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Port Coquitlam golfer wins first Canadian junior girls' title — by nine strokes

Yeji Kwon took a commanding lead in the final round of the national championship, and now receives exemption to a pair of higher-level events next year.

Yeji Kwon shot a tournament-best 65 in the third round of the 2022 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, and she never looked back.

The dominant four-round performance over the final week of July ultimately helped the Port Coquitlam golfer secure her first-ever national title.

She hoisted the Brokenshire Trophy with an 11-under par 277 total (75, 67, 65, 70) at the Marshes Golf Club in Kanata, Ont.

And Kwon recorded two eagles, both on the first hole in the second and third rounds, to ignite the one-horse race and cruise through the final round to a nine-stroke landslide victory.

"I tried to block it [nerves] out as much as possible," said the 16-year-old in a Golf Canada news release. "....I tried my best out there to keep as calm as possible.

"I saw the scoreboard and I was like, 'Ok, let's just try to make pars and get it done.'"

With the win, which also included a $1,200 cash prize, Kwon now receives exemption to play in the 2023 Canadian Women's Amateur Championship. She finished 20th at the 2022 event a week prior to the junior girls' tournament.

She'll also have the chance the compete against some of the best golfers south of the border with an invitation to the 2023 U.S. Junior Girls Championship.

The latest win adds to an impressive résumé over Kwon's young career, which also includes winning the 2021 World Junior Golf Stars and San Diego Junior Amateur championships.

The Gleneagle Secondary student also claimed the 2020 Alberta Women's Amateur Championship at 14 years old.

Kwon is a member of Team Canada's national junior squad, that competes in international events.

Meanwhile, two Coquitlam golfers were also on the leaderboard at the national championship.

June Hsiao finished alone in 48th out of 70 golfers that made the cut for the last two rounds, while Matrina Yu was one-stroke back in a tie for 49th.