She鈥檇 like to go outside and work on her short game, her approach shots, her bunker play, her driving accuracy and distance.
For it is now spring, and in spring, Vernon鈥檚 Kendra Jones-Munk鈥檚 thoughts turn to getting outdoors in the beautiful Okanagan weather and playing golf.
The Grade 12 W.L. Seaton student who turns 18 in April is quite good at the game.
She is the defending Zone 2 Junior Golf Tour Girl鈥檚 Tour Champion. She has played the provincial and Canadian junior women鈥檚 championships.
Her play has been consistent and good enough that she will make the transition from junior to university golf in the fall, committing to the UBC Okanagan Heat women鈥檚 golf team for 2020-21.
READ MORE: Vernon golfer earns tour trifecta
鈥淚t鈥檚 just down the road from home and I got the feeling of it being a university but not overly big,鈥� said Jones-Munk on choosing UBCO, where she plans to study human kinetics. 鈥淎ll the people I鈥檝e met there so far are amazing and very, very nice. I really feel at home there.鈥�
Jones-Munk was able to get out a few times and play at early opening courses in 麻豆精选 and West 麻豆精选, but those have now been shut down along with courses throughout the province in the wake of COVID-19.
In fact, Jones-Munk was supposed to be playing a Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour event in Langley on her spring break but that was cancelled.
READ MORE: Vernon champ takes golf game to international level
Her spring schedule was going to include playing the Zone 2 tour and defending her title, and she still hopes to though the first few events have been postponed. Jones-Munk is entered in the Maple Leaf Tour鈥檚 two Okanagan stops at Predator Ridge July 20-21 and at the Heat鈥檚 home course, the Okanagan Golf Club in 麻豆精选, July 23-24.
She鈥檚 been accepted to play in the B.C. Junior Women鈥檚 championships this summer, set for Nk鈥橫ip Canyon Desert Golf Course in Oliver, and is waiting for acceptance into the Canadian championships in Quebec and a pre-college tournament in Pulman, Wash.
Jones-Munk is hoping to play those events as she prepares for her inaugural year with the Heat.
鈥淏eing a freshman is a little more difficult because I don鈥檛 have the college experience, but I鈥檓 hoping all my work I鈥檝e put in and improving my skills, I can make a good impression and help the team out,鈥� she said.
Jones-Munk has already impressed Heat head coach Clay Stothers.
鈥淪he has a great attitude and loves the game of golf. I see her contributing right away,鈥� said Stothers, describing his upcoming team as 鈥測oung and still growing.鈥�
鈥淚f she puts the hard work in, she can be part of the team鈥檚 success.鈥�
The biggest thing Jones-Munk will have to work on, said the coach, is the transition to university play.
鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing specific about her game that needs work. From what I鈥檝e seen, she鈥檚 consisten in all area,鈥� said Stothers. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the transitioning to playing at a higher lever that鈥檚 going to be the key.鈥�
roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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