Amateur Golf

British Columbia Golf has announced its 2012 Titleist Order of Merit winners.

Awarded annually to the player with the most points in their age and gender category, the Titleist Order of Merit award is a year-long race to collect as many points as one can by playing in tournaments that have an extremely high standard of competition. A point system is used to objectively rank players based on tournament placing, allowing for interprovincial comparison of amateur golfers in Canada.

"We are proud to celebrate the Titleist Order of Merit with those who have accomplished great success in their respective categories through performance, dedication and unwavering commitment," said Bob Rawlings, Western Canada Sales Leader with Titleist.

"These traits are important to the Titleist brand as we are committed to producing the best performing products for serious golfers each and everyday," added Rawlings. "On behalf of Titleist, I would like to congratulate each of the winners and all of their fellow competitors who continue to strive to achieve success both on and off the golf course."

The Titleist Order of Merit winners for the 2012 season are:

• Kevin Kwon - Pitt Meadows (Junior Boys')
• Adam Svensson - Surrey (Men's)
• Kevin Carrigan - Victoria (Men's Mid-Amateur)
• Craig Doell - Victoria (Men's Master-40)
• Doug Roxburgh - Vancouver (Senior Men's)

• Jisoo Keel - Coquitlam (Women's)
• Naomi Ko - Victoria (Junior Girls')
• Alison Murdoch - Victoria (Senior Women's)

Kwon, a member of Team Canada's National Development Squad, captured the Junior Boys' title thanks to a year full of near wins. Kwon came tied for runner-up at both the CN Future Links Pacific and the Canadian Junior Boys'. Kwon also placed well at the 110th BC Amateur (3rd) and the British Columbia Junior Boys' (T3rd).

A Team Canada National Development Squad teammate of Kwon, Adam Svensson secured the overall Men's title thanks to a record-setting comeback victory at the Canadian Junior Boys'. Svensson, who only recently agreed to play with Barry University in Miami, also finished runner-up at the Mexican Amateur and was a semi-finalist at the Argentine Amateur.

Carrigan, opening the year with an impressive win at the British Columbia Mid-Amateur Championship, went on to play great golf at the 110th BC Amateur, finishing 4th. Carrigan would wrap up his Mid-Amateur Order of Merit title and book his ticket to the 2013 RBC Canadian Open by way of winning the Canadian Men's Mid-Amateur at Point Grey G&CC in Vancouver.

In the Master-40 Order of Merit division, Doell carved his place at the top via a win at the Zone 5 Championship and a steady performance at the Canadian Mid-Amateur, finishing T3rd.

Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Doug Roxburgh continued to etch his name in British Columbia golf history books, bringing home the Senior Men's Order of Merit title thanks to an impressive finish at the 110th BC Amateur (T6th) and a T6th finish on the Canadian Mid-Master leaderboard.

On the women's side, Naomi Ko proved she was worthy of an invite for the Team Canada National Development Squad in 2013, finishing runner-up in the season opening CN Future Links Pacific Championship. Building on that momentum, Ko would finish the British Columbia Juvenile Girls' in 3rd, Junior Girls' in T8th and the Canadian Junior Girls' in T11th position en route to her Junior Girls' Order of Merit title.

Team Canada National Squad member Jisoo Keel made 2012 a memorable year, capturing the CN Canadian Women's Professional Tour event at Richmond Country Club as an amateur. Keel also proved effective in USGA events, qualifying as an amateur to the US Women's Open and making it to the Round of 32 at the US Girls' Junior. Keel rounded out her impressive year and her Women's Order of Merit victory with a 3rd place finish at the Canadian Junior Girls'.

Closing out the 2012 Titleist Order of Merit titles was Alison Murdoch who netted the Senior Women's. A perennial challenger in provincial, national and international competition, Murdoch proved victorious at the Alberta Senior Ladies as an out-of-province champion. Murdoch would also win the Zone 5 Amateur Championship and finish runner up at the British Columbia Senior Women's Championship.