Team Canada NextGen teammates battle on Friday with
defending champion Shauna Liu now one back of the lead
SAINTE-MARIE, Que. –Ruihan Kendria Wang and Shauna Liu each held the individual lead following the opening rounds of the 2025 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO. It seemed as if the duo would enter Saturday as co-leaders, but a birdie on No. 18 put Wang ahead by one heading into the final round at Club de golf Sainte Marie in Sainte-Marie, Que.
The Team Canada NextGen teammates were tied through most of the day at 2-under, until Wang pulled ahead by birding the par-5 closing hole to take a one-shot advantage over the defending champion. Wang of Vancouver, B.C. finished the day with an even par 72, while Liu of Maple, Ont. finished with a 2-over 74. Right behind them is fellow Team Canada NextGen teammate, Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C. who sits even par for the tournament following a 72 on Friday. The trio will be playing together again on Saturday.
“I love playing with them. I love them, they’re so great,” said Wang of her teammates. “I was more focused on my own score and how to get myself lower, but hopefully they drop a little more tomorrow, maybe give myself shorter birdie putts, but I am excited and looking forward to it.”
Liu echoed Wang’s view of being grouped together again alongside her teammates.
“It’s awesome and an honour to be playing with your teammates. We’re such good friends and so close. Even though I’m playing against her, I still want the best for her. It’s really fun and still really competitive but playing with your friends, you’re able to be more relaxed in a way and I am excited for tomorrow.”
Liu began the day with a one-shot lead on Wang and both players traded opening birdies on Friday. Wang dropped a shot on No. 3 before responding with a birdie the very next hole. After Liu double bogeyed the fifth hole, Wang took a two-shot lead but ended up tied with Liu heading into nine following consecutive bogeys on Nos. 7 and 8. Wang would respond yet again, carding a birdie on nine to re-take the lead by one as Liu closed the front nine with four straight pars.
Liu’s run of consecutive pars extended to 11 holes in total on Friday as both players opened their back nine with seven straight pars. On the par-4 17th both Wang and Liu recorded bogey remaining tied until Wang took the lead on 18 to close play.
“Bogey on 17 was really disappointing. I only had 55 yards in, and it was not a great shot from there but I’m really glad I hit a good drive, then got just short of the green to get up and down for birdie on 18,” said the 54-hole leader Wang.
Lin remains in solo third after and up-and-down round with four birdies and four bogeys on Friday. Ann-Sophie Bourgault of Gatineau, Que. is alone in fourth at 2-over while Team Canada NextGen member, Nobelle Park of Oakville, Ont. and Maggie Zhang of Richmond, B.C. are tied for fifth at 4-over. The Juvenile division standings mirror the Junior Championship division, minus Bourgault who is over the age of eligibility in the Juvenile division.
Saturday’s final round will begin at 8 a.m. local time with the final group of Wang, Liu and Lin teeing off at 10:01 a.m.
The Canadian Junior Girls Championship was first contested in 1955 and operated by the former Canadian Ladies Association (CLGA) until the amalgamation of CLGA and Royal Canadian Golf Association (now Golf Canada) in 2005.
The Canadian Junior Girls Championship has a long list of distinguished past champions that have etched their name on the Brokenshire Trophy. Past champions include, Canadian Golf Hall of Famers Sandra Post (1964-66), Betty Stanhope (1956), Judy Darling (1957), Gail Harvey Moore (1958-1960) and Gayle Borthwick (1961). In addition, LPGA Tour players, Alena Sharp (1999), Brooke Henderson (2012) and Maddie Szeryk (2013). Stollery Family Team Canada Women’s Head Coach Salimah Mussani (1996) is also a past Canadian Junior Champion.
The 2025 Canadian Junior Girls champion will receive an exemption into the 2026 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship and the 2026 Canadian Junior Girls Championship and 2026 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship, if eligible.
For the leaderboard following the third round of the 2025 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO, click here.
