Nicklaus North Golf Course and its membership witnessed some history on June 7 as Clara Ding became the youngest player to ever triumph at the B.C. Women's Open.
The 14-year-old shot 71-66-71 across three days of competition to finish at 8-under par (208), displaying impressive command of the Whistler course. Forty-three high-level golfers tried and failed to equal that score, including multiple professionals and fellow national teamers.
Ding has now earned $1,200 in prize money and a berth into her maiden LPGA contest: the CPKC Women's Open to be held this August in Mississauga, Ont.
Katie Cranston and Clairey Lin, both Team Canada members in their own right, finished at 7-under (209) across 54 holes. Both held onto a share of the runner-up spot and went home with $1,050 each.
"It feels good," said Ding in a post-event interview. "I'm really excited to play the CP Women's Open later this summer. It [will be] my first professional event so I'm really, really excited and I'm going to learn as much as I can. My putting's getting a bit better than it was before, so just knowing that I'm working in the right direction and on the right things is really good."
Trouble arose when Ding bogeyed the third and fifth holes. Cranston, a junior at Auburn University, pulled within two shots after the front nine, while Lin briefly took the outright lead after Ding carded a bogey on the 13th.
Yet the young White Rock native righted her ship with a veteran's poise, birdieing the difficult 15th and giving herself a chance on hole No. 18. Two eyebrow-raising shots set up a two-putt for birdie and a victory.
Cranston, 21, and Lin, 15, also birdied to wrap up their tournament.
Ding is pleased with her milestone victory, but remains focused on what lies ahead. "Just keep doing what I'm doing," she commented. "The [BC Women's Open] is a really cool event. It's really cool to be out here and it was a tough [final round]. We battled out at the end.
"The exemption into the LPGA event makes it a lot more special. I tried my best not to think about it on the course and I did a good job of that today, but coming into this event I definitely thought about it a bit."
Results roundup
Mary Parsons raked in the honour of Top Professional at Nicklaus North despite one of her worst putting performances in recent memory. The Delta-based athlete placed seventh overall at even par (216), earning $15,000.
Unlike Ding, Parsons failed to qualify for the CPKC Women's Open. She'll return to the Epson Tour in hopes of making it to the big show another way.
The B.C. Women's Open also featured a 36-hole event to accommodate senior players over age 55 and amateur ladies, with handicap indexes between 4.1 and 26.0. Malee Rubinstein became the senior division's gross champ (+14) while Kerstin Baxter emerged on top in the net category (+6).
"The amateur divisions are a vital part of what we do," said Fraser Mulholland, Vancouver Golf Tour president and commissioner, in a press release. "We are thrilled to give passionate golfers of all ages and skill levels the chance to compete and be celebrated. Congratulations goes out to all flight and division winners at this year’s event.
"A giant shout-out to the Nicklaus North management team for their undying support leading up to and throughout the week of the championship. Gavin [Eckford] and [Andrew] Smart: you and your team were amazing to work with. Your staff gave our competitors a first-hand look at some amazing and world-class Whistler service being offered at Nicklaus North."
Now in its fourth year of existence, the B.C. Women's Open served as the first of three official competitions on Golf Canada’s She Plays Golf Championship Series. She Plays Golf is a nationwide project to invest in the game for women and girls.
For more results, visit vancouvergolftour.com/2025/06/10/clara-ding-wins-bc-womens-open.
