The Best of Sport in BC Recognized

The 43rd Annual Athlete of the Year Award Finalists Announced
For Immediate Release: Thursday, January 15, 2008

Richmond, BC: Sport BC is pleased to announce the finalists for the 43rd Annual Athlete of the Year Awards presented by TELUS. The awards feature 16 categories and celebrate some of the best individuals involved in sport in the province. Award recipients will be announced at the annual Athlete of the Year awards ceremony on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at the River Rock Show Theatre in Richmond, BC.

"We continue to see an outstanding caliber of nominees put forward for the awards and it has been a challenge for the committee to narrow each field," said Sport BC’s President and CEO, Paul Varian. "Each of the finalists demonstrates commitment and excellence to their sport and we are thrilled to celebrate their success."

The prestigious Athlete of the Year Awards has been a constant feature in the British Columbian sporting community for 43 years. The finalists come from communities across BC, participate in a variety of sports and represent some of the best that sport has to offer on the national and international stage. The yearly awards ceremony celebrates coaches, officials, volunteers and athletes that exhibit outstanding athletic achievement and dedication to sport.

This year's finalists feature individuals from 17 BC communities, representing over 18 sports. The finalists were selected by a committee of media and sport representatives from across the province.

BCGA Finalists:
Soo Bin Kim - Junior Female
What titles did the nominee win in 2008?
CANADA RCGA Royale National Juvenile Girls’ Championship RCGA Royale National Junior Girls’ Championship RCGA Royale National Junior Girls’ Team Championship
BRITISH COLUMBIA Juvenile Girls’ ChampionshipBC Summer Games Gold MedalistZone 3 Junior Girls’ ChampionshipZone 3/4 Combined Junior Girls’ Championship What records did the nominee set in 2008? First British Columbian to capture the Canadian Juvenile Girls’ title First Canadian to capture the Canadian Juvenile Girls’ title

Is the nominee ranked provincially, nationally or internationally? #3 – British Columbia Order of Merit for Junior Girls #8 – Canadian National Order of Merit for Junior Girls #27 – Canadian National Order of Merit for Women #32 – Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit (professional event) Describe the scope of the competition that the nominee faced this year: 1st – Royale National Juvenile Girls’ Championship - field of 65 players top junior girls in Canada 1st – Royale National Junior Girls’ Championship - field of 115 players top junior girls in Canada1st – British Columbia Juvenile Girls’ Championship - field of 29 players top juvenile girls in British Columbia 1st – 2008 BC Summer Games – field of 25 players from 8 zones2nd – British Columbia Junior Girls’ Championship - field of 48 players top junior girls in British Columbia 12th – 2008 CN Canadian Women’s Tour, Richmond Country Club - field of 72 amateur and professional players Silver medalists – member of Team BC at Junior Girls Americas Cup – best finish ever for BC in 30 years – field of 72 players on 18 teams from Canada, U.S. and Mexico List the personal bests the nominee achieved in 2008: Represented Canada at the 2008 Duke of York Young Champions at Dundonald Links, Ayrshire - 56 competitors from 29 different countries worldwide Selected to attend the Team BC Canada Games Golf Training Camp in Charlottetown, P.E.I Played for Team BC to best BC finish ever at the 2008 Junior Girls’ Americas Cup Fired a two-round eleven-under par at the BC Summer Games Competed at the World Juniors in San Diego placing 25th overall Girls 15 - 17

Eugene Wong - Junior Male
What titles did the nominee win in 2008?
INTERNATIONAL Callaway Junior World Golf Champion ship Boys’ 15 - 17
BRITISH COLUMBIA British Columbia Amateur Championship British Columbia Junior Boys’ Championship British Columbia Fresh Egg Cup ‘AAA’ Secondary School Championship
What records did the nominee set in 2008? Canada’s first Junior World Golf champion Only the third player to ever win the BC Junior Boys and the BC Amateur in the same year. [Doug Roxburgh, (1969) and James Lepp, (2002)] First player to win the BC Secondary School Championship, BC Junior Boys’ and BC Amateur in the same year

Is the nominee ranked provincially, nationally or internationally? #1 – Canadian National Order of Merit for Junior Boys #1 – British Columbia Order of Merit for Junior Boys #2 – Canadian National Order of Merit for Amateur Men #2 – British Columbia Order of Merit for Amateur Men Describe the scope of the competition that the nominee faced this year: Captured the Callaway Junior World Golf Champion ship title in a field of 189 players from 73 different countries. Captured his first provincial amateur title in a field of 156 of the top golfers in British Columbia. Captured his second provincial junior boys’ title in a field of 156 players. Captured the BC Fresh Egg Cup in a field of 109 students from across British Columbia. List the personal bests the nominee achieved in 2008: Runner-up at Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship in a field of 156 of the top golfers in Canada Triple provincial title winner – ‘AAA’ BC Secondary School Championship, B.C. Junior Boys, B.C. Amateur

Jackie little - Master Athlete
What titles did the nominee win in 2008?
CANADA RCGA Royale National Senior Women’s Championship RCGA Royale National Senior Women’s Team Championship
UNITED STATES Pacific Northwest Golf Association Senior Women’s Championship Pacific Northwest Golf Association Senior Women’s Player of the Year
BRITISH COLUMBIA Senior Women’s Amateur ChampionshipMid-Amateur Women’s ChampionshipZone 6 Senior Women’s ChampionshipZone 6 Amateur Women’s ChampionshipWhat records did the nominee set in 2008? Captured the BC Senior Women’s title with the lowest ever aggregate 54-hole score. Only player ever to win the Senior Women’s title under par.

Is the nominee ranked provincially, nationally or internationally? #30 – Canadian National Order of Merit for Women #4 – British Columbia Order of Merit for Amateur Women
*There is no national or provincial Order of Merit for senior players
Describe the scope of the competition that the nominee faced this year: 1st – PNGA Senior Women’s Amateur – field of 72 players 1st – Canadian Senior Women’s in a field of 91 players 1st – British Columbia Senior Women’s – field of 51 players2nd – Canadian Mid- Amateur Women’s Championship – top mid-amateur players from ten provincesAdvanced to match play in a field of 131 at the 2008 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship and played through to round of 16 to finish as the top Canadian. List the personal bests the nominee achieved in 2008: Medalist at the USGA Senior Women’s Qualifier at the Home Golf Course in Washington StateThrough to round of 16 at 2008 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship (low Canadian)Provincial, Canadian and Pacific Northwest Senior Women’s champion in her first year of eligibility

About Athlete of the Year Awards presented by TELUS:
The Athlete of the Year Awards is the longest-standing sport recognition event in the country. Awards in 16 different categories are given each year to athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers based on their performance and contribution to sport in the province. The awards play a valuable role in nurturing athletic success and recognizing some of BC’s growing talents, such as past recipients Nancy Green Raine (Senior Female Athlete of the Year Award 1967 and 1968, Alpine Skiing), Rick Hansen (Athlete with a Disability Award 1979 and 1980, Wheelchair Athletics) Scott Niedermeyer (Senior Male Athlete of the Year Award 1991, Ice Hockey) and James Lepp (Junior Male Athlete of the Year 2001/Senior Male Athlete of the Year 2003 and 2005, Golf). For further information on the 43rd Annual Athlete of the Year Awards presented by TELUS, please visit http://www.sport.bc.ca/.

About Sport BC:
Sport BC is a not-for-profit organization built on the belief of creating and sustaining healthy communities. For more than 40 years Sport BC has been the federation for organized amateur sport in British Columbia; providing valuable shared services and value-added programs to its membership, and the sport sector. Sport BC represents more than 80 member organizations including 65 Provincial Sport Organizations. For more information http://www.sport.bc.ca/.