VICTORIA, B.C. ?“ Aggie junior Inah Park tied a course record in the opening round of the 100th BC Women's Amateur Championship and finished strong over the final 36 holes to win the event by three strokes at the Victoria Golf Club earlier this week.
Park (Richmond, B.C.), who is entering her third season as a member of the Aggie women's golf team this fall, carded a 1-under-par 218 to defeat runner-up Samantha Richdale (2-over-par 221).
"I went into this tournament not really expecting to win like I did," Inah Park said. "I took some time off after our spring season at school and that was a good break for me. It allowed me to get refocused for this tournament."
Monday, Park fired a 3-under-par 70 in the first round to tie the course record and lead the field by five strokes. Park birdied the par-5 fourth and par-3 eighth to sit a 2-under through nine holes. After a bogie on the par-4 10th to start the back nine, she birded the par-5 12th and par-5 15th to close the round out.
"The first round was great for me because I grab a five-shot lead going into the second round and that made me much more comfortable throughout the tournament," Park said. "In the last two rounds, I was able to grind it out and hang in there for the win."
In round two, Park continued to play well as she posted a 1-over-par 74 to remain four shots ahead of the pack. She birdied three holes in the round, including the par-5 third for the second day in a row. Park also collected birdies on the par-3 13th and the par-4 16th.
In her final round, Park jumped out to a great start as she birdied the first hole of the round and then dropped in an eagle three on the par-5 third hole. After a string of five bogies in the middle of the round, Park regained her edge and was 1-under-par over the final four holes to capture the coveted Flumerfelt trophy.
Park, who was named to the 2003-04 All-Sun Belt team, posted a stroke average of 77.56 as a sophomore last season and should be one of the strongest players returning this fall for Aggie head coach Joann Cox.
"Inah is a very talented and capable player," Cox said. "She has the skills to be one of the best on the collegiate tour and she knows that. Last year was a bit of a disappointment for her, but she reworked her summer playing schedule so that she will come back this fall refreshed and ready to perform."
As a freshman, Park led the Aggies in scoring with an average of 76.80 in 26 rounds played. She was the top Aggie finisher at three tournaments in 2003-04 and her best finish came at the 2004 Sun Belt Conference Golf Championships where she placed ninth with a combined score of 228.
Last summer, Park sunk a 10-foot birdie put on the finale hole of the 2004 Canadian Junior Women's Golf Championship to win the event by a single stroke with a three-day score of 2-over-par 217.
Park's win this week earned her a spot on a team that will represent the province of British Columbia at the 2005 Canadian Ladies Amateur Championship later this summer.