At just 19 years old, Ann-Sophie Bourgault arrives at the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship with momentum that is hard to ignore. The Gatineau, Que., native will make her debut at the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship this week at The Toronto Golf Club, marking another milestone in her development as she works toward her long-term goal of competing on the LPGA Tour.
The timing could not be better. Bourgault has put together the strongest stretch of results of her young career since the start of the summer. In June, she turned heads by finishing runner-up at the GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open, a professional event, while also claiming low-amateur honours. A few weeks later, she made her mark on the international stage at the prestigious Women’s Amateur Championship in Scotland, where she finished 17th before earning the biggest victory of her career by defeating Spain’s Paula Martin Sampedro, the defending champion and the world’s No. 2-ranked amateur at the time.
For Bourgault, that victory was a turning point.
“I had nothing to lose, while she had everything to lose,” Bourgault recently told Le Droit. “Even though I wasn’t the favourite, I trusted myself, and it paid off. Anything is possible when I believe in myself.”
That newfound confidence could prove valuable this week against a strong field of 156 players from 12 countries, including many of the top amateur golfers in the world. Along with the national title, exemptions into the CPKC Women’s Open and the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship are on the line.
Learning through Team Canada
Bourgault’s rise has accelerated since joining Team Canada – NextGen. A member of The Royal Ottawa Golf Club, she credits much of her recent development to the support system provided through Golf Canada’s high-performance program.
“It’s a huge privilege and an honour to represent Canada,” she said. “Having coaches with me at tournaments, being able to do a mental reset after rounds and evaluate what I can improve is something I didn’t have before. It has helped me tremendously this year.”
Her experience in Scotland is a perfect example of that growth. Faced with links-style golf, challenging winds and unpredictable weather for the first time, the Quebecer was pushed outside of her comfort zone.
“I really had to learn how to hit different shots. Those are things you can’t develop through training alone.”
She also credits her coaches and the environment fostered within the national team program for helping her continue to grow. Prior to her match against defending champion Paula Martin Sampedro, advice from coach Jeff MacDonald left a lasting impression.
“Before the round, Jeff reminded us that no matter who your opponent is, if you believe in yourself, anything is possible. That message really helped me. There were so many emotions, but what I’m most proud of is how calm I stayed throughout all 19 holes against Paula. I had never experienced anything like that before.”
A game that’s uniquely hers
Although she now trains in Florida and regularly competes in tournaments across the United States, Bourgault remains deeply connected to her roots.
“I’m very proud to represent the Outaouais, Quebec and Canada,” she said.
On the course, her game differs from many of her competitors.
“I’m not a very long hitter,” she admitted. “Growing up, I developed a strong short game. I’m more of a precision player. I pick my targets and commit fully to every shot.”
That methodical approach has helped establish her as one of Canada’s top junior golfers. Her résumé includes a NextGen Western Championship title, a Quebec junior provincial championship and several standout performances on the North American junior circuit. She has also committed to continuing her academic and athletic career in the United States, another important step on her path to professional golf.
Looking ahead
While the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship represents a significant milestone, Bourgault views the event primarily as an opportunity to learn and continue progressing. True to the mindset that has fueled her recent success, she remains focused on the process rather than the outcome.
“My goal is to trust my process and all the preparation I’ve put into my game,” she said. “I want to enjoy myself and play the best golf I can.”
That approach has already helped her qualify for her first U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, set for Tennessee in early August. Her results over the past several weeks have reinforced the approach she believes in: focusing on preparation and execution rather than results.
This week in Toronto, Bourgault will compete in her first Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship. She may not arrive as one of the tournament favourites, but she does so with growing confidence and valuable experience gained over the past several months. For Bourgault, this week’s championship offers another opportunity to test herself against a strong field and to continue building toward her long-term goal: one day competing on the LPGA Tour.
Follow the results of Ann-Sophie Bourgault and the other Canadians competing this week at The Toronto Golf Club on the official Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship webpage.
