By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

PRINCE GEORGE — Dana Smith is wrapping up her junior golf career this summer and preparing to begin her collegiate golf journey at Simon Fraser University this fall.

The 18-year-old Campbell River native can’t think of a much better way to end this phase of her golfing life than with a win at this week’s B.C. Junior Girls Championship. Smith is halfway there as she leads the tournament at Prince George Golf & Curling Club through two rounds.

“I am hoping I can put together two more nice rounds so that I can finish off my junior career strong,” said Smith, who is even-par through 36 holes.

Her one-under 70 in Tuesday’s second round included four birdies. “The putter was rolling pretty well today,” said Smith, who just graduated from Carihi Secondary.

“I was confident standing over it which was a nice feeling. Yesterday my ball-striking wasn’t as good. Today I was throwing some darts in there which was nice and giving myself some opportunities. Yesterday I was having to make six-footers for par rather than six-footers for birdie. Today was more stress-free.”

The B.C. Junior Boys Championship is also being contested at Prince George and defending champion James Lee has a four-shot lead through two rounds.

Smith tops what is a crowded junior girls leaderboard. She leads Surrey’s Rebecca Kim and Grace Aoting Yao of West Vancouver by just one shot. Smith expects the tournament to remain close the next two days. “It is going to be really tight,” she said. “There are a lot of good players in this field and I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if we go to a playoff. It figures to be pretty tight right until the end.”

Yao shot the day’s low score, a three-under 68 that included seven birdies. “That ties my personal best for birdies in a round,” said Yao, a 15-year-old who just completed Grade 10 at Collingwood School. Three of those birdies came on Yao’s final three holes, which she said gives her some added momentum going into Wednesday’s third round.

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British Columbia Golf Would Like To Thank TOURISM PRINCE GEORGE & COL JUICERY For Their Generous Support In Helping To Make This Provincial Junior Championship Happen

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“If you finish kind of weak with some bogeys you start to doubt yourself and then you have to sleep on it,” she said. “But if you finish with a few birdies that just gives you confidence heading into that next round.”

Kim shot a one-under 70, thanks to a 32 on her back nine. After not making a single birdie in Monday’s opening round, she had five of them on Tuesday. “I hit better irons today,” said Kim, an 18-year-old who is heading to Oregon State University to play collegiate golf this fall.

“Yesterday I was a little frustrated after my round. It was pretty clean, but a birdie or two is nice to help erase some mistakes. Today I had a lot of mistakes and a lot of birdies.”

Yeeun (Jenny) Kwon of Vancouver is just two shots back of the lead at two-over par after shooting an even-par 71 on Tuesday. Richmond’s Cadence Ko sits fifth at four-over after firing a second-round 72.

Lee, who won last year’s B.C. Junior Boys Championship at Nk’Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course in Oliver, followed up his seven-under 64 in Monday’s first round with a five-under 66 on Tuesday. He leads Ryan Vest of Vernon by four shots. Lee, a dual citizen who divides his time between the San Francisco area and Whistler, began his round on the back nine and birdied his first hole.

He did much of his scoring late in his front nine when he played holes 15 through 18 in four-under par. That included an eagle on the par 5 16th hole. After making a couple of bogeys on his back nine, Lee closed his round with birdies on his final two holes.

When Lee won last year in Oliver, he came from behind. This year, he is attempting to go wire to wire. “I did not lead until the 11th hole of the final round,” he said of last year. “There are lots of good players in this field, especially at the top of the leaderboard. I really have to keep the foot on the gas to stay in front.”

Vest finished second to Lee at last year’s B.C. Junior by one shot. Needless to say, he’s pumped about trying to turn the tables on Lee this year. “I want my redemption.” said Vest, who had eight birdies in his round of 66 Tuesday. “I think I probably need to shoot right around 66 or better the next two days. Guys will be going low. I just need to keep making birdies.”

Joshua Ince of Surrey sits third at five-under par. The fields were cut in half following the second round.

Click HERE for complete scoring and next round tee times.