Eileen Park is the best amateur golfer in the province.
Park, 15, won the Alberta Women's Amateur Championship Thursday at River Spirit Golf Club in Calgary, with a three-round score of one-under-par. The Red Deer Golf and Country Club product shot a three-under-par 69 in the final round, after shooting one-over on both Tuesday and Wednesday. She hit all 18 greens and had a boogie-free final round, along with three birdies.
"One of my biggest goals for this year was winning this tournament. So it feels amazing to finally get it done," she said.
Park was two strokes back of Edmonton's Jenna Bruggeman to start the final round Thursday, but the duo were tied at even par after nine holes. With five holes to go, Park had a three-shot lead, but Bruggeman got within two after a birdie on 14. That's as close as Bruggeman would get, as both her and Park pared the final four holes.
"My shots were really helping me a lot, I hit all greens today, which was pretty easy. It just had a good flow to it," she said.
Park was the runner-up in the 2023 women's amateur, finishing four shots back of winner Jieming Yang. She was sixth in the 2022 Alberta Women's Amateur and was the U19 provincial champion. She was the Canadian Junior Women's Champion in 2023.
Park, Bruggeman and Grace Bell will now make up the Alberta Women’s Interprovincial Team that will compete at the 110th edition of the Canadian Women's Amateur Championship at Royal Colwood Golf Club in Victoria B.C., from July 30 to Aug. 2.
"I'm really proud of myself. It's amazing. My next goal is to win the Canadian Am," Park said.
Saylar May of Rocky Mountain House finished in 10th at the 2024 Alberta Amateur with a three-round score of plus-10.