By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

(February 3, 2025) - Vancouver native Anna Huang is doing her own version of the Marrakesh Express.

The 16-year-old is back in Morocco this week where she will make her professional debut at the Ladies European Tour’s Lalla Meryem Cup at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat.

Just before Christmas, Huang travelled to Marrakesh where she earned status for this year’s LET Tour at qualifying school. She had entered Q-school as an amateur, so she had a decision to make once she earned playing status. It didn’t take her long to decide that she would turn pro.

“Ever since I started playing golf, turning pro has been a dream of mine,” Huang said in a telephone interview. “It’s always been something I wanted to do. When I thought about it, I figured, why not. It will be such a great learning opportunity playing against some of the best in the world.”

Huang also figures to see much of the world. In addition to events all over Europe, the LET makes stops is Asia, Africa and Australia. “I love to travel so it will be fun,” she said.

Huang’s parents will accompany her on her LET journey and her dad, Alex, will caddie for her. Huang has been a member of Golf Canada’s NextGen team for the past two years. She was part of Team Canada’s win at the 2023 World Junior Girls Golf Championship in Burlington. Ont.

Huang is appreciative of the support she has received as a member of Team Canada. “Thank you to (coaches) Jen Ha and Jeff MacDonald and my amazing teammates for the lifelong memories that I will cherish forever,” she said.

Huang figures to be the youngest player in the field most weeks, but that does not bother her. “I have always believed that age doesn’t really have the biggest impact when it comes to golf,” she said. “It’s about how you perform under pressure and how you can learn from past mistakes.

“I am looking forward to the challenge. It is definitely going to be a different environment and atmosphere. But I am going to try and just treat it like golf. It’s a game I grew up playing and I'm going to continue playing it and trust myself. I think I will be good.”

TITLE DEFENCE: Abbotsford’s Nick Taylor closed with a two-under 70 and tied for 33rd at the AT&T Pebble Beach-Pro Am, a tournament he won in 2020. Taylor finished the Signature event at nine-under par, 12 shots behind winner Rory McIlroy, and earned $99,000. Abbotsford’s Adam Hadwin also shot a final-round 70 and tied for 65th at two-under par. He made $36,000. Taylor defends his WM Phoenix Open title this week at TPC Scottsdale. Hadwin and Surrey’s Adam Svensson are both also in the field.

BAD ENDING: It was a good news, bad news kind of week for Vancouver’s Stu Macdonald. He made his first cut of the season at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Panama Championship, but struggled on the weekend and finished tied for 63rd at eight-over par. Merritt’s Roger Sloan, who was making his first start of the season, tied for 41st at two-over par. Macdonald and Sloan are both in the field for this week’s Astara Golf Championship in Bogota, Colombia.

ROUND ‘EM UP: Sagebrush Golf Club has put together an interesting package targeting groups of 12 to 16 players visiting the highly regarded Nicola Valley layout. Sagebrush is partnering with the historic Quilchena Hotel to give groups the run of the house during their minimum two-night stay. “Everyone gets their own room and they get to use the bar and banquet area to hang out in, maybe play some cards or watch some sports at night,” said general manager Chris Hood.

“There will be no other guests. You and your crew get the run of the house.” The Quilchena is located right next door to Sagebrush. It opened in 1908 and has a rich and colourful history. Jack Nicholson spent the better part of a month there in the mid-1970s while preparing to shoot One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and the hotel bar features some bullet holes from its more lively days.

The bar will not be staffed during group visits. “It’s BYOB, bring some beer and wine or whatever,” Hood said. “We have had a lot of phone calls about the package. There’s lots of interest.” For more information, call 236-575-2244 or visit sagebrushgolfclub.com.

THREE’S COMPANY: Monaghan Golf Inc. has been awarded the contract to run McCleery Golf Course and now operates all three of the City of Vancouver’s courses. The company, headed by longtime pro Tom Monaghan, has operated Fraserview and Langara golf courses for several years. The McCleery operation became available when longtime pro Muncie Booth recently retired.

“Monaghan Golf has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in managing Fraserview and Langara Golf Courses,” said Dennis Luick, supervisor of golf operations for the Vancouver park board. “We are confident that this same dedication will enhance the golfer experience at McCleery Golf Course."

BOGEY BLUES: Ilirian Zalli made seven birdies and an eagle in the first two rounds of the MyGolfLife Open in South Africa, but still missed the cut by six shots. The former B.C. Junior and Vancouver Open champion simply had too many others on his scorecard in his rounds of 73 and 71. Zalli, a rookie on the HotelPlanner Tour (formerly the DP Challenge Tour), will compete in this week’s Cell C Cape Town Open. It is the third event of the tour’s four-stop season-opening South Africa swing.

CHIP SHOTS: Matt Vincent is the new head professional at Osoyoos Golf Club. Vincent had been head pro at Blue Ocean Golf Course in Sechelt. Vincent will work under new general manager Bryan Ewart, who was hired late last year to replace the retired Doug Robb. Ewart had spent the past 14 years as general manager at Chilliwack Golf Club.