On a day when the little sister showed the big sister a little something about going low, it was another youngster, 15-year-old Alisha Lau of Richmond, who made the biggest move at the British Columbia Women’s Amateur at Duncan Meadows.
Lau had a bogey-free round of (-4) 68, which included three birdies on the front nine and a birdie on the par-5 17th to get herself within three strokes of wire-to-wire leader Michelle Kim.
“I’m pretty happy because after all the opportunities I had for birdie the first couple of days, I finally was able to make some,” said Lau. “After I made birdie on 17, I was so scared on 18 because I just wanted to get finished and not have a bogey on my card.”
On a day when eight players produced under-par rounds – Lau and Fairwinds’ Shelly Stouffer had the low rounds of the day – it was another blisteringly hot day in Duncan.
The story continues to be the 17-year-old Surrey prodigy who’s hoping to follow in her big sister’s footsteps and hoist the Flumerfelt Cup on Friday afternoon.
Michelle Kim made three birdies and only one bogey on Thursday, as her (-2) round of 70 has her at (-2) 214 for the tournament and three strokes ahead of Lau, who sits at (+1) 217.
Surrey’s Hannah Lee, who shot (-2) 70 and Michelle’s older sister, Taylor, who shot (-1) 71 on Thursday, sit another stroke back, at (+2) 218. “I was very consistent with my tee shots and my iron play was very good,” said Michelle, who’s earned a scholarship to the University of Idaho this autumn. “I was making a lot of up-and-downs, which really helped.”
As for besting her older sister by one stroke, Michelle was very modest. “She’s always been a big role model for me,” said Michelle. “We didn’t say a lot, but it was a lot of fun.”
Taylor made a couple of early birdies to get to within one stroke of her little sister, but a disastrous double bogey 7 at the par-5 5th derailed that charge.
Taylor would make four birdies on the front to go with that double and a bogey on the 7th before a bogey and birdie on the back left her a total of four strokes behind Michelle. “I wasn’t surprised she made a charge,” said Michelle. “I knew it was going to happen sooner or later. It’s unfortunate she made that double.”
As for Taylor, the defending champion, she’s happy for her sister. “My sister is playing really, really well. I didn’t know that until I played with her today,” said Taylor.
“I’ll try and catch her tomorrow but I’m feeling really good for her. I want to win, but (if I can’t), I also want my sister to win.”
Taylor did admit that losing by a stroke wasn’t what she hoped for at the beginning of the day.
“For me, it sucks, I’ll be honest,” she said. “I’m so happy for he, she’s improved so much. . . I tried talking to her, but she was keeping away (thinking) ‘I’m going to beat you today.'”
Lee’s round of (-2) 70 included 5 birdies and 3 bogeys and she’ll get another chance to play alongside her good friend Alisha Lau.
BEST BALL COMPETITION
In the best ball competition, the Kim sisters continue to lead, with their score of (-16) 200 four strokes clear of Alisha Lau and Hannah Lee.
The final round of the British Columbia Women’s Amateur at Duncan Meadows is on Friday. The first tee time is 7:30 a.m. and spectators are encouraged to come out and cheer the competitors on. Admission is free.
Thanks to British Columbia Golf for the info
