Emma Kral wins Zone 5 Women’s Amateur in Playoff Thriller
Carrie Dallaway Tournament Chair presenting Zone 5
Amateur Champion trophy to Emma Kral of Olympic View
Emma Kral delivered a standout performance on the South Island this week, capturing the 2026 Zone 5 Women’s Amateur title in a playoff against two-time defending champion Cindy Koira after two closely contested rounds at Arbutus Ridge Golf Course and Cordova Bay Golf Course.
The two players were tied after 36 holes, sending the championship to sudden death on No. 10 at Cordova Bay. Both created birdie opportunities, but Kral finished it in style, rolling in a 15-foot putt after Koira’s attempt slipped past the hole.
The victory marked a breakthrough for the 16-year-old from Olympic View, who added the Zone 5 Women’s Amateur title to the Zone 5 Junior crown she won just two weeks earlier.
Koira, who is a UVic Golf team member, set the early pace with an opening-round 74 in difficult weather at Arbutus Ridge, while Kral posted a 79 and trailed by six strokes through 27 holes. Kral turned the tournament around late, using an eagle and two birdies on the back 9 to force extra holes and complete the comeback.
Senior Women’s Championship
Kal Bowyer produced a steady two-day performance to win the Senior Women’s Championship, posting rounds of 84 and 84 to finish atop the field. Representing Olympic View Golf Club, Bowyer earned a two-shot victory over Laurie Randall of Uplands Golf Club and claimed her first Zone 5 championship title.
The top Amateur and Senior finishers now qualify to represent Zone 5 at the BC Women’s Amateur (June 23–25, Chilliwack GC) and the BC Senior Championship (June 9–11, Beach Grove GC).
Handicap Championship
Debra King of Highland Pacific won the Handicap Championship. The division was open to all competitors with verifiable handicaps who chose to play from the forward tees, with results calculated by subtracting each player’s handicap from their gross score. King claimed the title after tying Lynda Terrell of Cordova Bay at a net score of 148 and prevailing on the tiebreaker based on the final nine holes at Cordova Bay.