News and notes from Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club for Friday, August 25th
OTTAWA (Golf Canada) –– In Gee Chun is tired of finishing second.
Chun, who has notched four runner-up results in 2017 – including losing in a playoff at the Manulife LPGA Classic earlier this year – is doing her best to lock up her first victory on the LPGA Tour since 2016, as she leads by two heading to the weekend at the CPKC Women’s Open.
““I (had) a lot of seconds this year, but I think they were good memories for me and a good experience,” said Chun, who sits at 8-under par. “I think I’m ready to win.”
Chun made five birdies Friday and just one bogey to fire a 4-under-par 67, the same score she shot Thursday. She admitted she was having trouble reading the Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club’s tricky greens, but managed to coordinate things better with her caddie, who helped her line things up better.
“I had a hard time seeing the putting line, so I asked my caddie, and he picked good lines,” she said. “I trusted my line and made it.”
Chasing Chun is a trio of Americans: Mo Martin, Brittany Lincicome and Marina Alex.
To say the pressure was on Brooke Henderson is a gross understatement. With thousands of fans watching her every move, the 19-year-old Smiths Falls, Ont., native two-putted for birdie at No. 9 (her final hole of the day) to move within the +1 cut line and ensure she would make the weekend.
“At the end, Cristie Kerr, she hugged me and said, ‘More pressure than a major there,“ said a clearly exhausted Henderson after her round. “I said, ‘Yeah, it was.’ “
After a first-round 3-over 74, Henderson knew she needed red numbers to keep her tournament hopes alive. She went to the par-3 eighth at 2-under on her round, but a costly bogey on No. 8 – her second last of the day – dropped her to +2 overall and a shot outside the cut line.
It all came down to the par-5 ninth. From 200 yards out, Henderson selected a 7-wood and calmly stepped over her ball.
“Just the perfect club, and I was yelling for it to drop,” said Henderson, who gave herself 25 feet for eagle to make the cut. “I pushed it a little bit right, but drew it in so it listened. To have that for eagle when I need to make the cut with a birdie, it was a really nice feeling.”
Henderson left the eagle putt a foot short and tapped in to the thunderous applause of her loyal Canadian fans circling the green.
“I’m really grateful for everybody that’s coming out,” said Henderson, who will tee off at 8:50 a.m. on Saturday with Brittany Altomare. “Hopefully tomorrow I can make a few more birdies, make a few more putts. Now that the cut is over with, we’ll be able to do that a little bit better.”
Canadian Scores – Round 2
Brittany Marchand – 73-67–140 (-2)
Brooke Henderson – 74-69–143 (+1)
—DID NOT ADVANCE —
Maddie Szeryk * – 79-70–149 (+7)
Jaclyn Lee * -75-74–140 (+7)
Augusta James – 73-76–149 (+7)
Anne-Catherine Tanguay – 76-73–149 (+7)
Maude-Aimee LeBlanc – 73-77-150 (+8)
Alena Sharp – 78-73–151 (+9)
Grace St-Germain – 80-72–152 (+10)
Jennifer Ha – 74-80–154 (+12)
Hannah Hellyer – 78-78–156 (+14)
Samantha Richdale -77-80–157 (+15)
Naomi Ko * -83-75–158 (+16)
Lorie Kane – 80-81–161 (+19)
* Denotes Amateur
Pairing and start times – Rounds 3…
Pairings for the third round of the 2017 CPKC Women’s Open are available here.
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.
CP Birdies for Heart – 29 birdies raise $145,000…
Title sponsor CP has stepped up to encourage players to make birdies on the 15th green during tournament play by offering a donation of $5,000 for each birdie made in support of pediatric cardiac care at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. During Friday’s opening round, 17 birdies by LPGA Tour players raised $85,000 for charity. Through 36 holes, 29 birdies at Ottawa Hunt have raised $145,000.
Media Guide
Note to Media: Download the 2017 CPKC Women’s Open Media Guide by clicking here.
CP Has Heart charity campaign to benefit Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario…
Now in its fourth year, CP’s community investment program, CP Has Heart, is committed to raising funds in support of children’s heart health in the host community of the CPKC Women’s Open. The 2017 edition of Canada’s National Women’s Open is proud to have the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) as the beneficiary charity.
The CP Has Heart fundraising activities tied to the CPKC Women’s Open and CHEO are part of CP’s overarching “Beautiful Hearts” campaign across the Ottawa region which will also run during the CFL regular season, playoffs and Grey Cup.
The “Beautiful Hearts” campaign will support the refurbishment of facilities that patients use every day at CHEO and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and celebrate the resiliency and spirit of the human heart.
Through August 27, 2017, CP will match all donations made towards pediatric cardiac at www.cheoheart.com. CP will also donate $5,000 to CHEO for every birdie made by a player on the 15th hole at Ottawa Hunt during this year’s championship. The 15th hole will also feature the 15th Green CP Fan Zone where golf fans can donate $20 to upgrade their grounds pass to access a covered greenside bleacher and viewing area with all proceeds to benefit CHEO.
Since 2014, the CP Has Heart charity campaign has raised more than $4.5 million in support of children’s heart health.
Kids 17-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 17-and-under get FREE admission to the CPKC Women’s Open for the entire week.
Tickets…
Juniors – 17 & Under Free
Anyday Grounds (Thurs-Sun) – $39.55
Television coverage…
Saturday, August – 26 Golf Channel – 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday, August 27 – Golf Channel – 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
NOTE: All times listed are in Eastern Time. Times are approximate and are subject to change without notice.