Amanda Minni’s final tournament as a junior only happens to be on her home course with a national championship on the line.
The 18-year-old from Tsawwassen will be among the contenders when the Canadian Junior Girls Golf Championship gets underway next Tuesday at Beach Grove Golf Club. The 72-hole event features the top up-and-coming talent from around the country.
Minni finished third at the recent B.C. Junior Girls Championship in Kimberley, a result that puts her on Team B.C. at nationals.
She’s playing at this week’s Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at Marine Drive as part of her busy summer schedule since returning home from her freshman season at Oregon State University.
Minni has been playing as many practice rounds as she can on a course she grew up on for what will be a special week with many family and friends in the gallery. The last major women’s competition at Beach Grove was the B.C. Amateur two years ago when Minni finished tied for 10th while coming off a wrist injury.
“I think that tournament will really help me. Just dealing with the pressure and people watching,” she said. “I’m looking forward to everyone who comes out and using the motivation from them towards my game.”
Minni has taken a different approach to her recent practice rounds on Beach Grove’s 6,005-yard, par-72 layout as she prepares for tournament play.
“I’m just thinking about the course in a different way, putting myself in different positions,” she continued. “Rather than just going out and playing, I’m dissecting the course in different ways so it can benefit me in the tournament.
“Beach Grove is a tough little track. For me, my scoring holes are the par-5s because I hit it further and try to take advantage of that. You definitely need your short game around here because it’s so hard to hit the greens on this course. They are so firm and there are so many false fronts. If you don’t hit the green, then your chipping has to be really solid to make the up and downs.”
Following the tournament, Minni will get a few weeks to enjoy the rest of the summer before heading back to Oregon State for her sophomore season. She has thoroughly enjoyed the NCAA and team golf environment.
“I honestly just loved it. I loved my team and we are all like super close friends,” she said. “(In NCAA) they basically do it all for you. You just have to perform and if you don’t you feel bad because that’s what you are there for. It gives you more drive and a goal to reach because you want to make them proud and support your team.”
OSU is unique in the campus is located in the somewhat rural setting of Corvallis. Minni has had the opportunity to soak in the college town atmosphere and attend a number of OSU games, including the national champion baseball team.
“Honestly, the town kind of reminds me of Tsawwassen with it being so small except there is a university with 30,000 students,” laughed Minni. “The town just really has that college feel. (There are) things like tailgating where everyone participates.”
