Canadians Alena Sharp, Maude-Aimée LeBlanc, Brooke Henderson and Anne-Catherine Tanguay along with Calgary amateur Jaclyn Lee advance to the weekend
News and notes from Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club for Friday, August 26
CALGARY – Ariya Jutanugarn shot a bogey-free, 8-under 64 to jump into the 36-hole lead at the CPKC Women’s Open.
Jutanugarn, who sits at 12-under heading into the weekend, showed little ill-effect from the knee injury that forced her to withdraw from the Olympic golf competition last week in Rio de Janeiro. One of the longest hitters on the LPGA Tour, she managed her way around Priddis Greens’ Raven course layout without a driver in her bag.
“Honestly, I don’t think it’s [the golf course] so good for my game. For me, it’s a little bit narrow and I can’t hit my driver,” said the world’s no. 2 ranked player who can hit two-iron more than 220 yards. “But right now I feel more confident because I can hit my iron on the fairway and my 3-wood on the fairway. Sometimes I feel more confident with my irons.”
Jutanugarn holds a special connection to Canada and particularly the province of Alberta having won the 2012 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at Lethbridge Country Club.
A four-time winner on the LPGA Tour—all of which have come in 2016—Jutanugarn holds a three-shot lead over Stephanie Meadow and In Gee Chun while defending champion Lydia Ko is tied with four others at 8-under, four shots back.
Seventy-four players made the cut at 1-under par 143 including five of the 16 Canadian competitors in the field.
Alena Sharp and Maude-Aimée LeBlanc head into weekend action as the low Canadians through 36 holes at 6-under par, good for a share of 14th position.
Sharp, who shot 2-under 70, came to Priddis Greens riding the Olympic momentum of representing Canada in Rio. The Hamilton native has been playing some of the best golf of her career over the past year and is brimming with confidence heading into the weekend.
“I’m driving it well; so my 3-wood, I hit a draw with it and I hit a cut with my driver so I have options off the tee,” said Sharp. “I missed a couple fairways today but got away with it because I had wedge in my hand. So I’m using my length to my advantage and I feel like the way I’m striking it and putts are going in, I have a good shot at it. Now I’ve got to play a couple more good rounds and see where it is on Sunday.”
LeBlanc’s 2016 performance at Priddis has been redemption of sorts, having narrowly missed the cut in 2009 as an amateur when a triple bogey on her 18th hole left her two shots out of weekend play when the club last hosted the stars of the LPGA Tour. The Sherbrooke, Que., native made eagle on her final hole and credited a hot putter for her impressive play through 36 holes.
“I played here in 2009, so I knew the course a little bit; I didn’t have a good experience back then so I got a little redemption this year,” said LeBlanc. “I think the longest putt I made before that [eagle putt on 18] was three, four feet all day. Yesterday the same thing, so it’s nice to finally see something going in.”
Calgary native Jaclyn Lee, a member of Canada’s national amateur team, will be a local crowd favourite as the 19-year old shot 2-under 70 to sit with a share of 20th at 5-under.
Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. shot a 4-under 68 Friday to hold a share of 29th at 4-under, while Anne-Catherine Tanguay will also play the weekend with a share of 62nd on the 1-under cut line.
Third-round action gets underway with threesomes off a split tee beginning Saturday at 8:38 am MDT with the final pairing teeing-off at 10:58 am.
CANADIAN SCORES – ROUND ONE
Maude-Aimée LeBlanc – 69-69–138 (-6)
Alena Sharp – 68-70–138 (-6)
Jaclyn Lee * – 69-70–139 (-5)
Brooke Henderson – 72-68–140 (-4)
Anne-Catherine Tanguay – 70-73–143 (-1)
— MISSED CUT —
Jessica Wallace – 70-74–144 (E)
Rebecca Lee Bentham – 70-74–144 (E)
Brittany Marchand – 73-71–144 (E)
Maddie Szeryk * – 73-72–145 (+1)
Samantha Richdale – 75-72–147 (+3)
Naomi Ko * – 74-73–147 (+3)
Lorie Kane – 73-74–147 (+3)
Sara Maude Juneau – 71-76–147 (+3)
Jennifer Ha – 72-77–149 (+5)
Jennifer Kirby – 73-77–150 (+6)
Brigitte Thibault * – 87-82–169 (+25)
* Denotes Amateur
PAIRING AND START TIMES
Pairings for the 2016 CPKC Women’s Open are available here.
PLAYER INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS, AUDIO FILES AND VIDEO
Interview transcripts, audio MP3 files, as well as downloadable royalty-free images and broadcast quality videos for all media interviews and scrums will be available online here.
BROADCAST SCHEDULE
| Thursday, August 25 | Golf Channel & TSN2 | 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. |
| RDS2 | 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. | |
| Friday, August 26 | Golf Channel & TSN2 | 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. |
| RDS2 | 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. | |
| Saturday, August 27 | Golf Channel & TSN3 | 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. |
| RDS Info | 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. | |
| Sunday, August 28 | Golf Channel & TSN3 | 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. |
| RDS2 (Tape delay) | 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. |
Note: All times listed are in MDT. Times are approximate and are subject to change without notice.
2016 MEDIA GUIDE
Media can download the 2016 CPKC Women’s Open Media Guide for complete statistics, records and historical information.
MEDIA CREDENTIALS
Media are reminded that the media information package for the 2016 CPKC Women’s Open, including tournament information and Media Centre Temporary Gate Pass(es), has been sent. Individuals who have not yet received their packages, or those wishing to apply for media credentials, must contact Terry Lenyk at tlenyk@golfcanada.ca.
FREE ADMISSION FOR JUNIORS AND FIRST RESPONDERS
Golf Canada and CP are proud to offer free admission to the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open to any spectator aged 17-and-under. The free junior pass is available here.
Parents of juniors can take advantage of discounted tickets by using the promotional code JUNIOR and clicking here.
As a small token of appreciation for all the valued work they do in the communities they serve, we’ve also extended a complimentary invitation to the CPKC Women’s Open to all Southern Alberta First Responders and their families.
Tickets…
| Juniors – 17 & Under | Free |
| First Responders | Free |
| Early Week (Mon-Wed) | $10.50 |
| Anyday Grounds (Thurs-Sun) | $31.50 |
| Weekly (Mon-Sun) | $78.75 |
First conducted in 1973, Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship has allowed the brightest stars of the LPGA Tour to shine on Canadian soil and inspire the nation’s next generation of female golfers.
ABOUT THE 2016 CP WOMEN’S OPEN
The stars of the LPGA Tour will challenge for the CPKC Women’s Open from August 22-28, 2016 at Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club in Priddis, Alta. The CPKC Women’s Open, Canada’s National Women’s Open Golf Championship, is proudly sponsored by Canadian Pacific, RBC, WestJet, Molson Canadian 67, TaylorMade adidas Golf, AutoCanada, Corby Distilleries Ltd., Delta Calgary South, Artisan Wines, Coca-Cola, Tourism Calgary, Telus and CVS Controls Ltd. For information on volunteer opportunities, tickets or corporate hospitality, visit www.CPwomensopen.com, or call 1-866-571-5742.
ABOUT CP HAS HEART
At CP, we know that a railroad may serve as the arteries of a nation, but at its heart is community. That’s why, through CP Has Heart, we’ve already committed more than $6 million dollars to help improve the heart health of men, women and children across North America. And along the way, we’re showing heart whenever we can. Find out more on www.cpr.ca or @CPhasHeart.
ABOUT CANADIAN PACIFIC
Canadian Pacific (TSX:CP)(NYSE:CP) is a transcontinental railway in Canada and the United States with direct links to eight major ports, including Vancouver and Montreal, providing North American customers a competitive rail service with access to key markets in every corner of the globe. CP is a low-cost provider that is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit www.cpr.ca to see the rail advantages of Canadian Pacific.
GOLF CANADA – LOVE THE GAME. GROW THE GAME.
Golf Canada is the National Sports Federation and governing body for golf in Canada representing close to 305,000 golfers at more than 1,400 member clubs across the country. A proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Golf Canada’s mission is to grow participation, excellence and passion in the sport while upholding the integrity and traditions of the game. By investing in the growth of the sport and introducing more participants of all ages to the game, our goal is to be relevant to and respected by all Canadian golf enthusiasts from coast to coast. For more information about what Golf Canada is doing to support golf in your community, visit www.golfcanada.ca.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Dan Pino
Director, Corporate Communications
Golf Canada
(p) 416-434-5525
(e) dpino@golfcanada.ca
Martin Cej
Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications
Canadian Pacific
(p) 403-319-7298
(e) martin_cej@cpr.ca