FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 25, 2024

“Szeryk earns First Professional Title at 2024 GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open”

It didn’t take long for London, Ontario’s Ellie Szeryk to find her footing in professional golf.  After a T5 finish at the Glencoe Invitational the week prior, Szeryk outclassed the entire BC Women’s Open field in just her 2nd event as a Pro for a 4-shot win over long-time Golf Canada National Team member Brooke Rivers.

Szeryk’s opening two rounds were impressive to say the least, carding rounds of 68, and a course record 66 on day two on a very challenging set-up at Pitt Meadows Golf Club.  With her coach Jennifer Greggain on the bag for both rounds, Szeryk summed up her first two rounds as “a casual game of golf with my coach”.  Clearly Greggain’s plan to “keep Ellie distracted from the tensions of golf” worked over the first two days.  Her impressive play put her 7 shots clear of her nearest challenger and allowed some breathing room on day 3.  With a stern set-up on the final round, Szeryk withheld all challengers for a commanding 4-shot victory over long-time Team Canada team-mate Brooke Rivers. Her victory not only earned her a sizeable cheque of $15,000, but equally as important – a spot into the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open at Earl Grey Country Club in July.

Szeryk’s nearest challenger throughout the week was Brampton, Ontario’s Brooke Rivers, who played some strong golf, recording rounds of 72, 69, 73 (-2).  Not too bad for Rivers’ Professional debut, who cashed a cheque for $8,500 and earned the 2nd exemption spot into the CPKC Women’s Open.

Both Szeryk’s and Rivers’ decisions to turn Professional were heavily influenced by their involvement with Golf Canada’s national team. Both with the support they have received through the coaching and international Amateur tournaments they have experienced in preparing them for this next step.  But having a Canadian-wide Professional series  “She Plays Golf Championship Series” available to test their skills as young Professionals and qualify for the CPKC Women’s Open made their decisions just that much easier.

Both Szeryk and Rivers have been part of Golf Canada’s National Team Program for the past 6 years years since junior golf. 

For more on Szeryk’s background, Read Here.

To learn more about Brooke Rivers, Read Here.

In her winner’s speech, Szeryk was quick to comment her appreciation for the support she has received from Golf Canada and how much it has assisted her in her preparation for Professional Golf. “It feels amazing.  This tournament has helped me so much with the rest of my season in my first year as a Professional.  And the spot into the CPKC Women’s Open is life changing”.

To see Szeryk’s comments at the trophy presentation, GO HERE.

On the Amateur side of the competition, it became a battle between two young junior stars in the making.  Seventeen-year-old Pitt Meadows & Team Canada member Luna Lu, and 16-year-old Ha Young Chang of Hazelmere Golf Club in Surrey, BC. 

Both Lu and Chang were coming off some great play, with Lu qualifying for the US Junior Championships the same week, and Chang finishing runner-up at the BC Women’s Amateur the week prior after a closing round of 65.

Lu and Chang would match scores through the first 36 holes with rounds of 71, 73.  But is was Ha Young Chang’s steady play that allowed her to earn Amateur medalist honors in this year’s Championship.  Both players earned a share of the cash purse with Chang earning $1,200 and Lu earning $1,100. 

But more importantly, this was an invaluable experience teeing it up against some of Golf Canada’s top young Professionals in the field.

The 2024 GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open presented by BTM Lawyers was the 2nd of three stops on Golf Canada’s She Plays Golf Championship Series.  The 54-Hole Championship featured both Professionals and elite Amateurs playing for a total purse of $60,000 CAD, World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points, and two qualifying spots into the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open in July. 

Players earned points for their finishes in BC Women’s Open towards a series-long She Plays Golf Series standings. The winner of the point standings following the ORORO PGA Women’s Championship of Canada will also earn qualification into the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open (if not otherwise qualified) and will be supported by Golf Canada’s Q school bursary program if they enter LPGA Q school in the fall.

For full field results from the 2024 GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open CLICK HERE

Complementing the She Plays Golf Championships Series this year are concurrently held She Plays Golf Festivals, which feature inclusive programming for women and girls who are recreational golfers or exploring the sport for the first time. She Plays Golf Participation Festival events will take place at golf courses across the host city during the same week as She Plays Golf Championship Series tournaments.

For more information on GOLF CANADA’s She Plays Golf Series CLICK HERE.