Thanks in large part to the play of Megan Osland and Kyla Inaba, Kelowna golfers were a force to be reckoned with at the B.C. Women’s Amateur Golf Championship.
Osland, of the Kelowna Golf and Country Club, and Inaba, who represents Gallagher’s Canyon, finished third and fourth, respectively, at the provincial tournament held last week at Christina Lake.
Inaba also captured the Mid-Amateur title.
Osland’s four round score of 7-under par 281—seven shots back of winner Christine Wong—included a blazing third round of 6-under par 66.
The score stood for a short time as the course record, until Wong followed up later in the day with a 7-under 65.
“I had the record for about 15 minutes, then Christine came along and broke it,” Osland said with a laugh. “It still felt really good to put up a number like that.”
A solid week of golf against B.C.’s best was an encouraging way for Osland to kick off the summer, after a strong freshman season at San Jose State University.
”Basically my goal was to have four good rounds so I met that part of it,” Osland said.
“With my year at university, I definitely have improved, the coaching has really helped me a lot, and I’ve learned quite a bit playing with the best players. I like where my game’s at.”
Inaba, 25, who opened with a 69, finished in a tie for fourth at 3-under 285.
Her victory in the Mid-Amatuer came in Inaba’s first year of eligibility. The Mid-Am is a 54-hole event for players 25 years and older.
The former captain of the UBC Thunderbirds, Inaba needed a three-hole playoff to edge out Christina Proteau of Port Alberni for the Jackie Little Trophy. Proteau is a former amateur and mid-amatuer champ and played last year in the U.S. Open
“To win it the first time being eligible was pretty cool,” said Inaba, who plans on turning pro in September. “The playoff was exciting, it was nice to be in that situation against such a good player as Christina. It’s a really good next step for me and gets me going in the direction I want to be.”
Osland’s and Inaba’s efforts over four days also helped zone 2 (Thompson Okanagan) capture the team title at the B.C. Championship.
Inaba and Osland will both play in the Canadian Women’s Amateur July 24 to 27 in Lethbridge.
The two will also try to qualify for next month’s CN Canadian Women’s Open in Vancouver.
Meanwhile, Madison Kapchinsky of Kelowna Springs was 13th overall at the B.C. Am with a 296 total, while Haley Cameron of KGCC tied for 33rd, and Emil Nicol was 39th.
This week, Kapchinsky, Nicol and fellow Kelowna golfers Jessica Claggett, Lauren Rutherglen, Jess Kozak and Kylie Jack are in Osoyoos for the B.C. Junior Girls Championship.
