New LPGA Event Names Tournament Director

Former Golf Canada staffer Richard Kuypers has been named tournament director for the new Manulife LPGA Classic.

The inaugural LPGA Tour event will be played next June at Grey Silo Golf Club in Waterloo, Ont.

Kuypers was manager of professional championships at Golf Canada and was assistant tournament director of the CN Canadian Women’s Open. He also served as tournament director for Royal Canadian Golf Association amateur competitions.

Kuypers will be responsible for the promotion, sales and strategic planning of all aspects of the event. He will also be in charge of the development and coaching of a team of tournament staff and volunteers.

Kane WDs From PGA Of Canada Event

Lorie Kane has withdrawn from the PGA of Canada Women’s Championship.

The Charlottetown native has gone to Florida for therapy on a sore hip after playing in the CN Canadian Women’s Open last week at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que., where she tied for 63^rd at three-over for the tournament.

The PGA of Canada event begins Wednesday at Bayview Golf and Country Club in Thornhill, Ont., and concludes on Thursday.

Life Takes A.J. In A Different Direction

Former Canadian amateur champion A.J. Eathorne of Penticton, B.C., always looks forward to getting back home to Canada, but her latest return ended in victory for the 10-year LPGA Tour veteran turned caddie for Brittany Lincicome, who won the CN Canadian Women’s Open Sunday at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que.

Below is my Monday column for Sun Media on Eathorne, plus a look at how the Canadian event, despite its quality reputation on tour, has no need to be designated with the major status it held until 2000, when federal anti-smoking legislation snuffed what was the du Maurier Classic. Read more

A Windy Win In Montreal

American Brittany Lincicome shot a final-round two-under-par 70 to win the 2011 CN Canadian Women’s Open at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que.

Sunday’s final round start times were bumped up to 7 a.m., with threesomes off the first^t and 10^th tees in anticipation of extreme weather that affected the Montreal area late in the afternoon. 

Lincicome finished at 13-under-par 275 in heavy rain and gusty wind and held off defending  champion, Michelle Wie and 2011 Kraft Nabisco Championship winner, Stacy Lewis for her fifth-career LPGA Tour win.

“I felt like I did really well today,” said Lincicome, who earned a winners’ cheque of $337,500 with the victory.

“Any moment out on the golf course could have gone really bad. One bad hole could have set me off and I could have shot 100 today, so I did really, really well trying to hit the fairways, trying to hit the greens, two-putt, par, and keep it going because I knew the scores weren’t going to be low because of how [bad] the weather was.”

Lincicome, who also captured the 2011 ShopRite LPGA Classic earlier this season and will be a member of the American Solheim Cup squad credited caddie A.J. Eathorne of Penticton, B.C., a former LPGA Tour player, with guiding her through a difficult final round.

“A.J., being a past player, she played for 10 years,” said Lincicome. “There was a lot of shots like `How would you hit this shot, what do you think I should do on this shot?’ especially 18 with the punch shot. She talked me through it perfectly.”

For a complete leaderboard, click here.

Shepley’s Low Canadian At Women’s Open

Jessica Shepley of Oakville, Ont., earned the Sandra Post award as low Canadian at the CN Canadian Womens’s Open, with a one-under 287 for the tournament, besting Maude Aimée-LeBlanc of Sherbrooke, Que., who finished at even-par 288, by one shot.

Jisoo Keel of Coquitlam, B.C., was awarded the Marlene Stewart Streit low amateur medal after posting a four-day tally of four-over-par 292, edging amateur Laetitia Beck of Caesarea, Israel by two strokes.

The following are the final scores posted by Canadians at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que.:

Jessica Shepley – 73-70-70-74-287, -1

Maude-Aimée LeBlanc – 70-71-67-80-288, E

Lorie Kane – 71-71-74-75-291, +3

(a) Jisoo Keel – 72-71-75-74-292, +4

Samantha Richdale – 66-73-81-77-297, +9

Lisa Meldrum – 71-69-73-86-299, +11

(a) denotes amateur

Thumbnail: Jessica Shepley

Familiar Name Back On Top; Weather Could Be An Issue

Defending champion Michelle Wie, fellow American Tiffany Joh and Japan’s Ai Miyazato lead the CN Canadian Women’s Open at 12-under-par 204 going into the final round Sunday at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que.

The tournament will get of to an early start on Sunday with inclement weather expected in the late afternoon.

 

Wie carded a third round score of 68 that included five birdies and a single bogey.

“It always feels good to be in contention,” said Wie, a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour. “As long as it gives me an opportunity that I can do it tomorrow, I’m very glad that I’m in this position. Tomorrow, I think with the weather, I’ve just got to be patient and try to get it done.”

Joh, a rookie on the LPGA Tour, carded an impressive seven-under 65 on Saturday. The two-time winner of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship recorded seven birdies, including five on the front-nine.

“I think it’s really exciting for me just because coming into this year, I had conditional status and I didn’t even know how many events I was going to play,” said Joh. “Just having the chance to contend at one is what dreams are made of.”

Miyazato, a seven-time winner on the LPGA Tour, sits as a co-leader for the third consecutive day after posting a 71.

Maude Aimée-LeBlanc of Sherbrooke, Que., is the low Canadian heading into Sunday’s final after a five-under 67 put her in a tie for 13th at eight-under-par 208 through 54 holes.

Play gets underway at 7 a.m. with the final group teeing off at approximately 9 a.m. Competitors will tee-off in threesomes off both the first and 10^th tees with play expected to conclude at approximately 2 p.m.

For a complete leaderboard, click here.

Thumbnail: Michelle Wie

Quebec’s Own Rocks Montreal Event

Maude-Aimee LeBlanc of Sherbrooke, Que., shot a five-under 67 in Saturday’s third round and is tied for 13^th overall and leading the six remaining Canadians at the CN Canadian Women’s Open being played at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que.

The following are the Canadian scores going into Sunday’s final round, which is scheduled to be completed early due to expected inclement weather in the Montreal area:

Maude-Aimée LeBlanc – 70-71-67-208, -8

Lisa Meldrum – 71-69-73-213, -3

Jessica Shepley – 73-70-70-213, -3

Lorie Kane – 71-71-74-216, E

(a) Jisoo Keel – 72-71-75-218, +2

Samantha Richdale – 66-73-81-220, +4

(a) denotes amateur

 Thumbnail: Maude-Aimee LeBlanc

Taking In The CN Canadian Women’s Open

In 2009, when the CN Canadian Women’s Open was in Calgary at the Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club, I had an opportunity to play in the Wednesday pro-am.

Obviously an opportunity I never thought I would have, I jumped at the chance to play with two members at the club. We ended up drawing Yani Tseng, now the No. 1 ranked female player in the world.

She wasn’t as well-known then, but we were familiar with Yani and excited to be paired with her. We looked forward to the experience and it didn’t disappoint because it is a friendship we have kept with her over the past two years.

Fast forward to today and the team is back together in Montreal to follow Yani and take in the experience of the CN Canadian Women’s Open at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club.

We will be here following Yani as well as all the great players that are currently on the LPGA Tour. It’s great to follow Lori Kane and to see what a great ambassador she is for CN, but more so for women’s golf in general.

There are 18 Canadians in the field and all of them wear the flag proudly. The golf course at Hillsdale is in fantastic shape and one the players will enjoy playing.

CN’s sponsorship of the Canadian Women’s Open is so important to the growth and development of women’s golf in Canada. What is more impressive to me is their continued commitment to charity.

The CN Miracle Match is a wonderful program, which is currently at $1,205,387 to the Sainte-Justine UHC Foundation and Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation. When it was in Calgary, the initiative gave over $1.6-million to the Children’s Hospital, making a difference in children’s and families’ lives.

As I was leaving the clubhouse, I ran into Jocelyne Bourassa. Here is a woman who has led the charge and so many have followed in golf in Canada. A brief conversation with Jocelyne reminds us why we teach junior golf lessons, why we love the industry and why we are all ambassadors of the game.

It was great to see her name attached to the pro-am on Monday, an honour she more than deserves.

What a great experience I am enjoying this week and I enjoy watching the level of play, the professionalism, the competition, but more importantly, watching these ladies compete in a game that they love and enjoying the camaraderie and friendships they are making along the way.

Women’s Open Getting Crowded At The Top

Ai Miyazato of Japan and American Angela Stanford are tied for the lead at 11-under-par 133 through 36 holes at the 2011 CN Canadian Women’s Open at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que.

After posting an opening-round 65, Miyazato, a seven-time winner on the LPGA Tour, carded a round of four-under 68 on Friday.

“You know, I had a really good day today,” said Miyazato, who won her second Evian Masters title earlier this season. “My confidence is back and I’m really comfortable with my game right now, so I’m playing very good. I’m really satisfied with my game today.”

Stanford, a four-time LPGA Tour event winner, posted a six-under 66 with five of her seven birdies coming on the back nine. 

“I guess I just had some better chances on the back,” said Stanford, who was recently named to her fourth U.S. Solheim Cup Team. “A couple par fives that you have good chances, but I was just trying to hit good shots and give myself opportunities and the putter’s rolling, so that’s good.”

Defending CN Canadian Women’s Open champion Michelle Wie is tied for fourth with seven other players at eight under, three shots off the lead.

For a complete leaderboard, click here.

Richdale Continues To Lead Canucks

Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C., continues to lead all Canadian players at the CN Canadian Women’s Open at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que.

Below is the Canadian leaderboard following the second round:
Samantha Richdale – 66-73-139, -5

Lisa Meldrum – 71-69-140, -4

Maude-Aimée Leblanc – 70-71-141, -3

Lorie Kane – 71-71-142, -2

Jessica Shepley – 73-70-143, -1

(a) Jisoo Keel – 72-71-143, -1

Missed Cut

Adrienne White – 69-75-144, E

Stephanie Sherlock – 72-73-145, +1

Sara Maude Juneau – 72-73-145, +1

(a) Augusta James – 74-72-146, +2

Danielle Mills – 73-74-147, +3

Kirby Dreher – 73-74-147, +3

Alena Sharp – 77-71-148, +4

(a) Jessica Wallace – 72-76-148, +4

(a) Anna Kim – 77-72-149, +5

(a) Nicole Vandermade – 77-73-150, +6

(a) Rebecca Lee-Bentham – 74-76-150, +6

Isabelle Beisiegel – 75-76-151, +7

(a) denotes amateur

Thumbnail: Lisa Meldrum

She’s Slammin’ Sam In Round One

Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C.. shot a six-under 66 in the opening round of the CN Canadian Women’s Open at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que., to finish the day tied for third, just one shot behind leaders Ai Miyazato of Japan and Pernilla Lindberg of Sweden.

Miyazato, a former world No. 1 and an eight-time winner on the LPGA Tour, shot a bogey-free round that included seven birdies, four of which came on the back nine.

“I had a really good feeling with my swing tempo today. That’s why I really had so many birdie opportunities out there,” said Miyazato, who tied for 15th at last year’s Women’s Open in Winnipeg.

“My iron distance control was really good and I had a really good feeling with my putting, as well,” she added.

Lindberg finished with eight birdies on the day.

Defending champion Michelle Wie had-a 67 and is tied for fourth with Americans Jenny Shin and Angela Stanford and Koreans Song-Hee Kim and Mi Hyun Kim.

For a complete leaderboard, click here.

Canadian Leaders – Round 1, 2011 CN Canadian Women’s Open

Below are the opening round scores for Canadians at the CN Canadian Women’s Open being played at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que:

 

Samantha Richdale – 66, -6

Adrienne White – 69, -3

Maude-Aimée Leblanc – 70, -2

Lorie Kane – 71, -1

Lisa Meldrum – 71, -1

Stephanie Sherlock – 72, E

(a) Jisoo Keel – 72, E

Sara Maude Juneau – 72, E

(a) Jessica Wallace – 72, E

Danielle Mills – 73, +1

Kirby Dreher – 73, +1

Jessica Shepley – 73, +1

(a) Augusta James – 74, +2

(a) Rebecca Lee-Bentham – 74, +2

Isabelle Beisiegel – 75, +3

(a) Nicole Vandermade – 77, +5

(a) Anna Kim – 77, +5

Alena Sharp – 77, +5

(a) denotes amateur

Thumbnail: Samantha Richdale

World No. 1 Thinks Fondly Of Canada

Yani Tseng, the No 1 ranked woman in the world, has a soft spot for Canada, where she’s arrived for this week’s CN Canadian Women’s Open at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que.

It was in Vancouver that Tseng won one of her first events as a professional in 2007, which set her on her way to an amazing career for somebody just 22 years of age, a career that has included five major championships, including two this year. Read more

Women’s Open Names Final Field

Nine former champs and 17 Canadians will be part of the field at the CN Canadian Women’s Open, Aug. 25-28 at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que.

The final field was announced on Tuesday and it includes all but three players from the top 100 on the LPGA Tour money list.

The following is the final field:

Shi Hyun Ahn

Beth Bader

Kyeong Bae

Laura Bavaird*

Isabelle Beisiegel*[CAN]

Minea Blomqvist

Amanda Blumenherst

Christel Boeljon

Danah Bordner

Heather Bowie Young

Sara Brown

Dori Carter

Silvia Cavalleri

Chella Choi

Na Yeon Choi

Paula Creamer

Laura Davies

Laura Diaz

Kirby Dreher* [CAN]

Moira Dunn

Mollie Fankhauser

Shanshan Feng

Meaghan Francella

Louise Friberg

Katie Futcher

Sandra Gal

Julieta Granada

Anna Grzebien

Natalie Gulbis

Sophie Gustafson

Nicole Hage

Hee-Won Han

Mina Harigae

Katy Harris*

Marcy Hart

Caroline Hedwall

Maria Hjorth

Katherine Hull

Amy Hung

M.J. Hur

Pat Hurst

Vicky Hurst

Juli Inkster

Augusta James* (a) [CAN]

Jimin Jeong

Eun-Hee Ji

Tiffany Joh

Jennifer Johnson

Sara Maude Juneau* (a) [CAN]

Lorie Kane [CAN]

Haeji Kang

Jimin Kang

Jisoo Keel* (a) [CAN]

Sarah Kemp

Cristie Kerr

Birdie Kim

Christina Kim

I.K. Kim

Kimberly Kim

Mi Hyun Kim

Mindy Kim

Song-Hee Kim

Yoo Kyeong Kim

Jessica Korda

Candie Kung

Cindy LaCrosse

Brittany Lang

Maude-Aimee Leblanc* [CAN]

Ilhee Lee

Jee Young Lee

Jeehae Lee

Jennie Lee

Meena Lee

Seon Hwa Lee

Rebecca Lee-Bentham* (a) [CAN]

Taylor Leon

Amelia Lewis

Stacy Lewis

Brittany Lincicome

Pernilla Lindberg

Leta Lindley

Stephanie Louden

Paige Mackenzie

Catriona Matthew

Kristy McPherson

Lisa Meldrum* [CAN]

Danielle Mills* [CAN]

Na On Min

Ai Miyazato

Mika Miyazato

Janice Moodie

Becky Morgan

Belen Mozo

Azahara Munoz

Gwladys Nocera

Haru Nomura

Anna Nordqvist

Ryann O’Toole

Angela Oh

Ji Young Oh

Jin Young Pak

Se Ri Pak

Grace Park

Hee Young Park

Inbee Park

Jane Park

Suzann Pettersen

Pornanong Phatlum

Gerina Piller

Stacy Prammanasudh

Morgan Pressel

Reilley Rankin

Beatriz Recari

Jean Reynolds

Samantha Richdale [CAN]

Jennifer Rosales

Dewi Claire Schreefel

Hee Kyung Seo

Giulia Sergas

Alena Sharp [CAN]

Jessica Shepley* [CAN]

Stephanie Sherlock [CAN]

Jenny Shin

Jiyai Shin

Karin Sjodin

Sarah Jane Smith

Christine Song

Jennifer Song

Louise Stahle

Angela Stanford

Sherri Steinhauer

Karen Stupples

Jenny Suh

Kris Tamulis

Lexi Thompson*

Yani Tseng

Momoko Ueda

Mariajo Uribe

Nicole Vandermade* (a) [CAN]

Jessica Wallace* (a) [CAN]

Alison Walshe

Wendy Ward

Karrie Webb

Adrienne White* [CAN]

Michelle Wie

Lindsey Wright

Amy Yang

Sun Young Yoo

*denotes sponsor exemption

(a) denotes amateur

[CAN] denotes Canadian

(Thumbnail: Natalie Gulbis)

Canadian Exemptions Handed Out

Isabelle Beisiegel of Sainte Hilaire, Que., and Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que, have received exemptions into the CN Canadian Women’s Open, to be played at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que., Aug. 25-28.

Beisiegel has a pair of top-10 finishes on the LPGA Futures Tour in 2011, including a recent tie for fifth. She also finished top-10 on the 2011 CN Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit. 

LeBlanc, a recent graduate of Golf’s Canada’s national amateur program, will be competing in her home province for the first time as a professional. She is a former three-time Quebec Amateur and two-time Quebec champion who helped Purdue win the 2010 NCAA Division I Team Championship. 

A pair of non-exempt Canadian LPGA Tour players – Lisa Meldrum of Montreal and Adrienne White of Red Deer, Alta., – were also extended tournament exemptions to compete at Hillsdale. 

Meldrum, a former Canadian Junior champion and three-time Canadian Women’s Amateur champion will be competing in her seventh CN Canadian Women’s Open and first in her home province, while White, who is competing in the event for the third time in her career.

Also extended exemptions to compete were Team Canada members Augusta James of Bath, Ont., and Nicole Vandermade of Brantford, Ont. 

James’ 2011 season includes a victory at the 2011 Ontario Women’s Amateur, medalist honours at the 2011 U.S. Public Links qualifier and a tie for seventh on the 2011 CN Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit. 

James and Vandermade join previously exempt Team Canada members Rebecca Lee Bentham of Toronto, Jessica Wallace of Langley, B.C., and 15-year old Jisoo Keel of Coquitlam, B.C.

Earlier this year, six players earned tournament exemptions by way of the CN Canadian Women’s Tour including event winners Jessica Shepley of Oakville, Ont., Katy Harris and Jessica Wallace of Langley, B.C., as well as Order of Merit exemption recipients Kirby Dreher of Fort St. John, B.C., Danielle Mills of Pointe-Claire, Que., and Keel.

Earlier this year, teenage sensation Alexis Thompson as well as Team Canada graduate and former Quebec Amateur champion Sara-Maude Juneau of Fossambault, Que.  Juneau will compete in her home province for the first time as a professional.

Rounding out the list of 2011 exemptions is American Laura Bavaird of Dearborn, Mich., winner of the 2010 PGA of Canada Women’s Championship.

A final list of players will be available on Tuesday, the deadline for registration.

(Thumbnail: Lisa Meldrum)

Women’s Open Qualifier Next Monday

The final four spots in the 2011 CN Canadian Women’s Open will be available at a Monday qualifier on Aug. 22 at Club de golf Le Blainvillier in Blainville, Que. 

The Monday qualifier is open to a maximum of 60 players (professional or amateur) with a handicap of 2.0 or better. 

More information is available here.

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