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.

LPGA Major Status Isn’t Important

It sounds like a pat answer, but Golf Canada is taking the proper approach with its attitude that it will just go about the business of making the CN Canadian Women’s Open the best tournament it can be after the Evian in France was announced recently as the fifth major on the LPGA Tour.

The decision was announced overseas when the RBC Canadian Open was being played in Vancouver, so it didn’t get much attention, even if the Canadian event, which held major status until 2000 when the du Maurier Classic was snuffed by federal anti-smoking legislation, had long been mentioned as a fifth major.

Tournament director Sean Van Kesteren said he wasn’t surprised by the Evian announcement. Read more

Do Tour Events Encourage Participation?

We’ve got good news and bad news for you this morning on the professional golf front.

Which do you want first?  Okay, let’s get the bad news out of the way. Read more

Winning Is All In The Family At Tour Finale

Amateur Jessica Wallace of Langley, B.C., carded a final round, even-par 72 and went on to defeat Kirby Dreher of Fort St. John, B.C., in a one-hole playoff to capture the season’s third and final event on the 2011 CN Canadian Women’s Tour at Blue Springs Golf Club in Acton, Ont.

Wallace carded three birdies on the day, along with three bogeys to finish with a two-day total of one-over 145 to earn her first CN Canadian Women’s Tour victory.

With the victory, Wallace secured the final champion’s exemption into the 2011 CN Canadian Women’s Open, August 22-28 at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que.

“That was the whole reason why I came here, to play in this tournament so I could get into the CN Canadian Women’s Open,” added Wallace.

“My brother [Darren] played in the Canadian Open, like seven years ago, so ever since he got in, I was like, `that would be so awesome if I could play in my national open too.’ I’m just so psyched. That was my goal all along,” she said.

 

Six players earned exemptions into the 2011 CN Canadian Women’s Open via Tour championship events.

Jessica Shepley of Oakville, Ont., earned the season’s first of three champion’s exemptions with a victory in Squamish, B.C., while LPGA Futures Tour member, Katy Harris of Humble, Tex., captured the second event in Beloeil,

Dreher, Jisoo Keel, 15, of Coquitlam, B.C., and Futures Tour player, Danielle Mills of Pointe-Claire, Que., also secured exemptions into the Women’s Open based on the season-long Order of Merit, which offered exemptions to the top three point-getters not already exempt.

Shepley captured her second consecutive Jocelyne Bourassa Player of the Year award, while Keel was the Low Amateur of the Year.

Shepley Back On Top At Final Tour Event

Jessica Shepley of Oakville, Ont., shot a three-under-par 69 to take the opening-round lead at the season’s third and final CN Canadian Women’s Tour event at Blue Springs Golf Club in Acton, Ont.

Shepley, who secured a champion’s exemption into the 2011 CN Canadian Women’s Open with a victory at the season-opening event in Squamish, B.C., battled heavy wind at Blue Springs, but recorded five birdies on the day, including four on the back nine. 

Shepley heads into Wednesday’s final round with a one-shot lead over fellow LPGA Tour member Beth Bader of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., who shot a two-under-par 70.

“I came in to today with a great game plan,” Shepley said. “I really planned out my round, exactly what I wanted it to look like and I stuck to it perfectly.

“I think that’s the difference between what I’ve been doing in Canada and in the U.S. I’ve been getting ahead of myself out there. Here, I did exactly what I wanted to do. I really stayed in the moment with every shot,” she said.

Coming off a missed cut at the Wegmans LPGA Championship in Pittsford, N.Y., Shepley explained that she has been working with coaches Sean Foley and Annie Mallory to modify her approach.

“At Wegmans, I really steered it around the golf course. I’ve been working with Annie [Mallory] the last couple of days to get my legs back in my golf swing and on really just letting go,” added Shepley.

“Sean [Foley] has been trying to get me to let go for a long time. Today, I played smart targets and aggressive on those lines, so it worked out well,” she said.

Sue Kim of Langley, B.C., shot an opening round, one-under 71 is tied for third along with Kirby Dreher of Fort St. John, B.C., while Stacy Bieber of Winnipeg is in a four-player tie for fifth at even-par.

The following are opening-round scores:

1.  Jessica Shepley, Oakville, Ont, 34-35-69 -3

2.  Beth Bader, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., 35-35-70 -2

3.  Sue Kim, Langley, B.C., 35-36-71 -1

3.  Kirby Dreher, Fort St. John, B.C., 36-35-71 -1

5.  Noriko Nakazaki, Hanover Park, Ill, 37-35-72 E

5.  Stacey Bieber, Winnipeg, Man., 34-38-72 E

5.  Anna Scott, England, 34-38-72 E

5.  Susan Choi, Natick, Mass, 36-36-72 E

9.  Brittany Marchand (a), Orangeville, Ont., 37-36-73 +1

9.  Lisa Meldrum, Montreal, Que., 39-34-73 +1

9.  Jessica Carafiello, Coral Springs, Fla., 36-37-73 +1

9.  Jessica Wallace (a), Langley, B.C., 39-34-73 +1

9.  Jenna Pearson, Wheaton, Ill., 36-37-73 +1

9.  Jacqueline Yanch (a), Barrie, Ont., 35-38-73 +1

9.  Alexa Kim, Toronto, Ont., 36-37-73 +1

9.  Bryana Gregory, Roseville, Calif., 37-36-73 +1

17. Alena Sharp, Hamilton, Ont., 38-36-74 +2

17. Rebecca Lee-Bentham (a), Toronto, Ont., 40-34-74 +2

17. Lisa Ferrero, Lodi, Calif., 35-39-74 +2

17. Lindsey Bergeon, Sarasota, Fla., 37-37-74 +2

17. Ashley Sholer, Hamilton, Ont., 36-38-74 +2

17. Laura Bavaird, Grosse Ile, Mich., 39-35-74 +2

17. Samantha Richdale, Kelowna, B.C., 39-35-74 +2

17. Tara Goedeken, Dodge City, KS, 35-39-74 +2

For complete scores, click here.

(a)     denotes amateur

Industry Notes: June 28, 2011

Skycaddie, distributed in Canada by Jancor Agencies, now supports multiple languages, including French-Canadian. Anyone with an existing unit can do a simple update for the language of their choice … The CN Canadian Women’s Tour concludes it season with its final stop at Blue Springs Golf Club in Acton, Ont., beginning Tuesday. The winner will earn an exemption into the CN Canadian Women’s Open to be played in August at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel¸ Que. LPGA Tour members expected to compete include Hamilton’s Alena Sharp, Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C., Lisa Meldrum from Kirkland, Que., and Jessica Shepley of Oakville, Ont. … Mercedes Benz will be the presenting sponsor for the Canadian PGA Centennial Gala on July 11 at the Hilton Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, Que. Mercedes-Benz will feature its vehicles onsite at the Centennial event and on the back cover of the Canadian PGA Centennial magazine. Mercedes-Benz celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2011, and more than 55 years in Canada.

Women’s Open Hands Out Exemptions

American teenage star Alexis Thompson and former Team Canada player Sara-Maude Juneau of Fossambault-sur-le-lac, Que., have been given exemptions into the CN Canadian Women’s Open, which will take place in August at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que.

Juneau, now playing on the Futures Tour after spending her collegiate career at the University of Louisville, will be playing in her home province for the first time as a professional.

Industry Notes: June 16, 2011

Futures Tour member Katy Harris of Humble, Tex., shot a final round four-under par 67 to capture the season’s second event on the 2011 CN Canadian Women’s Tour at Club de golf Beloeil in Beloeil, Que. Harris carded six birdies on the day to finish with a score of 138 (-4) to edge opening-round leader Isabelle Beisiegel of Saint-Hilaire, Que. by two strokes to secure the victory. With the victory, Harris earned $10,000 and an exemption into this year’s CN Canadian Women’s Open. The final CN Canadian Women’s Tour stop takes place June 27-29 at Blue Springs Golf Club in Acton, Ont. … Victoria’s Jim Rutledge and Montreal’s Daniel Talbot have been given exemptions into the Montreal Championship, which will take place in a couple of weeks at Club de golf Le Fontainebleau in Blainville, Que. Also earning exemptions were Fulton Allem of South Africa and American Jerry Pate. A final exemption from the Champions Tour all-time victory category will be announced later this month … HIRZL North America has appointed MKRAK Management Inc. to distribute its HIRZL glove line in Canada. MKRAK will be responsible growing the presence of the performance glove line in the Canadian marketplace, focusing on national retailers and pro shops across the country.

Industry Notes: June 13, 2001

The first of two regional qualifiers for the RBC Canadian Open will be held Monday at Point Grey Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, where the lowest score will qualify for the PGA Tour event to be played July 21-24 at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver. The next 21 will be eligible for final qualifying on Monday, July 18, at Morgan Creek in Surrey, B.C. Following the B.C. regional qualifier, another will be held on Monday, June 20, at The Club at Bond Head in Bond Head, Ont. … Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel, Stacy Lewis and Sandra Gal have confirmed they will play in the CN Canadian Women’s Open, Aug. 25-28 at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club, near Montreal. Lincicome won the ShopRite LPGA Classic recently with Canadian A.J. Eathorne of Penticton, B.C., as her caddie.

Wiesy Is Due In Montreal

Defending champion Michelle Wie is among four players to confirm their participation in the CN Canadian Women’s Open, to be played at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que., Aug. 25-28.

Past champions Suzann Pettersen and Cristie Kerr have also confirmed they will be at Hillsdale, along with world No. 1 Yani Tseng.

Shepley Starts Season On A High Note

Jessica Shepley of Oakville, Ont. shot a final round four-under-par 68 and defeated Joy Trotter, 20, of Chino Hills, Calif., in a four-hole play-off to capture the season-opening event on the 2011 CN Canadian Women’s Tour at Squamish Valley Golf Club in Squamish, B.C. on Tuesday.

Shepley, 28, a winner at last year’s CN Canadian Women’s Tour stop in Richmond, B.C., and the 2010 Jocelyne Bourassa Player of the Year, carded four birdies on the day and finished the tournament with a five-under 139.

Shepley capitalized on consecutive bogeys by Trotter on 17 and 18 to force the playoff.

“I’ve been working really hard lately and it’s been a huge goal of mine to come up here and start up the season with a win at this event,” said Shepley. “It was a good finish and having to play a few extra holes is always exciting. It means a lot. I just grinded it out today.”

With the win, Shepley earns the $10,000 championship share of the $60,000 purse and an exemption into this year’s CN Canadian Women’s Open, which will be held at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que., August 25-28.

“I wasn’t sure if I would get in with my status, so this was great for me to know 100 per cent that I’m in,” said Shepley.

“The exemption sets the year up so nicely for me and it means a lot. To play in your country’s national championship is always an honour and I’m looking forward to having a great week this year in Montreal,” she added.

Jisoo Keel, 15, of Coquitlam, B.C., carded a  course record six-under 66. Keel finished third overall and earned top amateur honors with a two-day total of 140.

“All of my shots worked for me today,” said Keel who also claimed the CN Future Links Pacific Championship last weekend. “I think I made 17 greens in regulation and I was really proud of myself for not hyperventilating on the course. I’m just very happy with my score.”

Rebecca Lee-Bentham of Richmond Hill, Ont., finished tied for fourth with  LPGA Tour member Ryann O’Toole, 24, of San Clemente, Calif. with a two-day total of 143.

The next Canadian Women’s Tour stop takes place June 13-15 at Club de golf Beloeil in Beloeil, Que., while the final tour event is scheduled for June 27-29 at Blue Springs Golf Club in Acton, Ont.

Women’s Tour Begins This Week

The pro-am will be held Monday, with competition kicking off the following day in the first CN Canadian Women’s Tour event of 2011 at Squamish Valley Golf Club in Squamish, B.C.

The winner of the event, which concludes on Wednesday, will earn the season’s first tour exemption into the CN Canadian Women’s Open, August 22-28 at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que.

Names in the the field for the season opener, include Stephanie Sherlock of Barrie, Ont., Jessica Shepley of Oakville, Ont., Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C., and Adrienne White of Red Deer, Alta.   

“The field is set and we’ve got 90 players competing for our first tour exemption into the 2011 CN Canadian Women’s Open,” said Adam Helmer, tournament director for the tour. 

“The talent and depth competing at the season opener in Squamish is arguably the strongest we’ve had on tour, which speaks to how competitive the CN Canadian Women’s Tour has become in recent years,” he added.

The total season prize money for the tour is $180,000 Cdn. Each 36-hole purse is $60,000, with each champion being awarded a $10,000 winners’ cheque, as well as up to three special invitations to compete in LPGA Futures Tour events in 2011.

In addition, the top three players on the tour’s season-ending order of merit will be awarded direct entry into the second stage of LPGA Qualifying School. All entry fees will be paid for stage two and, if applicable, stage three (up to a value of $4,000 each).

New for 2011, CN and Golf Canada have added priority status and exemptions for CN Canadian Women’s Tour competitors, affording players direct entry into tournament fields.

Applicants on the priority status and exemption list will be accepted automatically into the field of competition for a CN Canadian Women’s Tour event. 

After the Squamish event, the tour will head to Club de golf Beloeil for the second event, June 13-15 in Beloeil, Que. 

The final event takes place June 27-29 at Blue Springs Golf Club in Acton, Ont.

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