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Shuana Liu of Maple, Ont., is shown in this undated handout photo provided by Golf Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout-Golf Canada-Thomas Skrlj (Mandatory Credit)

World Junior Girls Golf Championship to showcase Canada’s next wave of talent

Sep 10, 2026 | 8:03 AM

BRAMPTON — The next wave of Canadian golf talent will be showcased later this month at Brampton Golf Club.

Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont., and Nobelle Park of Oakville, Ont., were named to Canada’s two teams at the upcoming World Junior Girls Golf Championship on Thursday. It will be the 11th edition of the international team tournament that sees 24 three-player teams from 23 countries competing.

“It’s always such a great time playing at the world juniors,” said Liu, who will head up Canada 1 with Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C., and Vancouver’s Jodie Han. “It’s one of the only times that I do get to play in a team format, so it’s always super fun playing with my friends.”

Liu and Lin won silver medals at the world juniors the past two years. Clara Ding of White Rock, B.C., took silver in the individual event last year.

“I feel like we already have some of the vibes going so I’m super excited to come back here,” Liu said in the clubhouse at Brampton Golf Club, which will host the Sept. 28-Oct. 3 tournament. “We’ve kind of built that teamwork in a way.

“Team golf, I feel like even though we’re still playing our own independent game, there’s still kind of that team aspect to it, and I feel like we have good teamwork.”

Park will lead Canada 2 with Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta., and Vancouver’s Ruihan Kendria Wang. It will be Park’s second time playing in the international tournament and she said that she enjoys the team aspect of the event.

“It’s special because golf is so individualized, and you’re always by yourself,” said Park. “So to have like all these close connections to a bunch of girls, especially your age, and we all have so much in common, it’s just so nice and so easy to all get along.

“It’s a nice addition to playing golf.”

Golf Canada has hosted the World Junior Girls Golf Championship every year since its inception. Joining Canada this year are past champions, South Korea (2015, 2019, 2024, 2025), Spain (2017, 2022), Italy (2018), the United States (2014) and returning for the first time since 2017, the Philippines (2016).

Paul Perrier, Golf Canada’s chief sport officer, said that the tournament is a key developmental tool for young golfers to sharpen their skills.

“You can’t replicate these types of environments where you’re representing your country, where you’re representing your teammates,” said Perrier. “The more opportunities we get to put our players into challenging situations like this, the more prepared they are to compete on the world stage day in day out on the LPGA Tour.”

Canada won its first World Junior Girls Golf Championship in 2023 when Brampton last hosted the event. Vancouver’s Anna Huang, a member of that championship team, has since turned professional and, at 17, tied for fourth at last month’s CPKC Women’s Open in Edmonton.

Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., the winningest golfer in Canadian history, earned bronze with future pros Selena Costabile of Thornhill, Ont., and Calgary’s Jaclyn Lee back in 2014 at the inaugural World Junior Girls Golf Championship.

Perrier said that Henderson’s professional success, including a record-setting 14 LPGA Tour titles, has shaped Canada’s current wave of Canadian golfers.

“Brooke’s been integral to the growth of golf in Canada, not just on the girls’ side, but completely,” said Perrier, noting that Thursday was Henderson’s 29th birthday. “Brooke Henderson is a constant citation of inspiration and proof that Canadians can be there. Canadians can not only be there but also win too.

“We probably wouldn’t have the amount of success we’re continuing to grow if we didn’t have Brooke as the catalyst.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 10, 2026.

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press