Coquitlam golfer Jisoo Keel saved her best for the end Wednesday. Her very best.
Keel, 16, converted three birdies on her last five holes, including a 20-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to seal a one shot victory to capture the season-opening event on the 2012 CN Canadian Women's Tour at Richmond Country Club.
Keel finished with a two-day total of one-under 143 to beat Vancouver's So Yeon Park and Renee Skidmore of Everett, Wash., by a single stroke, as the pair finished runners-up at even-par 144.
With the victory, Keel earned an exemption into the 2012 CN Canadian Women's Open which will be held at Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam from August 20-26.
She also took home top amateur honours. "It's an absolute victory for me because the CN Canadian Women's Open is right in my hometown this year," Keel said. "It's just 10 minutes from my high school [Gleneagle]. I am so happy to be able to play. I am so honored to play in my hometown in front of friends and family."
Park and Skidmore, both of whom are professionals, each collected $8,498.18, sharing the first and second place winners' cheques.
The next CN Canadian Women's Tour stop takes place June 11-13 at Club de golf Beloeil in Beloeil, Que., while the final Tour event is scheduled for June 25-27 at Legends on the Niagara in Niagara, Ont.
