VANCOUVER – After captaining the UBC Thunderbirds women's golf team to a pair of national championship titles, Kate Johnston has earned another prestigious honor.
The golfer from Ayr, Ont., will compete in the 119th U.S. Women's Amateur championship, starting tomorrow at the Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Miss. After two days of stroke play, the top 64 scores will move on to the match-play portion of the tournament, which runs Aug. 5-11. Johnston is one of just three Canadians in the 156-player field, and will tee off at 8:25 a.m. local time / 6:25 a.m. PT.
"I am very excited to have qualified for the US Amateur," said Johnston, who is entering her senior year at UBC. "It certainly one of the highlights of my amateur career. I am really just looking forward to the experience and going to enjoy the week."
Johnston earned a spot in the US Amateur by claiming one of four berths up for grabs at a qualifying tournament at the St. Clair Golf Club in Michigan. She shot a 1-over-par 73 score at the 18-hole event.
It was another highlight in a season of milestones for Johnston.
In March at the Corban (Ore.) Desert Intercollegiate, she recorded her first individual win at a university tournament, and was recognized with the NAIA's Women's Golf of the Week award on April 3. She then helped UBC to the NAIA and Golf Canada national team championships, while placing third individually at the NAIA tournament.
"I am very happy with my play this last season," said Johnston. "I've had a group of coaches and teammates who have really push the level of golf that the team can play and it's a challenge that has certainly helped my game. I really look forward to continuing my play into the school season and being back with the team for another great year."
UBC's first tournament for the 2019-20 season will take place Sept. 9-10 in Portland, Ore.