Lauren Bowerman-Ritchie Selected as Helena Harbridge Sportsmanship Award Winner

December 20, 2006 Markham, Ont. - The Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) is pleased to recognize Lauren Bowerman-Ritchie as the inaugural recipient of the Helena Harbridge Sportsmanship Award. The award, recognizing sportsmanship, dedication, and commitment in the game of golf, will be awarded each year to one junior golfer who best exemplifies these traits. Helena Harbridge is a CJGA alumnus who passed away in April of 2006 while pursuing her dreams on a golf scholarship at West Georgia University. She is a former CJGA Order of Merit winner. Bowerman-Ritchie, 17, resides in Bowmanville, Ont. where she is entering her final year at Bowmanville High School. She enjoyed a breakout year in 2006 that was highlighted by three tournament wins as well as a spot on CJGA Team Canada for the Euro Junior Golf Cup and Lipton Brisk Canada Cup. “I’m very honoured and proud to accept this award,” said Bowerman-Ritchie. “It’s a big surprise.” Bowerman-Ritchie aspires to pursue golf at the collegiate level next year in the United States with an academic focus on graphic design. As a young golfer playing in her first CJGA event in 2004, Bowerman-Ritchie found herself grouped with Helena Harbridge – who was well on her way to winning the CJGA Order of Merit title. “I remember Helena as someone I really looked up to,” admits Bowerman-Ritchie. “She was the first junior golfer I met when I started playing competitively and she made a point of introducing herself to me. She was very gracious and quick to compliment everyone.” It was that positive experience that Bowerman-Ritchie has transferred over to her own on-course etiquette. ”I always try to be considerate of others and keep my emotions in check,” she explains. “I want to give younger players someone to look up to.” The beautiful trophy has been donated to the CJGA and its winners by Lorry Moffatt of Classic Awards Ltd. About the CJGA Registered federally as a not-for-profit association, the Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) is dedicated to providing Canada's junior golfers with the necessary skills and knowledge required to lay a foundation for a future in competitive golf. Through its six-stage competitive development program that focuses on tournaments, clinics, international competitions, and mentoring programs with PGA Tour professionals, the CJGA introduces the game to juniors as young as five and offers competitive multi-day events for the more advanced golfer. The CJGA acts as a feeder system to provincial and national competitions, collegiate and university golf, as well as professional and recreational golf. For more information please visit www.cjga.com. The Canadian Junior Golf Association is generously supported by our National Founding Partner, HSBC Bank Canada. For Additional Information: Rick Betts Director, Media Relations and Communications Canadian Junior Golf Association 1.877.508.1069 Ext. 233 rick.betts@cjga.com

1/8/2007