She the North: Clairey Lin Gives Canada 2nd Straight U.S. Girls' Junior Title

Following a dominating week of golf, Clairey Lin, of Canada, put the finishing touches on her masterpiece with a convincing 5-and-4 victory over Amelie Zalsman in the 36-hole championship match of the 77th U.S. Girls' Junior Championship at Old Chatham Golf Club.

The 16-year-old from British Columbia, who now resides in Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., became the second Canadian to claim the prestigious Glenna Collett Vare Trophy, also won by World Golf Hall of Famers Mickey Wright, JoAnne Gunderson Carner, Amy Alcott and Nancy Lopez, as well as current LPGA Tour stars Lexi Thompson, Minjee Lee, Ariya Jutanugarn and Rose Zhang.

A year ago, compatriot Aphrodite Deng took home the title at Atlanta Athletic Club, but she chose not to defend in order to compete in last week’s Amundi Evian Championship in France. 

With the victory, Lin also became the first medalist since Zhang (2021 at Columbia Country Club, in Chevy Chase, Md.) to win the U.S. Girls' Junior. Lin finished 36 holes of stroke play with a 13-under 131 total, carding the second-lowest round of Round 2 at 7-under 65, one stroke better than her opening-round 66. The 36-hole total was one off the championship record. 

“I’m still processing, but yeah, I've dreamed of it my entire life,” said Lin following the victory. “I've always wanted to be on the big stage and inspire some people and work hard and see it pay off, and to be able to do that today is amazing."

Following five solid match-play wins, the recent AJGA RLX Classic runner-up began her gold-medal quest against Zalsman with a birdie on the 577-yard par-5 first hole to take an early 1-up lead. Lights-out play on the opening hole served as a catalyst for her dominant week. After making par on No. 1 during the first round of stroke play and birdie during Round 2, Lin birdied the opening hole in every one of her matches, with the lone exception coming in her semifinal against Athena Singh, when she made an eagle.

On the second hole, Zalsman answered with a birdie of her own to tie the match. The same pattern continued on Nos. 3 and 4, as a Lin birdie on the former was answered by a Zalsman victory on the latter.

Even through four holes, the 17-year-old Zalsman, a second-year member of the U.S. National Junior Team, grabbed her first lead of the match by winning the par-5 sixth to go 1 up. That would be the Floridian’s last advantage as Lin rattled off four consecutive winning birdies from No. 7 to take a 3-up lead into the lunch break. 

Following the break, and an unexpected 92-minute delay for inclement weather, the championship resumed with the afternoon portion of the 36-hole final.

Not even the rain could dim Lin's shine as she wasted little time reestablishing control, birdieing the 24th and 25th holes to extend her lead to 4 up.

Despite a mounting deficit, Zalsman reminded onlookers why she is ranked No. 34 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking®/WAGR®, matching Lin shot for shot and capitalizing on an uncharacteristic bogey from her opponent on the par-3 seventh (25th hole of the match).

The pair continued to trade blows over the next several holes before arriving at No. 31, the 415-yard par-4 13th, where Lin rolled in another birdie to go ahead 4-up with five holes remaining. 

With one more winning hole standing between her and the Glenna Collett Vare Trophy, Lin delivered the dagger, a final birdie on the par-5 14th – her 12th of the 32-hole match – as Zalsman had a chance to match but missed a 3-foot putt, sealing the victory for the Canadian.

“It was a tiring [match] the entire way. I think it [came down to] just persevering more than anything, not let anything get to me, not let the bad shots take too big a toll on anything mental. I kept moving and knew that it's a 36-hole match and anything can happen,” said Lin.

The champion also showed plenty of excitement learning about her exemption into the 2027 U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio.

“It means so much. My first major, my first pro event. It’s going to be amazing to tee it up with the pros and learn from them and play on an even bigger stage.”

Despite the loss, Zalsman secured her best finish in five U.S. Girls' Junior appearances. Her previous best came in 2024, when she advanced to the Round of 32.

The runner-up also earned herself exemptions into the 2026 U.S. Women's Amateur and the 2027 U.S. Girls' Junior. However, Zalsman had already secured a place in next month's U.S. Women's Amateur at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tenn., by virtue of being among the top 50 players in the WAGR® as of June 3.

Asked what she was most proud of from the week, Zalsman noted her resilience.

"Definitely just mental and physical strength," she said. "I've played so much golf the past two weeks, and I'm just really proud of myself for making it this far and my body, honestly, just sticking with me." 

The silver medalist also noted that the strong showing gives her confidence heading into next month's U.S. Women's Amateur at The Honors Course.

"Definitely [gives me confidence] on how to handle match play," she said. "I feel like in the past I haven't been the strongest match-play player, but I feel like this week definitely taught me some really valuable lessons."

What the Champion Receives

• A gold medal 

• Custody of the Glenna Collett Vare Trophy for one year

• Exemptions into all remaining U.S. Girls’ Junior Championships for which she is age-eligible 

• Exemption into the 2027 U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally at Inverness Club, in Toledo, Ohio

• Exemptions into the 2026 U.S. Women’s Amateur at The Honors Course, in Ooltewah, Tenn., and 2027 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Pinehurst (N.C.) Resort and C.C. (Course No. 2) 

• Likely invitation into the 2027 Augusta National Women’s Amateur

• Named engraved on the 2026 USGA Champions’ Plaque that will reside in the Hall of Champions inside the USGA Museum, in Liberty Corner, N.J.

Notable

• Runner-up Amelie Zalsman received a silver medal as well as a three-year exemption into the U.S. Girls’ Junior (only age-eligible for 2027).

• Next year’s U.S. Girls’ Junior will be conducted at Canterbury Golf Club, in Cleveland, Ohio. The host site of the 2028 U.S. Girls’ Junior is yet to be announced. 

• Clairey Lin’s par on the 19th hole was only her second of the week on Old Chatham’s par-5 opening hole. In eight times playing the hole Lin played the hole in 7 under par

• After both players hit their tee shots on the 19th hole (No. 1), there was a 92-minute weather delay

Quotable

"The processing is still in the works, but yeah, like I said, I've dreamed of it my entire life. I've always wanted to be on the big stage and inspire some people and work hard and see it pay off, and to be able to do that today is amazing." - Clairey Lin on being crowned champion of the U.S. Girls' Junior

"I think experience is the biggest thing that I gained from this week. Being out there, playing six matches, playing two rounds of stroke play on a USGA level course has taught me so much. I think just taking that, both physical experience and mental experience, into my future tournaments.” Clairey Lin on her biggest takeaways from her championship run 

“I think it suited my game pretty well. I had a pretty good putting streak the entire week, and these greens were so pure that I feel like, if I get my ball started on the right line, it will likely go in. Yeah, I think I just putted really well this week, and that's been the key.” - Clairey Lin on how Old Chatham suited the strengths of her game.