The junior girls nationals at the Beach Grove Golf Club proved to be a showdown between a pair of standouts from Eastern Canada.

Quebec’s Céleste Dao was crowned Canadian Junior Girls champion after she rallied to edge Ontario’s Emily Zhu by three shots.

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The pair entered Friday’s final round seven shots clear of the field in what was almost a match play situation.

Dao, 17, actually trailed by three shots after 10 holes, thanks to five bogeys, before storming back.

She made the most of consecutive par-5s on 14 and 15, recording back-to-back birdies. She then took control for good when the 14-year-old Zhu double-bogeyed the par-5 17th after her shot went out of bounds. Both golfers closed out the championship with birdies on 18.

“The voice in my head kept telling me to stay patient, just stay patient for the two par 5s that are coming, I knew that at least one of them I could birdie,” said Dao a member of Golf Canada’s national development team. “I was waiting for the birdie for a long time, I kind of panicked a little on the front nine but I knew the two par 5s were coming so I stayed patient and when the first birdie dropped I was really, really happy.

“This win means a lot, it was one of my goals as a junior. (Canadian LPGA Tour star) Brooke (Henderson) did it, and so many good players did it, and for me it is so important to win it so I’m happy. “This is a big win for me because it is in my home country and playing against so many players here, it is a national event, and playing in a beautiful city, I’m really happy.”

Zhu, who certainly has a bright future ahead of her, not only earned the silver medal but Juvenile honours as well.

“She got unlucky, unfortunately, she played so well the whole round. She was so consistent, I mean she’s 14-years-old, it’s impressive, she’s really impressive,” added Dao.

Shaughnessy’s Angela Zhang had the best final round of the tournament — firing a 4-under 68 to finish tied for third, four shots back. Vancouver’s Tiffany Kong also was third after a 1-under 71.

Hometown favourite Amanda Minni closed out the tournament with a her best score of the championship — a 2-over 74 — to finish 12th. The Oregon State University women’s team member recorded birdies on the 6th, 9th and 15th holes.

Minni was in catch-up mode after opening with a 77 on Tuesday. The highlight of the week was an eagle on 15 during her third round.

Surrey’s Angela Arora, who also plays out of Beach Grove, was 25th after rounds of 75-76-78-81.

Extra holes…

Minni’s younger brother Jace, who is heading into Grade 11 at South Delta Secondary in September, was busy this past week at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship in Medicine Hat, finishing tied for 31st. He fired rounds of 69-76-73-76. His total left him seventh among Juvenile players in the field.

Another Beach Grove Junior — John Morrow — was tied for 41st with rounds of 75-74-74-75.