Canadian amateurs prepare for U.S. Amateur Championship Qualifiers

(Golf Canada)

On July 17, the U.S. Men’s Amateur Qualifier will take place at Granite Golf Club in Stouffville, Ont., while the U.S. Women’s Amateur Qualifier will be hosted by Richmond Country Club in Richmond, B.C.

The current fields consist of 75 men and 17 women competing against each other at their respective qualifiers for a chance to play in the U.S. Men’s Amateur Championship at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif., from Aug. 14-20 and the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship at San Diego Country Club in Chula Vista, Calif., from Aug. 7-13.

The men will navigate the gentle rolling countryside of Granite Golf Club, which borders a protected wildlife habitat, that was designed by Canadian golf architect Thomas McBroom. Over at Richmond Country Club, the women will take on one of B.C.’s premiere golf venues set within the greenbelt of the agricultural land reserve.

Highlighting the men’s field is Canada’s top ranked amateur golfer Garrett Rank (No. 90) from Elmira, Ont. In 2016, the 29-year-old won his third consecutive Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship and finished T2 at the Sunnehanna Amateur Tournament for Champions.

Also in the men’s competition is 21-year-old Matt Lemay who plays for the Georgian Grizzlies. This season, he won the bronze medal at the PING CCAA Golf National Championships and lead his school team to a silver medal at the OCAA Championships. Back in 2014, he walked away with the Ontario Junior Boys Championship title.

In the women’s contest, Surrey, B.C.’s Michelle Kim leads all Canadians in the field. The 19-year-old is the highest ranked Canadian participant on the World Amateur Golf Rankings at No. 357. Kim is fresh off a T3 finish at the B.C. Women’s Amateur Championship at the end of June, and in 2015 she won the Canadian Girls Championship, the B.C. Junior Girls Championship and the B.C. Women’s Amateur Championship.

Representing Team Canada’s Development squad is 18-year-old Mary Parsons who successfully defended her 2016 title at the Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship in May. The Delta, B.C. product had four victories in 2016 and finished third at the Canadian Junior Girls Championship.

More information – including tee times – on the Men’s and Women’s Qualifiers.