Lakefield, ON: Fifteen year old Brittany Marchand of Orangeville scorched the field today by firing a three under par 69 to claim the Beck’s Non-Alcoholic Ontario Women’s Champion of Champions title at Wildfire Golf Club just north of Lakefield.

 

Representing the Shelburne Golf and Country Club in this competition of Ontario Women’s Club Champions, Marchand marched through the course recording the only score under par. Her three under par 69 was four strokes better than her nearest competitor.

 

Marchand’s remarkable round was highlighted by a brilliant run to finish out the front nine. After a bogey at the par 3 sixth hole, Marchand closed out the front nine with birdie, eagle, and birdie to shoot 33. However, the eagle on eighth hole was the topping on the cake for what was Marchand’s best career round and only time she has shot in the sixties.

 

“I ripped my drive and had about 200 yards to the pin. I decided to hit a choked down 3 wood, which ended up running past the hole,” explained Marchand. “I was left with a downhill putt coming back and I just had the line and it dropped in for three.”

 

Marchand’s even par on back nine solidified the win and the first Ontario Provincial Championship of her very young career. Playing in her first provincial amateur event Marchand had a familiar face to help along the way - her grandfather and caddy.

 

“It was great to have him on the bag,” stated Marchand. “He didn’t tell me too much and just kept me calm, especially down the stretch.”

 

The event was dominated by the juniors as the top three finishers at this year’s event have yet to reach their eighteenth birthdays. Finishing in second place was Taylor Schmidt of Kincardine, who carded a one over par 73. The seventeen year old Schmidt was representing the Kincardine Golf and Country Club as their reining Club Champion.

 

Rounding out the top three was sixteen year old Jacqueline Yanch of Barrie, who finished with a 75 three over par. Yanch was the 2007 Barrie Country Club Women’s Champion.

 

The GAO would like to thank Beck’s Non-Alcoholic Beer for their generous support of the Women’s Champion of Champions, and the staff at Wildfire Golf Club for hosting this year’s championship.