By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

(OLIVER, BC, May 30, 2023) — Christina Spence Proteau’s impressive golfing résumé includes three B.C. Women’s Amateur championships, six B.C. Mid-Amateur titles, six Canadian Mid-Amateurs crowns and two Canadian University individual championships.

But perhaps none of those are as meaningful as the Port Alberni resident’s latest victory. This one felt different and brought with it emotions Spence Proteau had never experienced on the golf course.

You must understand that Spence Proteau did much more than play in the inaugural B.C. Men’s and Women’s Indigenous Championships at Nk’Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course.

She was also the tournament chair, she recruited players and helped organize and promote the event. In many ways, she became the face of the tournament.

Now she is the inaugural women’s champion and Spence Proteau has difficulty finding the words to express just how much that means. “I have been very blessed with golf over the years, but this is by far the most special provincial championship I have ever won,” an emotional Spence Proteau said at the tournament’s closing ceremonies, which she also emceed.

In a private interview moments earlier, Spence Proteau fought back tears as she described what the tournament meant to her. “I am exhausted,” she said. “But you know what, I am super proud. I am proud of the event coming together because it is so much bigger than golf.”

For the record, Spence Proteau won by 14 shots. She shot an impressive round of two-under 71 in the final round to finish the 36-hole tournament at even-par.  “This was a brand new mental experience for me,” said Spence Proteau, who works as a Crown prosecutor in Port Alberni.

“I am connected to the tournament, I have my name on the tournament. I am competitive, I’d be lying if I said if I wasn’t desperately wanting to put my name on the trophy for the inaugural event. It means a lot. I have won provincials before, but this may have mentally been the hardest.”

There were more than a few distractions along the way. “There was a lot of media this week,” she said with a smile. “Yesterday before the first round I had four radio interviews. I had a CBC interview on the course on the seventh tee, that is not something I have ever done before. But what are you going to do, you can’t say no, because I am trying to promote the event.”

More important than her victory was the fact that the inaugural event was a success and set the table for the future. “I think this is a great foundation,” Spence Proteau said. “We had 114 competitors, a diverse number of nations represented in age and background. I think whatever form it takes in future years, this is going to be a yearly legacy. And I think it has for sure showcased players.”

As examples of that, Spence Proteau pointed to two of her playing partners, Kylie Jack of Kelowna and Rachelle Nielsen of Summerland. Jack and Nielsen, who finished second and third, are both former collegiate players who in recent years have focused on their careers. Jack is heading into her final year of law school and Nielsen is working on getting her professional designation as a mechanical engineer.

Spence Proteau hopes both will return one day to playing more amateur golf as they build their respective careers. “On the men’s side there are a bunch of good strong players who now get highlighted and hopefully because of this we grow the game with the youth,” she said. “I am thrilled with how it went.”

Spence Proteau’s Indigenous roots come via her father, the late Mark Spence, who was Cree-Metis and grew up in Spence Lake, Man. She thought of her dad, who died 15 years ago, frequently during her rounds at Nk’Mip. “He got me started in the game of golf,” she said. “I really felt my heritage this week and my father never could have imagined something like this happening in our province, this coming together through sport in this way.”

Spence Proteau, who now sits on the board of directors of British Columbia Golf, plans on staying very involved with the future of the tournament. “We are going to debrief,” she said.

“We were brainstorming ideas on the golf course on the back nine today on what we could do differently next year. This is why I think I was supposed to play golf, because of this event. This is going to be what I would like to spend my time on the next few decades.”

A net Stableford event was also contested at Nk’Mip. Joan Hinkey of Nanoose Bay won with 78 points. Spence Proteau finished second with 74, while Andrea Leech of Lillooet was third with 68 points.

Championship Results - Women

Women's Net Stableford Division

Gold - Joan Hinkey (Cree Nation)

Silver - Andrea Leech (Ts'kwaylazw First Nation)

Bronze - Sharon Jack (Osoyoos Indian Band)

Women's Gross Division

Gold - Christina Spence Proteau (Métis)

Silver - Kylie Jack (Penticton Indian Band)

Bronze - Rachelle Nielsen (Kispiox)

Click HERE for complete final results & scoring.

CHIP SHOTS: B.C. Lieutenant-Governor Janet Austin and former lieutenant-governor Steven Point were on hand for the tournament’s closing ceremonies, where it was announced that next year’s B.C. Indigenous Championships will return to Nk’Mip.