Park, who turned 14 earlier this year, led throughout the championship, eventually finishing the four-round event at nine-under-par, one shot clear of Shauna Liu of Golf Canada Champions Club. Celina Yeo and Julia Alexandra-Carew finished T3 at six-under for the championship.
The win is Park’s third Golf Ontario title of the season. Her first came in March at the Ontario Junior Players’ Invitational, while her second came at the Junior Girls Spring Classic in May at Wooden Sticks.
After battling Judith Kyrinis of The Thornhill Club all the way through to the last putt the true test came after, as Taylor gained momentum nearly holing out from her approach shot.
Heading into the final round, Taylor pulled ahead and defeated Kyrinis in a 1 hole playoff win.
Taylor has plenty of experience competing at high-level championships and competitions. In her journey as an NCAA golfer, Taylor achieved a 3-time All-Conference golfer at Grand Valley State University in Michigan. Her team participated in the NCAA DII National Championship in three out of her four years. In her Junior career, she competed at the Niagara Junior Tour, the Ontario Summer Games team and Golf Ontario and Canada Championships.
Taylor can now add winning the 2024 Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship to her list of accomplishments.
As for the Women’s Amateur status, it is currently still in play and will begin the final round on Thursday to see who will be crowned the 2024 Women’s Amateur Champion.
The 60-player championship showcases the province’s rising junior girls’ golf talent, with seven featured players from Team Ontario and two featured players from Next Wave. As the young athletes take the course, they each seek to take home the Randolf Jay Millage Ttrophy at the end of the weekend.
Taking place over 54-hole, FireRock Golf Golf Club hosts the Ontario Junior Girls Spring Classic Championship for the second year.
FIELD NOTES
Among the 60-players in the 2024 Ontario Junior Girls Spring Classic, seven are Team Ontario members, while two are Next Wave players.
Team Ontario Players: There are seven members of Team Ontario taking part. They are: Aryn Matthews (Big Win Island Golf Club); Nobelle Park (Rattlesnake Golf Club); Kaprice Park (Rattlesnake Golf Club); Shelby Hardwick (The Summit Golf & Country Club) ; Angela Cai (Heron Point Golf Links); Wendy Li (Cedar Brae Golf Club) and Bridget Yu (Golf Canada Club).
NextWave: Two athletes who are part of Golf Ontario’s Nexgt Wave development prrogram will be participating: Sierra Kowalyshyn (Sawmill Golf Course) and Kirsten Lee (Brampton Golf Club)
Youngest Player: Riviera Lindholm (St. Georges Golf & Country Club) 11-years-old
PLAYER NOTES
Michelle Xing, a standout on Team Canada, has claimed titles such as the 2024 NextGen Ontario Champions (which was played last week at FireRock), the 2022 Ontario Junior Girls Match Play Championship and the 2022 Ontario Bantam U15 Championship.
Nobelle Park, an exceptional Team Ontario member, clinched victory at the 2024 Ontario Junior Players Invitational.
Aryn Matthews, another Team Ontario member, has made her mark with a runner-up finish at this year’s Ontario Junior Players Invitational and a third-place finish at the 2024 NextGen Ontario Championship.
QUOTES
Connor Doyle, Tournament Director: “The Ontario Junior Girls Spring Classic will be one to watch this weekend. The highly competitive field will feature many of the top junior girls in Ontario including members of Team Ontario and Team Canada. FireRock Golf Club will serve as a great test for the players this weekend and we should be in for an excellent three days of golf.”
Luke Smith (The Thornhill Club) and Andrew Aquino (The National Golf Club of Canada) both finished tied for third in last year’s Junior Boys Spring Classic. Smith also won last year’s Junior Boys Championship.
Gabriel Mainella (Summit Golf & Country Club) recently won the 2024 Ontario Junior Players Invitational.
Jager Pain (Golf Canada Club – Ontario) comes in fresh off his win at the 2024 Ontario NextGen Championship.
The winner of the last two Ontario Juvenile Championships, Matthew Javier (Scarboro Golf & Country Club).
Last year’s Ontario Bantam) Champion, Manav Bharani (Brampton Golf Club) is also in the field.
QUOTES
Rob Watson, Tournament Director: “This event is annually one of the strongest playing fields for junior boys in the country. This year, we have a very strong field, which only reinforces why this event is so competitive.”
Reggie Millage, Head Provincial Coach: “The Junior Spring Classic was started by my father in a time when opportunities for the best juniors to play against each other were very limited early in the season. Initially it was a stand-alone event, which became one of the strongest and most anticipated ones of the new Ontario golf season. That anticipation only elevated once it became a Golf Ontario Championship in 1995. It is truly an honour to have my name etched in the first two slots on the trophy named in honour of my dad and something I continue to cherish year after year.”
Get Into The Swing! Register For Women’s Golf Events
Golf Ontario
We’re excited to invite you to this season’s Women’s Try Golf events! Whether you’re picking up a golf club for the first time or looking to refresh your skills, this series is perfect for you.
Registration is now open, and we’re constantly adding new events.
Complimentary Golf Clubs: No clubs? No problem! We provide everything you need.
Pre-Event Tips: Receive video tips before the event to start off on the right foot.
Celebrate with Us: Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine after your round.
Fun and Relaxed Atmosphere: Play a casual 9-hole round with no scorekeeping—just fun!
Our Try Golf events are all about making golf accessible and enjoyable. They offer a wonderful opportunity to meet other women who are also new to the sport. Bring your friends, make new ones, and enjoy a delightful day on the green.
The growth of women’s golf is inspiring, and we’re passionate about inviting even more women to experience the sport. We’re always exploring ways to facilitate continued engagement through the Women’s Participation Pathway, with the help of our partners and local facilities.
If you’ve been playing more often or have attended multiple Women’s Try events before, why not explore ‘next step’ opportunities with our partners Iron Lady Golf and LPGA Amateurs? They offer a diverse range of fantastic ways for you to TRY, LEARN, and PLAY even more frequently!
Are you ready to make this your best summer of golf yet? Join an Iron Lady Golf Summer League for weekly play with guaranteed tee times, league captains providing support, monthly tip sessions, and so much more. These leagues aren’t just about golf; they’re about forming meaningful connections, enjoying the sport in a supportive atmosphere, and, most importantly, having a great time!
Iron Lady Golf Leagues welcome players of all skill levels. Whether you’re just starting out or have a wealth of experience, whether you’re playing a leisurely round or keeping score, you’ll find your place here.
The LPGA Amateur Golf Association is the ultimate golf community for women, bringing together players from all walks of life, of all ages and abilities, in a friendly and inclusive setting. You’ll expand your network, forge new friendships, and share in the love of golf. With over 300 events across Ontario, we offer organized, social golf experiences along with educational opportunities to enhance your gameplay.
Our pay-as-you-play green fees ensure golf is accessible to all. Find out what’s happening at a local chapter near you at LPGA Amateurs Ontario.
Golf Ontario’s Official Days Highlights Power of Volunteer Spirit
Golf Ontario
Last week, more than 125 dedicated volunteers joined forces for the Golf Ontario Official Days, which were held across the province.
These days marked the beginning of the 2024 championship season, uniting Golf Ontario staff and volunteers in celebration of the year’s start.
“Our volunteers are essential to our team; they’re the foundation of our mission. Their unwavering dedication allows us to continue shaping lives and offering enriching experiences through golf,” says Golf Ontario CEO Kyle McFarlane. “We’re honoured to acknowledge the significant influence our volunteers wield within the Golf Ontario community.”
Tournament Officials: These key volunteers oversee more than 100 qualifiers and championships annually. Their responsibilities include managing registration, overseeing starts, scoring, and maintaining the pace of play.
Referee: Referees at provincial events must have completed at least Level 2 of the Golf Canada rules of golf education program. They should possess a deep understanding of the Rules of Golf and demonstrate the capacity to make decisions collaboratively under pressure.
Course Rater: Upon affiliation with Golf Ontario, clubs receive an initial rating, which is re-evaluated as courses mature or undergo design modifications. Up to 70 courses annually may be appraised by a specialized Course Rating Team. Course raters need to be adaptable, methodical, and have a penchant for math or statistics. Comprehensive training is provided, encompassing both classroom and on-course instruction.
Interested in becoming a part of the Golf Ontario volunteer community? Discover the various opportunities and their benefits on our Volunteering Resource page HERE. To join our volunteer team, please complete the application form.
The Team Ontario program, established in 2009, is dedicated to fostering excellence across all aspects of life for its athletes. Participants benefit from comprehensive guidance on time and self-management, physical strength and conditioning, mental sports psychology, nutrition, as well as tactical and technical strategy.
In addition to Chun and Anderson, notable players to come through the program include Ashton McCulloch, Max Sear, Johnny Travale, Nicole Gal, Hailey McLaughlin and Katie Cranston.
Entitled the “Spring Tune-Up,” the webinar will look four main areas of interest:
What is Body-Swing Connection?
The importance of having a good warm up routine.
How to warm up properly & fire your muscles to create a consistent movement pattern.
What can you do in preparation for the upcoming golf season?
In addition to the live webinar, Swing Lab has also created supplementary PDF, which offers deeper insights into the webinar topic. The webinar will also be recorded so Golf Ontario can re-watch in the future.
Located in Richmond Hill, Ont., Swing Lab’s primary goal is to assist golfers in developing a consistent and efficient swing.
The National Facility Awards for Junior Golf is a program designed to acknowledge the crucial contribution of golf facilities and academies to the growth of young golfers throughout Canada. These awards celebrate the facilities that have notably influenced the progression of junior golf within their local communities throughout the 2023 season.
Sawmill was recognized with the “Junior Golf Opportunity Award,” which is awarded to the facility that provides exceptional access and membership opportunities for junior golfers.
The “Grassroots Junior Program of the Year,” which is awarded for excelling at creating new junior golfers through local programming, was given to Deep River.
South Muskoka was awarded with the “Tournament Host of the Year” for giving back to youth golf by embracing the opportunity to host junior competitions.
From September 1 to October 31, 2023, all individual members and facility members of Golf Canada were able to nominate facilities for each award category.
All nominations were reviewed and feedback about nominees was provided by members of the Golf Industry Advisory Council, Sport Committee, and Amateur Championships Committee. Final award selections were made by Golf Canada staff.
Nominations for the 2024 National Facility Awards for Junior Golf are expected to open in September 2024.
This National Volunteer Week, we at Golf Ontario are honoured to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of over 250 volunteers from across the province.
At the heart of Golf Ontario, our volunteers are the lifeblood in a variety of critical areas, including championships, rules, course rating, and governance on committees and our board of directors. They are the sport’s ambassadors and an essential part of our team, enabling us to deliver exceptional programming and experiences to golfers, partners, and industry stakeholders.
Throughout the week, join us on social media as we showcase our remarkable volunteers. We’ll be sharing their inspirational stories and the fulfillment they derive from being an integral part of our community.
During National Volunteer Week, we’re excited to present a series of “Officials Days,” celebrating the dedicated volunteer officials who are instrumental in orchestrating our tournaments and competitions. This is a special time when they come together to inaugurate the 2024 season.
Interested in becoming part of the Golf Ontario volunteer family? Find out more about the opportunities and rewards on our Volunteering Resource page HERE.
