Aurora, Ont. – Golf Canada, in partnership with title sponsor Canadian Pacific (CP), has announced that many of the world’s top players have committed to compete in the 2019 CPKC Women’s Open from August 19-25 at Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ont.
Leading the charge is defending champion and world no. 6 Brooke Henderson of Smith’s Falls, Ont. who made history at Wascana Country Club in Regina last year becoming the first Canadian since Jocelyne Bourassa 45 years earlier to win Canada’s National Women’s Open. Henderson, currently 5th on the 2019 LPGA Money List has won two LPGA Tour events in 2019 and her nine career LPGA Tour wins are the most for any Canadian professional golfer on the LPGA or PGA TOUR.
The early player commitments to challenge for the $2.25 million USD purse—one of the largest prizes on the LPGA Tour—will include golf’s brightest stars along with rising talents in Canadian golf. Among the early player commitments are 16 of the top 20 players from the 2019 LPGA Official Money list along with seven past CPKC Women’s Open champions.
“Brooke winning the 2018 CPKC Women’s Open in historic fashion was an incredible moment for Canadian golf and there is a tremendous momentum leading into Magna Golf Club as we bring Canada’s National Women’s Open back to the Greater Toronto Area for the first time in nearly 20 years,” said CPKC Women’s Open Tournament Director Ryan Paul. “Our early player commitments are trending towards welcoming one of the strongest fields on the LPGA Tour that will deliver a spectacular world-class event.”
Early Player Commitments:
Henderson is one of seven past CPKC Women’s Open champions confirmed for Magna including Sung Hyun Park (2017), Ariya Jutanugarn (2016), So Yeon Ryu (2014), Katherine Kirk (2008), Cristie Kerr (2006) and three-time winner Lydia Ko (2015, 2013, 2012) who will be chasing a record fourth CPKC Women’s Open title.
Henderson, currently ranked no. 5 on the LPGA Tour Money List, will be among 16 of the current top-20 players on the 2019 LPGA Money List confirmed for Magna including Jeongeun Lee6 (1), Jin Young Ko (2), Lexi Thompson (3), Sung Hyun Park (4) Minjee Lee (6), Nelly Korda (7), Hannah Green (8), Danielle Kang (9), So Yeon Ryu (10), Sei Young Kim (11), Eun Hee Ji (12), Nasa Hataoka (13), Angel Yin (15), Amy Yang (17) and Azahara Munoz (19).
Golf Canada has also extended a tournament exemption to former Canadian Women’s Amateur champion (2017) Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster, Colo., who earlier this year won the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur. The former Wake Forest University standout was the top-ranked amateur in the world prior to turning professional earlier this summer. An exemption into the CPKC Women’s Open (as well as the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship where applicable) will be extended annually to the winner of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Canadians in the Mix:
Henderson also headlines the early list of Canadians set to compete at Magna Golf Club. She will be joined by Canadian Golf Hall of Fame honoured member and fellow CP ambassador Lorie Kane, a four-time winner on the LPGA Tour. Kane will be competing in Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship for a record 29th consecutive time. Other Canadians include LPGA Tour members Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont., Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., Jaclyn Lee of Calgary and Anne-Catherine Tanguay of Quebec City. The six Canucks will be joined by several more Canadian professional and amateur golfers to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
The 156 golfers teeing-it-up at Magna Golf Club will represent one of the strongest fields on the LPGA Tour with more than 90 of the top 100 players on the LPGA Tour Official Money List expected to compete.
The 2019 CPKC Women’s Open will mark only the second time since 2001 (won by golf legend Annika Sorenstam at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham) that Canada’s National Women’s Open has been contested in the Greater Toronto Area.
CP Has Heart Charity Campaign to Benefit the SickKids Foundation:
Canadian Pacific and Golf Canada are proud to support SickKids Foundation in Toronto as the primary charity partner for the 2019 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. Funds raised through the CPKC Women’s Open will go towards renovating a Cardiac Operating Suite at SickKids. In addition, CP is also proud to support the tournament host community in 2019 with a donation of $250,000 to Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket, Ont. to support paediatric cardiac care. 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 Canada.
CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit to Kick of Tournament Week:
Golf Canada and Canadian Pacific will 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.
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. 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. Roberta Bowman, Chief Brand & Communications Officer of the LPGA, will join the CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit as the keynote speaker while Rogers Sportsnet Central Co-Anchor Evanka Osmak will act as the emcee and 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.
KIDS 12-AND-UNDER GET IN FREE…
Golf Canada and CP are committed to offering a fan friendly, family event with the CPKC Women’s Open. To introduce more juniors to the sport, children aged 12-and-under get FREE admission to the CPKC Women’s Open for the entire week.
Toronto, Ontario– Golf Canada and Audi Canada announced today a multi-year integrated partnership that will see the luxury automotive brand become the exclusive Premier Automotive Partner for Canada’s National Open Championships—the RBC Canadian Open and CPKC Women’s Open—as well as the Official Automotive Partner of Golf Canada’s National Team Program.
“We are thrilled to welcome Audi Canada as a fully integrated Premier Partner with Golf Canada’s National Open Championships and Team Canada,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “Audi is an iconic brand, synonymous for driving excellence and premium craftsmanship. Our robust partnership touches virtually every level of Canadian golf and we look forward to integrating their progressive brand across Golf Canada’s signature properties as well as our community of member clubs and golfers.”
Through the multi-year partnership, Audi will work alongside Golf Canada to drive excellence in Canadian golf. As the Premier Automotive Partner for the RBC Canadian Open and CPKC Women’s Open, Audi will deliver a premium vehicle experience at Canada’s National Men’s and Women’s Open Championships. Audi owners will also be treated to an elevated event experience when they visit the RBC Canadian Open and CPKC Women’s Open, while fans onsite can enter to win hospitality upgrades and exclusive Audi Driving Experiences.
“Audi has been successfully involved in golf globally for more than two decades,” said Giorgio Delucchi, President of Audi Canada. “Technology, design and sportiness are values that characterize every Audi and which also contribute to the special fascination found in golf.”
Audi Canada’s multi-platform investment in Canadian golf will also benefit the athletes, coaches and sport science team that comprise Golf Canada’s National Team Program including the Team Canada Junior, Amateur and Young Pro Squads. Audi Canada’s partnership will also deliver an enhanced experience across Golf Canada’s digital network of web, social and golfer engagement platforms. The partnership will create a deepened community connection between Golf Canada Member Clubs and the Audi Canada dealer network across Canada.
As the National Sport Federation, Golf Canada operates the RBC Canadian Open, June 3-9 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, as well as the CPKC Women’s Open which takes place August 19-25 at the Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ont.
Canada’s top-ranked golfer and Canada’s iconic railway are partnering for five more years, both on and off the course. Canadian Pacific (CP) has renewed seven-time LPGA tour-winner and twelfth-ranked female golfer in the world, Brooke Henderson to serve as its golf ambassador.
Since signing on with CP in 2017 as a golf ambassador, Henderson has won four more LPGA titles, including her historic win on home soil at the 2018 CPKC Women’s Open. There at the Wascana Country Club in Regina, Sask., she became the first Canadian to win the National Open Championship in 45 years.
Joining the CP family is sister and caddy Brittany Henderson, who will also wear the CP logo as she supports Brooke as a team and family member.
“It is an honor to extend Brooke’s sponsorship until Dec. 31, 2023, and welcome Brittany to the CP family,” said Keith Creel, CP President and Chief Executive Officer. “Brooke remains the perfect ambassador for CP as we continue to grow the game of golf, advocate for healthy living through CP Has Heart, and build on the iconic Canadian brand that is CP. Adding Brittany to the CP family was a natural decision, as railroaders know that precision and excellence requires a strong team.”
CP continues to sponsor Team Canada, a relationship that marked the beginning of Brooke’s relationship with the railway. Both the Hendersons are graduates of the amateur program that supports young golfers as they pursue their professional dreams.
Brooke has also been named a repeat winner of the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award as the Canadian Press Female Athlete of the Year. In addition, PostMedia recognized her as their 2018 Summer Female Athlete of the Year and Canadian Sport Awards named her their 2018 Athlete of the Year.
“I am so proud to continue my relationship as an ambassador for CP. As many of my own family members have worked for CP in my hometown of Smiths Falls, it is truly special for me to wear the logo and continue that long history as a member of the CP family. Furthermore, the sincere gesture to add my sister Brittany to the CP family is incredible, as she’s been with me every step of my career. We both look forward to celebrating many more victories with the CP family.”
Already in the CP family is four-time LPGA Tour winner Lorie Kane, who signed on as an ambassador in 2014 when CP took over title sponsorship of the National Open. Kane, who was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2017 and named a recipient of the Order of Canada in 2006, has an established reputation as one of the most personable and consistent players in the game, and has dedicated many efforts off the course to champion support for CP Has Heart.
CP recently named SickKids Foundation as it’s official charity beneficiary of the 2019 CPKC Women’s Open that will be hosted at Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ontario. Through its CP Has Heart program, CP will once again make a substantial donation to support local paediatric care. Follow along this season as golf ambassadors Brooke and Lorie encourage fundraising efforts to help reach this year’s $1.75M donation target.
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 Canada. This will mark the third time in six years southern Ontario has hosted the CPKC Women’s Open resulting in more than $3.3 million dollars invested in London (2014 – $1.3 million) and Ottawa (2016 – $2 million).
TORONTO – Canadian Pacific (CP) and Golf Canada today announced that SickKids Foundation has been chosen as the primary charity partner for the 2019 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.
The 2019 CPKC Women’s Open will see Canadian sensation and CP ambassador Brooke Henderson defend her national golf title against the top LPGA Tour players in the world from August 19-25 at Magna Golf Club, in Aurora, Ont.
“CP is elated to be working with SickKids Foundation through the 2019 CPKC Women Open,” said CP’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Keith Creel. “This is a natural partnership as CP is focused on giving back through our community investment program, CP Has Heart, and SickKids Foundation is focused on helping young hearts across Ontario – a province that has been integral to our network for more than 130 years.”
This year, CP will be working with Kyle Hayhoe, a child ambassador for SickKids Foundation. Kyle was cared for at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) for four months after he was diagnosed with a hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy at only seven weeks old and required a heart transplant. Now, when Kyle isn’t attending his regular check-ups with the heart transplant, respiratory and nephrology teams at SickKids, he can be found on the golf course perfecting his swing.
Funds raised through the CPKC Women’s Open will go towards renovating a Cardiac Operating Suite at SickKids. In addition, CP is also proud to support our tournament host community this year. CP will make a donation of $250,000 to Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket, Ont. to support paediatric cardiac care.
“We appreciate the generous support of the community and are extremely grateful to our partners CP, Golf Canada and the CPKC Women’s Open,” said SickKids Foundation CEO, Ted Garrard. “Funds raised through this partnership will help continue to advance cardiac care that will deliver better outcomes for our patients who come from all across Canada, for many years to come.”
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 Canada. This will mark the third time in six years southern Ontario has hosted the CPKC Women’s Open resulting in more than $3.3 million dollars invested in London (2014 – $1.3 million) and Ottawa (2016 – $2 million)
“I can’t say enough about the incredible work CP does through the CP Has Heart campaign – they are an absolute terrific partner who are helping to make a meaningful impact in the lives of countless Canadians,” said Golf Canada’s CEO, Laurence Applebaum. “Tournament week will be a fantastic showcase of world-class golf and charitable giving in support of SickKids Foundation.”
In 2018, Brooke Henderson became the first Canadian to win the country’s National Open Championship in 45 years, shooting 65 in the final-round for a four-stroke victory at the CPKC Women’s Open in Regina, Sask. Jocelyne Bourassa was the last Canadian to win the event, when she was crowned Canadian champion in 1973.
“On behalf of all Canadian golf fans, I’m eagerly awaiting the opportunity to see Canadian golf superstar Brooke Henderson defend her title,” added Applebaum.
This is the first time the Greater Toronto Area will play host to a major LPGA Tour event since 2001, when the event was held at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham. The 2019 CPKC Women’s Open will run August 19-25, 2019 at Magna Golf Club in Aurora.
Terry Lenyk
The outstanding events, people and organizations from Canada’s vibrant sport tourism industry in Canada were honoured at the 13thannual Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance (CSTA) PRESTIGE Awards. The awards recognize those who work to bid, host and stage sport events across the country.
With three major events in Regina in 2018, Bernadette McIntyre played key volunteer roles in each one en route to winning the honour of Sport Event Volunteer of the Year Award. During the CPKC Women’s Open , she co-chaired the Host Committee which had 21 event committees, 42 co-chairs and over 1100 volunteers and saw Brooke Henderson become the first Canadian since 1973 to win Canada’s National Open.
She Chaired the Bid Committee for the Tim Hortons Brier, then formed the Host Committee and served on its executive. For the Mastercard Memorial Cup she acted as a liaison between the Host Committee and the venue. Her boundless energy and exceptional organizational skills ensured that event participants, volunteers and attendees had truly fulfilling experiences.
Click here to sign up as a CPKC Women’s Open Volunteer.
