to finish the round nine-over (79) bringing her tournament total to 19-over (76-75-69-79-299).
Taking the bronze medal was Richmond Hill’s Emily Zhu. Zhu, who had a share of the lead after the opening round, finished the day two-over (72). That moved her to 22-over (72-81-77-72-302) for the championship.
Szeryk, Beqaj and Zhu all earned the right to represent Ontario in the inter-provincial competition at the Canadian Junior Girls’ Championship, Aug. 1-4 at Camelot Golf & Country Club, in Cumberland, Ontario.
For more information, including the final leaderboard, see the tournament site at: https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao17/event/gao1721/index.htm
Golf Ontario would like to thank Elmira Golf Club, their staff and volunteers for hosting the event. Thanks also to the Golf Ontario volunteers and to title sponsor Investors Group for their continued support of golf in the province.
About the Investors Group Junior Girls’ Championship
The Investors Group Ontario Junior Girls’ Championship is contested annually and features Ontario’s best amateur female golfers age 18 and under. Established in 1927, the championship is being played for the 83rd time this. The event has a wealth of notable past champions including World Golf Hall of Fame member Marlene Streit, Sandra Post, Sue Hilton, Alena Sharp, Jennifer Kirby and Brooke Henderson.
