Andrea Lai grew more confident every day at the Ontario junior girls golf championship.
The 15-year-old from St. Thomas stood out in the competition, recording three of the week’s top seven rounds to claim the provincial under-19 title at Maple City Country Club.
“I came in here thinking podium, top three, but otherwise I was hoping just to play a good game and hopefully get some low rounds,” the St. Thomas Golf and Country Club player said. “I’m pretty happy with the result this week.”
Lai ended up at one-over for a three-stroke victory over 2025 Ontario under-15 champion Alexis Card of Whistle Bear Golf Club.
Lai secured her win with her second straight two-under 70 in Thursday’s final round, having broken par in three rounds.
“It feels unreal right now,” said Lai, who shot 71 and 78 in the first two rounds. “I’m still kind of speechless, but it feels so amazing.”
She made birdies on the 12th and 15th holes during the final day, then parred the last three to maintain her lead.
“The final three holes, I think that’s the big stretch,” said Lai, a Lambton Junior Golf Tour champion. “I just try to focus on keeping it simple.
“Just hit the fairway, hit the green and pick good lines. I think that’s what helped me get through the last three holes.”
Lai left after the championship to represent the Lambton tour along with Narisse Daye and Sofia Rocca of Sarnia Golf and Curling Club at the Ontario Summer Games in Kitchener.
Next up is the Canadian junior girls championship in Toronto followed by the Ontario under-17 championship in Barrie.
“I’m just going to try to keep building on from this momentum and just keep practising and working hard,” said Lai, who is also the 2025 OFSAA champion.
Avery Nordman from Canadian Golf and Country Club finished third at five over. She will join Lai and Card on Team Ontario for the Canadian junior championship.
Kassandra Rombouts from Maple City shot an even-par 72 in her final round to tie for 17th place at 16-over. Haylee Crawley from Maple City did not make it past qualifying.
Rombouts, Crawley, and Madelaine Beck will represent Unico Primo Junior Golf Tour at Ontario Summer Games.
Daye tied for 24th place at 19-over while Rocca did not qualify.
Winner Andrea Lai, second from right, of St. Thomas Golf and Country Club is joined by her mother Shailine, father Alvin and sister Avyanna after winning the Ontario junior girls golf championship at Maple City Country Club. (Mark Malone/Chatham Daily News)
Champion Andrea Lai, centre, of St. Thomas Golf and Country Club is joined by third-place finisher Avery Nordman, left, and runner-up Alexis Card at the Ontario junior girls’ golf championship. (Mark Malone/Chatham Daily News)
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