Clairey Lin, a Canadian golfer, emerged victorious at the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship by defeating Amelie Zalsman from St. Petersburg, Florida, with a score of 5 and 4 in the 36-hole final held at Old Chatham Golf Club in Durham, North Carolina.
The 16-year-old Lin, hailing from Langley, British Columbia, follows in the footsteps of last year’s Canadian winner, Aphrodite Deng, who clinched the title in Georgia.
Expressing her excitement, Lin stated, “I’ve always dreamt of showcasing my skills on a grand platform, inspiring others, working diligently, and witnessing the fruits of my labor. It’s incredible to have achieved that today. I’m still processing it, but it’s pretty amazing.”
Reflecting on her motivation, Lin added, “When I saw Aphrodite win last year, I was thrilled for her. I felt proud that Canada had its first U.S. Girls’ champion. Coming into this week, I was determined to repeat the success.”
Lin also highlighted the significance of being part of a milestone, saying, “Being part of the first pair of Canadians to win consecutively in a USGA Championship is remarkable. I’m delighted to be a part of this achievement.”
On the other hand, 17-year-old Zalsman, who hails from Florida, is gearing up to join the Wake Forest team in 2027. Despite her defeat, she expressed pride in her performance, mentioning, “I’ve been playing a lot of golf in the past two weeks. I am genuinely proud of myself for reaching this stage and grateful to my body for supporting me throughout.”
Meanwhile, Deng opted out of defending her title to participate in the Evian Championship held in France last week.