Jennifer Kirby Captures 2009 Royale Cup Canadian Women's Amateur Championship

- Australian Hillier breaks course record with 65-

Moncton, N.B. (RCGA) – Team Canada’s Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont., locked up her first national victory at the 2009 Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship on Friday at the Royal Oaks Estates and Golf Club in Moncton, N.B.

Kirby shot an impressive 1-under par 71, finishing with a four day total score of 71-66-73-71—282 (-6) to defeat fellow national amateur team member Sue Kim of Langley, B.C., by one stroke. Kim claimed second place with a 5-under par 283, while Stephanie Sherlock of Barrie, Ont., and Sarah Maude Juneau of Fossambault, Que., tied for third at one-under par 287.

“This is the biggest event I’ve ever won and it feels amazing,” said the exuberant Kirby. “I got a little nervous on the last hole, and when I get nervous I play a little quick. But my caddie and my Team Canada coaches did a great job of keeping me calm.”

With her win today, the soon-to-be University of Alabama freshman earns her first exemption into the 2009 CN Canadian Women’s Open to be held August 31- September 6 at Priddis Greens in Calgary, Alta.

The large gallery of fans gathered at Royal Oaks were treated to a dazzling battle between Kim and Kirby in the third and fourth rounds. Kirby played a fantastic front nine carding one birdie and one eagle, while Kim had some challenges with her putting. On the back nine, Kim managed to narrow Kirby’s lead when she chipped out of a bunker and made a short putt for par on the par 4 seventeenth hole.

“I didn’t play my best today, and I let my nerves get to me,” said Kim. “I will take what I learned today, and use it next week at Hampton Golf Club.”

Both Kirby and Kim will compete next in the Royale Cup Canadian Junior Girls’ Championship held at Hampton Golf Club in Hampton, N.B.

Kirby, Kim and Sherlock were followed closely by teammates Nicole Vandermade of Brantford, Ont., who finished in sixth place and Maude-Aimee LeBlanc of Sherbrooke, Que., who finished tied for seventh.

Whitney Hillier of Connolly, Western Australia, shot the day’s low round, carding seven birdies and eleven pars for a final round score of 65. With her score, Hillier broke the competitive course record—previously set by Kirby in the championship’s second round—and moved up the leaderboard to finish T10.

In the Mid-Amateur division (25-39 yrs.), two-time Canadian University/College champion Christina Spence Proteau of Port Alberni, B.C., took home the title topping Catherine Fortin of Beauceville, Que., with a total score of 298 (+10). Fortin finished with 305 (+17) followed closely by Jessica Luciuk of Barrhead, Alta., who finished third at 306 (+18).

The Mid-Master division (40+ yrs.) saw Calgary’s Kim Carrington defeat Terril Samuel of Etobicoke, Ont. Carrington and Samuel finished the final round tied with 312 (+24), but Carrington took home the trophy after winning a two-hole playoff. Host city’s Leanne Richardson had a tremendous comeback in the final round, and finished in third place at 318 (+30).

The following are the final scores for the 2009 Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship on Friday, July 31, 2009 at Royal Oaks Estates and Golf Club:

Individual Stroke-Play
1. Jennifer Kirby, Paris, ON, 72-66-73-71-282 -6
2. Sue Kim, Langley, BC, 71-70-68-74-283 -5
3. Stephanie Sherlock, Barrie, ON, 76-70-71-70-287 -1
3. Sara Maude Juneau, Fossambault, QC, 72-70-73-72-287 -1
5. Jaclyn Sweeney, Andover, MA, 72-72-76-68-288 E
6. Nicole Vandermade, Brantford, ON, 74-72-74-69-289 +1
7. Julia Boland, Sydney, Australia, 74-76-69-72-291 +3
7. Stacey Keating, Victoria, Australia, 75-71-74-71-291 +3
7. Maude-Aimée LeBlanc, Ascot Corner, QC, 77-68-73-73-291 +3
10. Whitney Hillier, Connolly, Western Australia, 75-76-76-65-292 +4
10. Molly Aronsson, Shelburne, VT, 73-71-76-72-292 +4
10. Lisa McCloskey, Malibu, CA, 71-71-76-74-292 +4

Mid-Amateur Championship
1. Christina Spence Proteau, Port Alberni, BC, 75-67-82-74-298 +10
2. Catherine Fortin, Beauceville, QC, 82-73-77-73-305 +17
3. Jessica Luciuk, Barrhead, AB, 80-71-75-80-306 +18
4. Jennifer Lochhead, Ancaster, ON, 79-77-80-74-310 +22
5. Kim Carrington, Calgary, AB, 81-77-78-76-312 +24
5. Terrill Samuel, Etobicoke, ON, 83-78-75-76-312 +24
7. Andrea Kosa, Calgary, AB, 84-79-74-76-313 +25
7. Evelyne Lussier, Montreal, QC, 84-76-78-75-313 +25
9. Jill Hardy, Winnipeg, MB, 84-75-79-77-315 +27
10. Tanis Hastmann, Winnipeg, MB, 77-80-81-78-316 +28

Mid-Master Championship
1. x-Kim Carrington, Calgary, AB, 81-77-78-76-312 +24
1. Terrill Samuel, Etobicoke, ON, 83-78-75-76-312 +24
3. Leanne Richardson, Moncton, NB, 77-80-84-77-318 +30
4. Cheryl Newman, Calgary, AB, 83-77-77-82-319 +31
5. Marie-Therese Torti, Candiac, QC, 83-77-78-83-321 +33

x-denotes won in a playoff

Full scores from all rounds of the 2009 Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship are available online at www.rcga.org/Championships.

ABOUT IRVING TISSUE AND THE ROYALE BRAND
Irving Tissue, the makers of Royale, is proud to be the official title sponsor of all three of the Canadian Women’s amateur competitions; Royale National Junior Girl’s Championship, Royale Cup National Women’s Amateur Championship and the Royale National Women’s Senior Championship.

Irving Tissue is a family run, privately owned company which began in 1998 and since then has grown to become one of North America’s leading tissue manufactures. The Royale brand is owned and proudly manufactured by Irving Tissue. Royale has been trusted by generations of Canadian families and traces its roots back to 1932. The product line-up includes kitten soft bathroom tissue, facial tissue, napkins and paper towels. For more information on Royale products, visit www.royale.ca

ABOUT THE ROYAL CANADIAN GOLF ASSOCIATION
The Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) is the governing body of golf in Canada, representing 377,000 members at 1,600 clubs across the country. Recognized by Sport Canada as the National Sports Organization (NSO) for golf in this country, the RCGA’s mission is to grow participation in and passion for the sport while upholding the integrity and traditions of the game. The RCGA conducts programs and services to help shape the future of golf in Canada. High performance athlete development, CN Future Links, Canada’s national junior golf program, turfgrass and environmental research, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum, Rules of Golf and amateur status, handicapping and course rating are only some of the initiatives the association leads for golf in Canada. In addition, the RCGA conducts Canada’s most prestigious golf championships. The RBC Canadian Open and CN Canadian Women’s Open attract the best professional golfers in the world, while regional junior and national amateur championships showcase the best in Canadian golf.

For further information on what the RCGA is doing to support golf in your community please visit http://www.rcga.org/.