AURORA, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada’s CEO, Laurence Applebaum, is already thrilled with how tournament week has unfolded at Magna Golf Club and the 2019 CPKC Women’s Open hasn’t even officially begun.

On Wednesday, Applebaum and LPGA Tour commissioner Mike Whan spoke with media, and the pair were full of praise for Canadian golf fans and tournament partners, so far this week.

“This is a week we’ve been looking forward to for a long time,” said Applebaum. “Ever since Brooke (Henderson) hoisted our national championship trophy a year ago at Wascana, we knew we’d be coming to a spectacular golf club (this year), with an amazing turnout for the week ahead, and we couldn’t be more excited to watch Brooke as well as all our 15 Canadians who are in the draw along with 96 out of the top 100 LPGA Tour players.

“We’re so thankful the LPGA Tour has made this such an important stop on their global tour.”

Whan, who played in the Championship Pro-Am Wednesday alongside Applebaum in a group with Golf Canada Young Pro Squad member Maddie Szeryk and Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship winner Jennifer Kupcho, said the experience at the CPKC Women’s Open this week at Magna Golf Club has been nothing short of spectacular.

“This is elite. It has been elite for a long time,” Whan said of the CPKC Women’s Open. “I can just tell you from flying up here with some players, it’s a different feeling. People are excited before they get here. A lot of it is just they know Golf Canada does it right, but what they do here in terms of how they treat the players, how they treat the caddies, how they treat the fans, it’s unique and it sets itself apart, and as a result we get the best of the best every year.”

Applebaum says the success of the week can be traced back to the relationship between Golf Canada at Magna Golf Club, located just 30 minutes north of Toronto.

He calls the agreement one of the easiest in his tenure.

“This was the fastest, most efficient, most fun collaboration that I’ve had since I took the job for a new golf course to come on to the rotation,” said Applebaum. “Magna was always on our radar.”

Whan said he’s been impressed with Magna’s facilities, the tournament’s organization, and Canadian Pacific in particular.

“I haven’t been this excited to play in a Pro-Am in a long time,” Whan added. “It might be cool to be in Toronto (this week) but 170 countries will also be paying attention to what goes on here, so I really hope the fans come out and create the kind of atmosphere that Magna could really create.”

SHARP TO EMBRACE CANADIAN SUPPORT
As one of 15 Canadians teeing it up this week at the CPKC Women’s Open, Alena Sharp knows she has a great opportunity to play well in front of throngs of Canadian fans.  But she doesn’t have to do anything special to make them proud of her.

“I always was so nervous,” Sharp said of her first few times playing the CPKC Women’s Open. “I just wanted to go play well so badly. It’s like when you try and force something it never really works out very well,” “The last few years after the Olympics I had my best finish and played decent last year. I just realized that everybody is here and they’re cheering for you and they recognize you, but they’re proud of you. You don’t have to make them proud. They’re already proud.”

Sharp’s best finish in 2019 came at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, a team event where she was paired with Brooke Henderson. The pair tied for fifth that week and Sharp said while their relationship began as mentor-pupil, it has evolved into a nice friendship.

“I’m not shy to ask her about advice on things about a shot or something. We had a great time playing the team event. It was just really cool,” said explained. “The four of us – Sara and Brittany as well – we all get long really well and have a good time together. So it’s nice to have that on Tour.”

Sharp, who sits 50th on the 2019 Race to CME Globe, tees off at 9:05 a.m. on Thursday. Her best career CPKC Women’s Open result came at Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club in 2016, where she finished fourth.

PAST CHAMPIONS RETURN TO THE CP WOMEN’S OPEN
Eight past CPKC Women’s Open champions are set to tee it up this week at Magna Golf Club, led by defending champion Brooke Henderson.

Three-time winner Lydia Ko (2012, 2013, 2015) is in search of her record fourth title and first win of the season. Other past champions confirmed include Sung Hyun Park (2017), Ariya Jutanugarn (2016), So Yeon Ryu (2014), Suzann Pettersen (2009), Katherine Kirk (2008), and Cristie Kerr (2006).

Juli Inkster (who won in 1984) was in the field but withdrew Wednesday citing a sore back.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Pettersen’s victory. She is also playing for just the third time this season, as she gave birth to her first child in August of 2018.

“Obviously Canada has always been very kind to me in my golf game and I’ve had some great success,” said Pettersen of her return. “When I was thinking of how I can possibly prepare the best I can for (the Solheim Cup), playing here was very obvious choice, so I’m happy to be here.”

Henderson said, too, it’s always special to defend a title.

She’s become a bit of an expert playing well at events she had success at – she’s won the same event twice three times in her career.

“To be able to win on the LPGA Tour once is really cool. To come back next year and defend your title is really special I think and pretty unique. It doesn’t happen very often with these courses,” Henderson said. “I felt like I had a great game plan and I felt very confident; whereas this tournament we have moved around the courses ever single year, so that is a little bit different feeling coming into this week. But I think you still carry over a lot of positive energy and momentum from last year.”

LEVELWEAR AND GOLF CANADA ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP EXTENSION
Golf Canada and LEVELWEAR announced an agreement that will see LEVELWEAR extend their official apparel partnership with the National Sport Federation for golf through 2022.

The multi-year extension will continue LEVELWEAR’s support as Official Headwear and Apparel provider across a multitude of Golf Canada properties and championships. The LEVELWEAR brand will continue as the official headwear and apparel as well as the official volunteer uniform for several of Golf Canada’s properties including the RBC Canadian Open, the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, Canadian Amateur Golf Championships and the World Junior Girls Championship.

The partnership will also extend across Golf Canada’s digital network of web, social and golfer engagement platforms.

“LEVELWEAR has become one of our most engaged partners and we are pleased to extend their meaningful commitment to Canadian golf across so many foundational pillars of our organization,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “The LEVELWEAR brand represents the highest quality performance for both serious and recreational golfers. Our robust partnership touches many levels of Canadian golf, from amateur to professional, and we are excited to continue working with their talented team.”

For LEVELWEAR, extending and deepening their brand alignment with Golf Canada was a natural evolution to grow a partnership that began in 2017.

“We are proud to be extending our partnership with Golf Canada and their many world-class golf programs, championships and golfer engagement platforms,” said LEVELWEAR President & CEO Hilton Ngo . “Supporting golf at all levels in Canada is a key priority and our collaboration with Golf Canada has done a tremendous job in elevating our brand with Canadian golfers nationally.”

Aurora, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada and LEVELWEAR today announced an agreement that will see LEVELWEAR extend their official apparel partnership with the National Sport Federation for golf through 2022.

The multi-year extension will continue LEVELWEAR’s support as Official Headwear and Apparel provider across a multitude of Golf Canada properties and championships. The LEVELWEAR brand will continue as the official headwear and apparel as well as the official volunteer uniform for several of Golf Canada’s properties including the RBC Canadian Open, the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, Canadian Amateur Golf Championships and the World Junior Girls Championship. The partnership will also extend across Golf Canada’s digital network of web, social and golfer engagement platforms.

“LEVELWEAR has become one of our most engaged partners and we are pleased to extend their meaningful commitment to Canadian golf across so many foundational pillars of our organization,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “The LEVELWEAR brand represents the highest quality performance for both serious and recreational golfers. Our robust partnership touches many levels of Canadian golf, from amateur to professional, and we are excited to continue working with their talented team.”

For LEVELWEAR, extending and deepening their brand alignment with Golf Canada was a natural evolution to grow a partnership that began in 2017.

“We are proud to be extending our partnership with Golf Canada and their many world-class golf programs, championships and golfer engagement platforms,” said LEVELWEAR President & CEO Hilton Ngo . “Supporting  golf at all levels in Canada is a key priority and our collaboration with Golf Canada has done a tremendous job in elevating our brand with Canadian golfers nationally.”

AURORA, Ont. – With the opening-round of the $2.25 million (US) CPKC Women’s Open less than two days away, tournament week at Magna Golf Club continues to showcase the finest in women’s professional golf.

Wednesday, August 21st is Championship Pro-Am Day. The event will see professional golfers take to the course to entertain a field of amateurs as part of the LPGA Tour’s ‘Nine and Nine’ Pro-Am format, where amateur participants will play nine holes each with a pair of LPGA Tour professionals.

Click here for pairings and start times.

BROOKE HENDERSON FEELING GREAT HEADING INTO 2019 CP WOMEN’S OPEN TITLE DEFENSE
Defending champion Brooke Henderson told media Tuesday that she feels great heading into Thursday’s opening round.

“It’s amazing. I played nine holes yesterday and nine this morning and the course is in incredible condition. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun for all of us girls to go out there and probably try to make a lot birdies and shoot low scores,” said Henderson.

Henderson, who earlier this year defended her title at the LOTTE Championship in April and won the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give in June (her ninth LPGA Tour title), is now, at 21, Canada’s winningest golfer on the LPGA or PGA Tour.

She looks to become the first person since Lydia Ko (2012-13) to win back-to-back CPKC Women’s Open titles. If she were to win this week, she would also become the first Canadian to win multiple CPKC Women’s Opens.

“To have won the CPKC Women’s Open last year is probably the highlight of my career so far,” said Henderson. “Just being with all the great fans from the nation and just having so much attention on me and then still being able to perform as well as I did and execute those shots under pressure was really exciting for me.”

Magna Golf Club, Henderson said, has been a pleasure to play. Mike McMahon, the head golf professional at the club, has walked around with Henderson both Tuesday and Monday and has provided her with some tips. She said ball striking will be key this week.

“The fairways are pretty generous and the greens are very large. I think if you can be really precise on approaches with your ball striking you’ll hit it to the right slopes, right quadrants on the green. That’ll be really important to give yourself a good look at birdie,” she said. “It’s in amazing shape. It’s going to be a lot of fun. I do think if the conditions stay as they are right now there will be some low scores. I think that will be fun for fans as well.”

Every year since 2016 Henderson has won twice on the LPGA Tour and has ascended as high as fifth on the Rolex Rankings this year. But still, the CPKC Women’s Open is a highlight on her calendar.

“To win the CPKC Women’s Open last year was incredible. Do I think I’m going to do it again this year? I’m going to give it all I have, my best shot,” she said. “Like I said, I’m going to give it my all, see what I can do, and hopefully post a solid round on Thursday and give the fans something to cheer about.”

Henderson is one of 15 Canadians to play in this year’s CPKC Women’s Open, including Lorie Kane of Charlottetown, PEI – making her record-setting 29th appearance.

12-YEAR-OLD MICHELLE LIU TO MAKE ANTICIPATED CP WOMEN’S OPEN DEBUT
Age is just a number, but this week at the CPKC Women’s Open, it’s an important one.

After finishing as top Canadian at last month’s Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, Michelle Liu, of Vancouver, earned a spot in the CPKC Women’s Open.

At just 12 years old, she is the youngest person to ever tee it up in Canada’s national open.

“I feel like I’m getting pretty famous,” said Liu. “I think it’s a new experience for me, so I would say that’s definitely pretty cool.”

Liu finished the Canadian Women’s Amateur, which took place this year at Red Deer Golf and Country Club, at 1-over par. She finished tied for 12th, one shot better than Team Canada National team member, Brigitte Thibault.

Liu said her big goal this week was to just play well and enjoy herself.

“I definitely do hope for a lot. I know there are a lot of great players here in the field. I think it was 96 out of the top 100 players, so I definitely say (making the cut is) going to be pretty hard,” she said. “I hope for a lot and I expect a little bit less.”

Liu, who is entering grade eight, said she also plays volleyball and basketball when she’s not golfing. Art is one of her hobbies – she has a web comic with a few friends – and she started a foundation called the Hope for Girls Foundation to pay for school supplies for girls in the Northern part of the Guangzhou province in China.

But while she’s fairly busy off the golf course, this week is about what’s happening on the golf course for Liu, who has already teed it up with some LPGA Tour winners including Christina Kim, and practiced alongside her idol, fellow Canadian Brooke Henderson.

“I’m looking forward to being able to play with even more great players, especially in like the environment of a professional golf tournament,” said Liu. “I think it’s definitely going to be a challenge for me and my mental game to be able to focus and like keep my mind on each and every shot.”

PAIRING AND START TIMES – ROUNDS 1&2

Pairings for the first and second rounds of the 2019 CPKC Women’s Open are available here.

CP WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP SUMMIT A SUCCESS
Canada and Canadian Pacific were proud to conduct the second annual CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit on Tuesday, August 20 at the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North in Richmond Hill, Ont., as part of the weeklong excitement of the 2019 CPKC Women’s Open.

The CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit brought together like-minded businesswomen from across the country for a day of networking, empowerment and philanthropy. The Summit also raised awareness for the CPKC Women’s Open, with attendees receiving access to the tournament during the week.

The keynote speaker Roberta Bowman, Chief Brand & Communications Officer of the LPGA, and was joined by LPGA Tour Professional Mariah Stackhouse for an athlete Q&A.

Attendees heard from business leaders Maeghan Albiston, Assistant Vice-President of Investor Relations & Pensions at CP, Anne Simard, Chief Mission & Research Officer of the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Jennifer Tory, Chief Administrative Officer of RBC.

A new addition to the leadership summit in 2019 was the athlete panel, which featured four accomplished Canadian Olympians — speed-skater Anastasia Bucsis, soccer goalkeeper Karina Leblanc, multi-sport star Georgia Simmerling and two-time ice hockey gold medalist Natalie Spooner.

Rogers Sportsnet Central Co-Anchor Evanka Osmak was the emcee and panel moderator for the event.

For more information about the CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit, please visitwww.cpkcwomensopen.com/wls.

BIRDIES FOR HEART
You can help fundraise for an upgraded Cardiac Operating Suite at SickKids by pledging a donation amount or per birdie for 2019 CPKC Women’s Open tournament play. Whenever a LPGA Tour player sinks a birdie on the 17th hole, your chosen dollar amount is donated to SickKids Foundation. For all donations made through Birdies For Heart, spectator support will be matched by CP. To participate, please click here.

AURORA, Ont. – Kelly Tan’s 7-under-par 65 led the way at the 2019 CPKC Women’s Open Monday Qualifier at Scarboro Golf and Country Club.

Tan, of Malaysia, was the medalist Monday by five shots. Tan is a full-time member of the Symetra Tour who has played four times on the LPGA Tour in 2019. She also represented Malaysia at the 2016 Rio Olympics. This will be Tan’s fifth appearance at the CPKC Women’s Open.

Suzuka Yamaguchi of Japan finished in second with a 2-under-par 70. Yamaguchi is 145th on the Race to CME Globe.

Robyn Choi of Australia and Muni He of China finished at 1-under 71 to round out the four golfers earning spots in the 2019 CPKC Women’s Open via final (Monday) qualifying.

Maddie McCrary of the United States and Julieta Granada of Paraguay, a past winner on the LPGA Tour, were awarded sponsor invitations following qualifying.

Casey Ward (72) of Picton, Ont., finished as the low Canadian and was also awarded a sponsor exemption. Ward is an award-winning PGA of Canada member based out of Credit Valley Golf and Country Club.

With the addition of Ward to the field, there will now be 15 Canadians competing at the 2019 CPKC Women’s Open, including defending champion Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. and Lorie Kane of Charlottetown, PEI – who is making her record-setting 29th appearance at the CPKC Women’s Open.

Click here for the full Monday Qualifier leaderboard.

AURORA, Ont. (Golf Canada) –– The final four spots into the 2019 CPKC Women’s Open field will be determined in Monday’s final qualifying event at Scarboro Golf and Country Club.

A total of 36 competitors will challenge for one of four spots into the field for Canada’s Women’s Open Golf Championship. The Final Qualifier features 18 holes of stroke play with the low four competitors receiving an exemption into the 2019 CPKC Women’s Open field. If necessary, a hole-by-hole playoff will be conducted immediately following the conclusion of play.

Click here for pairings, start times and results from Final Qualifying on Monday, August 19. Results will be available as players complete their rounds.

Tournament week for the 2019 CPKC Women’s Open kicks off at Magna Golf Club as the stars of the LPGA Tour return to the Greater Toronto area for the first time in 17 years.

In addition to practice rounds in the morning, also taking place is the Canada Day All-Star Clinic and Pro-Am benefiting Golf Canada Foundation.

The All-Star Clinic will feature TSN’s Rod Black conducting live interviews with LPGA Tour stars including Cheyenne Woods, Brittany Lang, Katherine Kirk, Alena Sharp, and members of Team Canada’s Young Pro program followed by a shotgun start at 12:30 pm. For a complete list of golfers taking part in the Pro-Am, click here.

96 of the top 100 players on the LPGA Tour Money List as well as 17 in-year winners, nine past champions and 15 Canadians to compete August 19-25 at Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ont.

CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit to kick off tournament week on Tuesday, August 20

2019 CPKC Women’s Open & CP Has Heart to benefit SickKids Foundation

AURORA, Ont. – Golf Canada in partnership with Canadian Pacific (CP) announced today the full field of competitors set to challenge for the 2019 CPKC Women’s Open taking place August 19-25 at Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ont.

Defending champion Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., will battle one of the strongest fields on the LPGA Tour including 96 of the top 100 players on the 2019 LPGA Tour List and 17 in-year tournament winners. Henderson, currently ranked sixth on the LPGA Tour Money List and eighth on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, has two LPGA Tour wins on the season and her nine career LPGA Tour victories are the most ever by a Canadian on the LPGA or PGA Tour. Her victory in 2018 at The Wascana Country Club in Regina, Sask. made her the first Canadian since Jocelyne Bourassa 45 years prior to win the National Women’s Open.

A stellar field of international stars are lined up to challenge Henderson at Magna including nine of the top 10 players on the LPGA Money List – Jin Young Ko (No. 1), Jeongeun Lee6 (No. 2), Sung Hyun Park (No. 3), Lexi Thompson (No. 4), Minjee Lee (No. 5), Sei Young Kim (No. 7), Ariya Jutanugarn (No. 8) and Nelly Korda (No. 9).

Henderson also headlines a group of nine past champions coming to Aurora including three-time winner Lydia Ko (2012, 2013, 2015) in search of her record fourth title. Other past champions confirmed include Sung Hyun Park (2017), Ariya Jutanugarn (2016), So Yeon Ryu (2014), Suzann Pettersen (2009), Katherine Kirk (2008), Cristie Kerr (2006) and Juli Inkster (1984).

Other global LPGA Tour stars confirmed among the 156-player field include Jessica Korda, Paula Creamer, Daniel Kang, Shanshan Fang, Morgan Pressel, Anna Nordqvist, Carlota Ciganda, Nasa Hataoka, Moriya Jutanugarn, Charley Hull, Angel Yin, Jennifer Kupcho and Maria Fassi.

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome the world’s best golfers to Magna Golf Club as the CPKC Women’s Open returns to the Greater Toronto Area for the first time in 17 years,” said Tournament Director Ryan Paul. “Our field, with 96 of the top 100 players on the 2019 LPGA Money List including 17 in-year winners, nine past champions and the very best rising talents in Canadian and international golf, is second to none. With Brooke [Henderson] coming in as our defending champion, golf fans will be treated to an incredible golf experience next week in Aurora.”

A full field list of players confirmed to compete in the 2019 CPKC Women’s Open is available online here.

The field of 156 competitors will vie for the US$2.25 million purse with the champion taking home $337,500.

FIFTEEN CANADIANS TO COMPETE AT MAGNA GOLF CLUB….
Led by Canadian sensation and CP Ambassador Brooke Henderson, 15 Canadians are currently confirmed to challenge for the CPKC Women’s Open including LPGA Tour regulars Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Anne-Catharine Tanguay of Quebec City and Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont. Previously confirmed LPGA Tour rookie Jaclyn Lee of Calgary was forced to withdraw with an injury.

Also competing will be Symetra Tour players Maude-Aimee LeBlanc of Sherbrooke, Que., Megan Osland of Kelowna, B.C. and Valerie Tanguay of Saint-Hyacinthe, Que. along with Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont.

Recent Pan Am Games mixed team bronze medalists Brigitte Thibault of Rosemère, Que., and Mary Parsons of Delta, B.C. will be joined by National Junior Squad members Emily Zhu of Richmond Hill, Ont. and Céleste Dao of Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, Que.

Four-time LPGA Tour winner, CP Ambassador and Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Member Lorie Kane will make her record 29th appearance in the National Open.

The youngest player in the field will be 12-year old Michelle Liu of Vancouver who earned an exemption as the low Canadian at the recent Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.

FINAL FOUR EXEMPTIONS MONDAY AT SCARBORO GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB 
On Monday, August 19, the LPGA Tour will conduct an 18-hole stroke play qualifier at Scarboro Golf and Country Club to determine the final four exemptions directly into the 2019 CPKC Women’s Open. A full list of players competing is available online here.

2019 CP WOMEN’S OPEN TICKETS
One of Canada’s premier annual sporting events, the CPKC Women’s Open features miles of front row seating for golf fans to experience Canada’s lone stop on the LPGA Tour and cheer on Canadian sensation and CP Ambassador Brooke Henderson as she defends her national title on home soil.

General admission tickets, starting at just $20 for early week access, provide access to the grounds to get an up-close look at the stars of the LPGA Tour. Tournament rounds for Thursday, Friday and Saturday are just $50; a Sunday final-round ticket is $60; and a weeklong, fully transferable badge is $120.

A specially priced youth ticket (13-17 years old) is also available while juniors aged 12-and-under gain FREE grounds admission all week long.

In addition to general admission tickets, a limited number of upgraded spectator viewing experiences are still available. A full list of ticket packages and pricing is available online atwww.cpkcwomensopen.com/tickets.

CP HAS HEART IN SUPPORT OF SICKKIDS FOUNDATION
Canadian Pacific will continue its history of making a substantial donation to the host community through its CP Has Heart community investment program. In the five years of CP’s title sponsorship of the CPKC Women’s Open, $8.5 million has been raised to support children’s heart health in communities across Canada. This year, the campaign will benefit SickKids Foundation, the primary charity partner for the 2019 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, as well as Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket, Ont. For more information on CP Has Heart, visit www.cphasheart.com.

BIRDIES FOR HEART
You can help fundraise for an upgraded Cardiac Operating Suite at SickKids by pledging a donation amount or per birdie for 2019 CPKC Women’s Open tournament play. Whenever a LPGA Tour player sinks a birdie on the 17th hole, your chosen dollar amount is donated to SickKids Foundation. For all donations made through Birdies For Heart, spectator support will be matched by CP. To participate, please click here.

TELEVISION COVERAGE…
Thursday, August 22 – Golf Channel/TSN/RDS – 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Friday, August 23 – Golf Channel/TSN/RDS – 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 24 – Golf Channel/TSN/RDS – 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, August 25 – Golf Channel/TSN/RDS – 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

* All times local.

CP WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP SUMMIT TO KICK OFF TOURNAMENT WEEK
Golf Canada and Canadian Pacific are proud to host the second annual CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit on Tuesday, August 20 at the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North in Richmond Hill, Ont., as part of the weeklong excitement of the 2019 CPKC Women’s Open. The CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit will bring together like-minded businesswomen from across the country for a day of networking, empowerment and philanthropy. The Summit will also raise awareness for the CPKC Women’s Open, with attendees receiving access to the tournament during the week.

Keynote speaker Roberta Bowman, Chief Brand & Communications Officer of the LPGA will be joined by LPGA Tour Professional Mariah Stackhouse for an athlete Q&A. Attendees will hear from business leaders Maeghan Albiston, Assistant Vice-President of Investor Relations & Pensions at CP, Anne Simard, Chief Mission & Research Officer of the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Jennifer Tory, Chief Administrative Officer of RBC. A new addition to the leadership summit in 2019 is the athlete panel, which will feature four accomplished Canadian Olympians—speed skater Anastasia Bucsis, soccer goalkeeper Karina Leblanc, multi-sport star Georgia Simmerling and two-time ice hockey gold medalist Natalie Spooner. Rogers Sportsnet Central Co-Anchor Evanka Osmak will act as the emcee and panel moderator for the event.

For more information about the CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit, including tickets and sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.cpkcwomensopen.com/wls.

AURORA, Ont. – Golf Canada and Canadian Pacific (CP) have announced the names of 13 players who have received exemptions to compete in the 2019 CPKC Women’s Open, set to take place at Magna Golf Club from August 19-25.

Headlining the list of exemptions is Canadian Golf Hall of Fame honoured member and CP Ambassador Lorie Kane. The Charlottetown native will be making a record-setting 29th appearance at the CPKC Women’s Open appearance, besting World Golf Hall of Fame member JoAnne Carner (28) for most all-time appearances at the event.

Joining Kane will be a teenager who made national headlines last month, Vancouver’s Michelle Liu, who finished as the low Canadian at the 2019 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship in July to earn an exemption. Liu will be 12 years, nine months and seven days when she tees off at Magna Golf Club, becoming the youngest player ever to appear at the CPKC Women’s Open. The record was previously held by Canadian star Brooke Henderson, who played as a 14-year-old in 2012.

Symetra Tour professionals Maude-Aimée Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., Megan Osland of Kelowna, B.C., Valerie Tanguay of Saint-Hyacinthe, Que. and Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., have also been extended exemptions. Leblanc, who will be playing her 10^th CPKC Women’s Open, recently finished with a share of runner-up honours at The CDPHP Open. Leblanc’s best performance at the CPKC Women’s Open came in 2016, when she finished T14. Osland, who earlier this year qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open, will be playing in her second CPKC Women’s Open while Tanguay, in her rookie year on the Symetra Tour will compete in her first CPKC Women’s Open. Szeryk, a Symetra Tour rookie and a member of the Team Canada Young Pro Squad, has three top-5 finishes in 2019, including a runner-up performance at the Zimmer Biomet Championship in May. This will be Szeryk’s fourth appearance at the CPKC Women’s Open.

Team Canada National Amateur Squad member Brigitte Thibault of Rosemère, Que., has been given her second exemption to the CPKC Women’s Open, while Mary Parsons of Delta, B.C., will be making first appearance at an LPGA Tour event. Both Thibault and Parsons finished in the top-5 at the 2019 Women’s Porter Cup and recently represented Canada at the 2019 Pan Am Games golf competition in Lima, Peru where the duo (joined by the men’s pair of Austin Connelly and Joey Savoie) helped Team Canada claim a bronze medal in the mixed team competition, Canada’s first-ever medal in golf at the Pan Am Games. Parsons finished fifth in the Pan Am women’s individual competition while Thibault finished T9.

Two of the brightest young players in Canadian golf – both members of Canada’s National Junior Squad – will also be joining the field at Magna Golf Club. Emily Zhu of Richmond Hill, Ont., 15, recently won the 2019 Canadian Junior Girls Championship and has runner-up finishes in 2019 at both the PGA of Canada Women’s Championship and Ontario Women’s Amateur. Céleste Dao of Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, Que., the 2018 Canadian Junior Girls champion who placed T2 at this year’s Canadian Junior will make her second consecutive start in the CPKC Women’s Open.

Rounding out the list of announced player exemptions are reigning Canadian Women’s Amateur champion Brianna Navarrosa of San Diego, 2018 Canadian Women’s Amateur Champion Yealimi Noh of San Francisco, a rising star who earned the Marlene Streit Low Amateur at the 2018 CPKC Women’s Open, and LPGA Tour professional Cheyenne Woods of Phoenix, Ariz.

“We are pleased to extend tournament exemptions to each of these deserving athletes and look forward to welcoming them all to Magna Golf Club,” said CPKC Women’s Open Tournament Director Ryan Paul.

“Each of these players brings added depth and a unique personal storyline to our National Women’s Open Championship and we look forward to having them compete at the CPKC Women’s Open.”

A list of early player commitments was announced July 2^nd and included notable names such as defending champion Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., former champions Lydia Ko of New Zealand, So Yeon Ryu of South Korea and Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn, as well as 17of the top 20 players on the LPGA Tour Money List. In all, the 2019 CPKC Women’s Open will feature 95 of the top 100 players from the LPGA Tour Money List. The final field including additional player exemptions (not including four Monday qualifiers), will be announced Wednesday, August 14.

2019 CP WOMEN’S OPEN TICKETS

One of Canada’s premier annual sporting events, the CPKC Women’s Open features miles of front row seating for golf fans to experience Canada’s lone stop on the LPGA Tour and cheer on Canadian sensation and CP Ambassador Brooke Henderson as she defends her national title on home soil.

General admission tickets, starting at just $20 for early week access, provide access to the grounds to get an up-close look at the stars of the LPGA Tour. Tournament rounds for Thursday, Friday and Saturday are just $50; a Sunday final-round ticket is $60; and a weeklong, fully transferable badge is $120.

A specially priced youth ticket (13-17 years old) is also available while juniors aged 12-and-under gain FREE grounds admission all week long.

In addition to general admission tickets, a limited number of upgraded spectator viewing experiences are still available. A full list of ticket packages and pricing is available online at www.cpkcwomensopen.com/tickets.

CP HAS HEART IN SUPPORT OF SICKKIDS FOUNDATION

Canadian Pacific will continue its history of making a substantial donation to the host community through its CP Has Heart community investment program. In the five years of CP’s title sponsorship of the CPKC Women’s Open, $8.5 million has been raised to support children’s heart health in communities across Canada. This year, the campaign will benefit SickKids Foundation, the primary charity partner for the 2019 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, as well as Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket, Ont. For more information on CP Has Heart, visit www.cphasheart.com.

BIRDIES FOR HEART

You can help fundraise for an upgraded Cardiac Operating Suite at SickKids by pledging a donation amount or per birdie for 2019 CPKC Women’s Open tournament play. Whenever a LPGA Tour player sinks a birdie on the 17th hole, your chosen dollar amount is donated to SickKids Foundation. For all donations made through Birdies For Heart, spectator support will be matched by CP. To participate, please click here.

CP WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP SUMMIT TO KICK OFF TOURNAMENT WEEK

Canada and Canadian Pacific are proud to conduct the second annual CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit on Tuesday, August 20 at the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North in Richmond Hill, Ont., as part of the weeklong excitement of the 2019 CPKC Women’s Open. The CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit will bring together like-minded businesswomen from across the country for a day of networking, empowerment and philanthropy. The Summit will also raise awareness for the CPKC Women’s Open, with attendees receiving access to the tournament during the week.

Keynote speaker Roberta Bowman, Chief Brand & Communications Officer of the LPGA will be joined by LPGA Tour Professional Mariah Stackhouse for an athlete Q&A. Attendees will hear from business leaders Maeghan Albiston, Assistant Vice-President of Investor Relations & Pensions at CP, Anne Simard, Chief Mission & Research Officer of the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Jennifer Tory, Chief Administrative Officer of RBC. A new addition to the leadership summit in 2019 is the athlete panel, which will feature four accomplished Canadian Olympians—speed skater Anastasia Bucsis, soccer goalkeeper Karina Leblanc, multi-sport star Georgia Simmerling and two-time ice hockey gold medalist Natalie Spooner. Rogers Sportsnet Central Co-Anchor Evanka Osmak will act as the emcee and panel moderator for the event.

For more information about the CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit, including tickets and sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.cpkcwomensopen.com/wls.

VANCOUVER (Golf Canada) – The stars of the LPGA Tour are headed back to Vancouver as Golf Canada and Canadian Pacific (CP) announced the 2020 CPKC Women’s Open will be contested at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club from August 31- September 6, 2020.

The 2020 CPKC Women’s Open will mark the sixth time that the province of British Columbia has hosted Canada’s Women’s Open Championship, with the last time being 2015 at The Vancouver Golf Club, where Lydia Ko won her third CPKC Women’s Open title.

“Together, with our partners at Canadian Pacific (CP) and the LPGA Tour, we are very excited to bring the 2020 CPKC Women’s Open to the world-class city of Vancouver and the prestigious Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club,” said Laurence Applebaum, CEO of Golf Canada.

“Vancouver and the entire province of British Columbia are home to a tremendously passionate golf community, and we are excited to see the LPGA Tour’s best take on one of Canada’s premier golf courses.”

CP, through its community investment program CP Has Heart, will once again be making a significant charitable contribution to the host community. In its first five years of title sponsorship, from 2014-2018, the campaign has raised more than $8.5 million for children’s cardiac care in the tournament’s host communities.

“CP is proud to bring the CPKC Women’s Open back to the Vancouver area,” said Keith Creel, CP President and CEO.

“Vancouver is vital to our network and home to more than 500 CP employees. This venue in particular evokes CP pride at every turn, including bearing the name of long-time CP president, Thomas Shaughnessy. We look forward to leaving a significant charitable donation and an indelible mark on this area, just as our predecessors have.”

Founded in 1911 and on its current site since 1960, Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club lies on the shores of the Fraser River, minutes from downtown Vancouver. Both the original course and the 1960 course were designed by famed golf course architect and Vancouver resident A.V. Macan, who was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2018. The 2020 event will mark the first time that Shaughnessy has hosted the stars of the LPGA Tour. The club has hosted the RBC Canadian Open four times, most recently in 2011. In hosting both the CPKC Women’s Open and RBC Canadian Open, Shaughnessy becomes the 14^th club to host both of Canada’s Men’s and Women’s Open Championships.

“Our Board of Directors, members and staff are truly excited about hosting this most prestigious golf championship,” said Brian Mossop, General Manager and COO of Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club. “Our club is ready and our course will undoubtedly provide a terrific test for the world’s greatest golfers. We are looking forward to being part of the great history of the CPKC Women’s Open.”

The CPKC Women’s Open has traditionally featured one of the strongest fields on the LPGA Tour vying for a total purse of $2.25 million USD, one of the largest purses on tour.

First conducted in 1973, Canada’s Women’s Open Championship has allowed the brightest stars of the LPGA Tour to shine on Canadian soil to inspire the nation’s next generation of female golfers.

Brooke Henderson’s historic victory in 2018 was the first time a Canadian had won the Canadian Women’s Open since golf legend Jocelyne Bourassa 45 years earlier.

By: Donna Spencer (Canadian Press)

Michelle Liu signed what could be the first of many autographs Friday after the 12-year-old golfer finished as the top Canadian in the national women’s amateur championship.

Liu earned an exemption into the LPGA Tour’s CP Women’s Open next month in Aurora, Ont., and intends to take advantage of it.

“Probably, yeah, I’m pretty sure,” the Vancouver pre-teen told The Canadian Press from Red Deer Golf and Country Club.

Liu, pronounced LEE-oo, will be the youngest golfer to play in the 47-year history of Canada’s women’s golf championship.

She’ll be 12 years, nine months and six days old when she tees it up in the first round Aug. 22 at Magna Golf Club.

“It feels like I’m onto another level in my golf game,” Liu said. “I really hope I get paired with someone who is like a really good golfer, so I can learn something from them at the Canadian Women’s Open.”

LPGA star Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., holds the record as the youngest to play in the Canadian Open after she qualified as a 14-year-old in 2012 in Vancouver.

Henderson is also the tournament’s defending champion having won it last year in Regina.

“I really look up to Brooke Henderson,” Liu said. “She’s Canadian and she’s such a great golfer.

“It also means a lot to me to play in a professional tournament, especially one that’s local to me on a national basis I guess. I think the Canadian Women’s Open is a benchmark for me because it’s professional.

“It’s not only a professional tournament, but also like a big tournament where lots of well-known players will be playing.”

Liu finished the 72-hole national amateur in a tie for 12th at 1 over par. She carded a 2-over 74 in Friday’s final round.

Among Canadians, her total was one shot better than Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que.

“A lot of my friends are surprised and really supportive too and there was this other girl who came and asked me to sign her little flyer thing,” Liu said.

Brianna Navarrosa of San Diego, Calif., went 10-under to win the amateur, shooting 68 in the final round. She also earned an exemption to compete at the 2019 CPKC Women’s Open.

Liu bogeyed three of her first four holes, but composed herself to shoot 1-under the rest of the round.

“It didn’t start off that well, but I think I managed to keep my score low,” she said. “I just told myself if I can keep my score at three over, that’s still a good score for today.

“I just tried to make pars. Sometimes the ball would go in and I’d make a birdie. I just tried to keep it at three-over and then on the back nine there were some par-fives.

“I was able to hit it close enough that I could chip and putt and birdie both of those par-fives.”

Liu’s parents Jenny and Jian don’t golf, but their daughter took up the sport at age six.

Her older sister Lucy was interested in the sport, so the sisters attended a summer golf camp.

Liu, who turns 13 in November, will start Grade 8 after the CPKC Women’s Open.

She won’t be the youngest to ever play in a national championship on the LPGA Tour.

American Lucy Li qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open as an 11-year-old in 2014.

Li, still an amateur, went 4 under to tie for fifth in Red Deer.

Liu is scheduled to play in the 2009 Canadian Junior Girls Championship in Lethbridge, Alta.

AURORA, Ont.  —  Golf Canada in partnership with Canadian Pacific (CP), is proud to announce that the second annual CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit will take place Tuesday, August 20 at the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North in Richmond Hill, Ont. as part of the weeklong excitement of the 2019 CPKC Women’s Open (CPWO).

The CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit will bring together like-minded businesswomen from across the country for a day of networking, empowerment and philanthropy. The Summit will also raise awareness for the CPKC Women’s Open, with attendees receiving access to the tournament during the week.

The business panel of the Summit will consist of three businesswomen at the top of their respective fields. Maeghan Albiston, Assistant Vice-President of Investor Relations & Pensions at CP, Anne Simard, Chief Mission & Research Officer of the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Jennifer Tory, Chief Administrative Officer of RBC will all be part of the panel.

“After seeing the success of the inaugural event, I was honoured to be asked to participate in this year’s CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit,” said Albiston. “As an organization whose values hinge on pride and diversity, we at CP see this event as a meaningful way to show our commitment to developing and empowering women in the workplace.”

A new addition to the leadership summit in 2019 is the athlete panel, which will feature four accomplished Canadian Olympians—speed skater Anastasia Bucsis, soccer goalkeeper Karina Leblanc, multi-sport star Georgia Simmerling and two-time ice hockey gold medalist Natalie Spooner. Rogers Sportsnet Central Co-Anchor Evanka Osmak will act as the emcee and panel moderator for the event.

In addition to the business and athlete panel, Roberta Bowman, Chief Brand & Communications Officer of the LPGA will join the CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit as the keynote speaker.

Bowman spent 25 years with Duke Energy before retiring in 2012 as Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer. She served on the LPGA Board of Directors from 2012-2017 and joined the organization full-time in 2018 as Chief Brand and Communications Officer. In her role as a member of the LPGA’s executive leadership team, Bowman led the development and implementation of the LPGA’s new marketing campaign – Drive On –  which celebrates the power and potential in each individual, sharing inspiring stories and creating emotional connections with players, fans and sponsors alike.

“I am thrilled for the opportunity to promote diversity in both business and sport by participating in the CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit,” said Bowman. “I look forward to bringing together a group of women who are leaders in what they do, and discuss what motivates, challenges, and inspires us to work hard and enhance our careers.”

For Golf Canada, hosting the CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit as part of Canada’s National Women’s Open Golf Championship aligns with the organization’s commitment to developing a more inclusive culture in Canadian golf.

“Continuing the CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit is an extension of our efforts to encourage more women and girls to engage with golf and use the CPKC Women’s Open as a platform to bring together like-minded businesswomen in the spirit of networking, idea-sharing and empowerment,” said Mary Beth McKenna, a member of Golf Canada’s championship management team. “All of our speakers are leaders in their industries, and will provide participants with an inspiring experience and wide array of perspectives.”

The CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit begins at 9 am on August 20 at the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North and will feature networking opportunities, a question-and-answer session with panelists along with a three-course lunch. The day will conclude with an activity to support the charitable beneficiary of the CPKC Women’s Open, SickKids Foundation.

For more information about the CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit, including tickets and sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.cpkcwomensopen.com/wls.