B.C. Sweeps Golf at Canada Games in Inagural Year

B.C. sweeps Golf at Canada Games in Inagural Year

Sue Kim, Eugene Wong win men's, women's titles in P.E.I.

ACTON, ON (August 31, 2009) - Last week over ten Canadian PGA Members, coaches and managers lead each provincial golf team to the Canada Games for the first time in history. Winning in each division was the province of British Columbia capturing both the team title as well as both the men's and women's singles divisions.

Thanks to the following Canadian PGA Members, coaches and managers who lead their teams to this historical event:

NL: Katie Williams, Jim Stick
NS: Ed Hanczaryk
NB: Bari Gourley, Louis Melanson
PEI: Ann Chouinard
QC: Denise Lavigne, Daniel Langevine
ON: Ann Carroll, Ralph Bauer
MB: Derek Ingram, Garth Goodbrandson
SK: Brad Birnie
AB: Randy Robb
BC: Jodie Jackson

Click here for 2009 Canada Games Golf Results

Sue Kim and Eugene Wong were crowned the individual titles adding to their team victories by the province last Thursday.

Facing blustery conditions in Roseneath, P.E.I., Kim shot a 7-over-par 79 at Brudenell River Golf Course for a four-round total of 293.

Augusta James of Bath, Ont., finished in a four-way tie for second at 303, taking the silver medal in a three-hole playoff.

SooBin Kim of Coquitlam, B.C., won the bronze.

Wong started the day six shots back but charged up the men's leaderboard, shooting a 2-under 70 for a four-round 288, forcing a playoff with Justin Shin of Maple Ridge, B.C.

"I feel awesome about myself. To go down in history as the first gold medallist [in men's golf] in the Canada Summer Games was an accomplishment I wanted to have, and I did it," Wong said.

Shin took the silver after a playoff that also lasted three holes. Julien Goulet of St-Roch de l'Achigan, Que., finished at 292 to win the bronze.

While Kim and Wong, both 18, were thrilled to capture golf's first golds, they would love to add another accomplishment to their names: Olympian. The sport was recommended this month for inclusion in the 2016 Summer Games, along with rugby. The two sports will be put forward for ratification by the full 106-member IOC assembly in Copenhagen in October.

"I'll be the right age," Kim said. "Of course it motivates me more, I'll be done college by that time, a stronger player mentally and physically, I'll be a lot better by that time. I'm really excited for the Olympics."

Kim said the chance to play in the Olympic spotlight can only help boost the image of game where she feels attention is sadly lacking on the women's side.

"Not many people follow ladies golf," she said. "Plus, it's hard to call it a sport because people think we just walk around and play with a stick, people think it's a retirement sport, but it's a tough game, it's a mental game."

2009 marks the first time that golf appears as a sport in the Canada Games. It was contested at the Brudenell River Golf Course in Roseneath during the second week of the 2009 Games. The Team Competition consisted of a 54-hole Stroke Play event while the Individual Competition was contested over 72-holes.

Click here for more information on Golf in the Canada Games

Files from CBC Sports www.cbc.ca