Richardson Takes Eight Shot Lead Into Final Round of Argus Audiology NB Ladies Provincials
Ladies Amateur Results – Click Here
Ladies Senior Results – Click Here
Ladies Super-Senior Results – Click Here
For Final Round Pairings & Tee Times – Click Here
By Golf NB
Building on an excellent first round, Leanne Richardson of the Country Meadows Golf Club took one more step towards sweeping the Argus Audiology NB Ladies Amateur, Ladies Mid-Amateur and Ladies Senior titles for the second time in three years. After carding a one over par (+1), 73, on day one, the four-time NB Ladies Amateur (2010, 2013, 2014, 2017) and Senior Champion (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018) would keep the momentum going with the best front nine of day two, a one under par (-1), 35. Richardson would use her trademark constant ball striking to stay trouble free and card her another bogey free front nine. A birdie on the par five 5th would extend her lead to six shots over Kathy Grebenc of the Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club, who’s lone bogey on the par five 9th would see her make the turn in a one over par (+1), 37.
The pair would continue their solid play on the back nine as Richardson would card 9 consecutive pars to close the day with a tournament low round of one under par (-1), 71, and a 36 hole total of even par (E), 144. Grebenc on the other hand would card back to back bogeys, on the 12th and 13th, before running the table with pars of her own to conclude day two with a more then respectable three over par (+3) round of 75, and a two-day total of 152, eight shots off of Richardson’s pace.
The Rockwood Park Golf Course’s Pam Cossey continues to hold down third position in the NB Ladies Amateur, Mid-Amateur & Senior competitions after her second round three over par (+3), 75. Cossey’s round consisted of a bogey and a birdie on the front nine and three more bogeys on the back to see her enter the clubhouse in solo third with a two-day total of 153. The Fredericton Golf Club’s Mary Walton-Rossignol sits alone in fourth position with a two-day total of 162 while the Moncton Golf & Country Club’s Andrea Boucher, Molly MacDermaid of Gowan Brae and the Fox Creek Golf Club’s Julie Gauvin are locked in a three way tie for 5th at 163.
In the Super-Senior Division (60+ years of age) Grebenc continues to hold down top spot, one shot clear of Cossey and ten ahead of Walton-Rossignol. Sharon Case (+21 / 165) of the Miramichi Golf & Country Club continues to hold down fourth spot in the Super Senior Division while Raymonde Boudreau of the host Golf Pokemouche moved into solo fifth following her second round 83 (167 total).
In the battle for Low Net of the field, Pam Cossey moved up four positions on day two into top spot after a second round 8 under (-8), 64, that consisted of eight net birdies and 10 net pars. Cossey’s two-day net total of 131 is two shots better then Marie-Paule Martin of the Pine Needles Golf & Country Club. Marie-Paule would shoot a spectacular 11 under par (-11), net 61, in a second round that consisted of 5 net eagles, 4 net birdies and 3 net bogeys, to jump into contention for the overall net championship. Tied for third position with 10 under par (-10), total of 134 are Alexandra Guitard of Royal Oaks Golf Club and Leanne Richardson, while Jocelyn Keirstead of the Woodstock Golf & Curling Club and Raymonde Boudreau sit tied for 4th at 9 under par (-9), net 135.
The top three finishers in both the NB Ladies Amateur and NB Ladies Senior divisions, along with the low Ladies Mid-Amateur competitor, will earn the opportunity to represent New Brunswick as part of Team NB at the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, to be played at Red Deer Golf & Country Club in Red Deer Alberta from July 23 to 26, 2019 and the Canadian Women`s Mid-Senior Championship, to be held at the Osoyoos Golf Club (Park Meadows Course), Osoyoos, BC from August 18 to 20, 2019.
The third round the 2019 Argus Audiology NB Ladies Provincials will get under way at 8:00am on Tuesday July 9th off of the 1st and 10th tees.
In addition to their support of the 2019 NB Ladies Provincials, Argus Audiology is also the title sponsor of the Argus Audiology NB Men’s Senior & Mid-Master Championships which will be held July 22-24 at the Aroostook Valley Country Club in Four Falls, the Golf NB Annual Awards Banquet and Silent Auction on October 19 in Fredericton and the 2019 Golf NB Competitive Golf Season.
- For more information or to register for the 2019 Argus Audiology NB Ladies Provincial Championships please CLICK HERE.
- For more information on Golf Pokemouche pleaseCLICK HERE.
Rules of Golf: Leaving the flagstick in
There is no longer a penalty for hitting the flagstick that is in the hole when you’ve played your stroke from off the putting green or if you’ve played your stroke from on the green.
Visit golfcanada.ca/rules to learn more.
Rules of Golf: Repairing damage on putting green
You or anyone else are now allowed to repair almost any damage on the putting green.
Visit golfcanada.ca/rules to learn more.
Ross wins the MCT Men’s Amateur Championship
This marks Ross’s second win on Nova Scotia soil. Ross won the 2017 Future Links Atlantic at Clare Golf Club. This win was just weeks before he won the 2017 Canadian Junior Championship.
“Today there was a little more pressure and I felt it on the front nine. I got suited coming down the back. I was able to get it done and I finished pretty strong.” said Ross following his round. “The course is in unbelievable shape. I know a-lot of guys from Nova Scotia that I grew up competing against. It was great to be here and compete against them in their home province.”
Ross is heading back to New Brunswick to compete in the Golf NB Men’s Amateur next week.
Two time NSGA Amateur Champion, Dave Williamson of the Ashburn Golf Club finished second overall and six strokes behind Ross. “In a weird twist of fate, I lost to a young man from New Brunswick. Over a decade ago (2008) I won my first men’s championship at Lingan and then traveled to New Brunswick where I won the Golf NB Amateur in the same year. I hope Calvin can do the same when he returns home next week.” said Williamson after the round.
Representing Team Nova Scotia at the upcoming Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship is Dave Williamson, Brett McKinnon and Kevin George. The three-man team will compete as part of the Willingdon Cup Interprovincial Competition at the Canadian Amateur next month in Halifax at the Glen Arbour Golf Club and Links of Brunello in Halifax on August 5-8.
Below are the competitors who have qualified for the 2019 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.
Kevin Scott, Abercrombie
For a complete list of results from the 2019 MCT Men’s Amateur Championship please CLICK HERE
Richardson Jumps Out to Early Lead at Argus Audiology NB Ladies Provincials
Ladies Amateur Results – Click Here
Ladies Senior Results – Click Here
Ladies Super-Senior Results – Click Here
For Round 2 Pairings & Tee Times – Click Here
For Immediate Release:
Golf Pokemouche is the location of Golf NB’s 2019 celebration of women’s golf, as 82 of the provinces top female golfers competing, for four different provincial titles, in the 85th playing of the Argus Audiology NB Ladies Provincials.
With breezy conditions adding an additional challenge to Golf Pokemcouche`s already narrow and tree lined 5,168 yard layout it was four time NB Ladies Amateur Champion and two time defending NB Ladies Senior Champion Leanne Richardson of the Country Meadows Golf Club leading the way after carding a smooth one over par (+1) 73, courtesy of some excellent golf that consisted of 17 pars and a single bogey at the par five 12th.
Kathy Grebenc – Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club
In second position is another perennial favorite, Kathy Grebenc of the Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club. The five time NB Ladies Senior Champion, and defending NB Ladies Super Senior Champion, would make the turn in a one over par (+1) 37, courtesy of birdies on the par four 2nd and the par three 6th off set by bogeys at the 3rd, 4th and 9th. Four more bogeys on her inward nine would see Grebenc card a first round five over par (+5), 77, to sit four back of Richardson, but well within striking distance.
The Rockwood Park Golf Course’s Pam Cossey and 2019 NB Junior Girls Team member Julie Gauvin of the Fox Creek Golf Course hold down third position through 18 holes. The pair would fire six over par (+6) 78’s on day one to sit five shots off the lead entering Monday’s second round. Doreen Vienneau of the Pine Needles Golf & Country Club completes the top five positions after carding a first round 7 over par (+7), 79.
Richardson, Grebenc and Cossey are also holding down the top three spots in the race to become the 2019 Argus Audiology NB Ladies Senior Champion, with Andrea Boucher (82 / +10) of the Moncton Golf & Country Club and Brenda Parrott (83 / +11) of Gowan Brae rounding out the top five positions.
In the Super-Senior Division (60+ years of age) it is Grebenc holding a narrow one shot lead over Cossey, with Parrott in third six shots off the lead, while the Fredericton Golf Club’s Mary Walton-Rossignol and Miramichi Golf & Country Club’s Sharon Case sit seven shots off the lead in a tie for fourth position after posting opening rounds of 84’s.
Doreen Vienneau – Pine Needles Golf & Country Club
In addition to her position in the top five of the overall competition, Doreen Vienneau also takes a three shot lead in the Overall Net category into Monday’s second round. Vienneau would card a net five under par 31 on the front nine, a score that included two net bogeys, three net birdies and two net eagles. She would continue her solid play on the back carding four more net birdies on route to her first round net 9 under par (-9) 63. Second low net is Jeanette Pickles of the Lakeside Golf & Country Club. Like Vienneau, Pickles would card a five under par (-5), net 31 on her outward nine holes, courtesy of net eagles at the 3rd, 6th and 9th, along with one net birdie and two net bogeys. Pickles would stay on the back nine with four consecutive net birdies from #10 through #13 before bogeys at #17 and #18 would limit her success to an inward two under par (-2), net 34 and a round one total of seven under par (-7), net 65.
Alone in third low net is Darlene Comeau of the Lakeside Golf & Country Club. Comeau`s six under par (-6) front nine included three net birdies, two net eagles and two net bogeys on #8 and #9, to make the turn in a net 30. Unfortunately Comeau’s struggles that started at the 8th would continue with a net double bogey at the 11th before righting the ship with net birdies on the 14th, 16th & 17th before closing with another net bogey on #18 to card an even par net 36 on the back nine, and a six under par (-6) net 66 overall.
The top three finishers in both the NB Ladies Amateur and NB Ladies Senior divisions, along with the low Ladies Mid-Amateur competitor, will earn the opportunity to represent New Brunswick as part of Team NB at the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, to be played at Red Deer Golf & Country Club in Red Deer Alberta from July 23 to 26, 2019 and the Canadian Women`s Mid-Senior Championship, to be held at the Osoyoos Golf Club (Park Meadows Course), Osoyoos, BC from August 18 to 20, 2019.
The second round the 2019 Argus Audiology NB Ladies Provincials will get under way at 7:30am on Monday July 8th.
In addition to their support of the 2019 NB Ladies Provincials, Argus Audiology is also the title sponsor of the Argus Audiology NB Men’s Senior & Mid-Master Championships which will be held July 22-24 at the Aroostook Valley Country Club in Four Falls, the Golf NB Annual Awards Banquet and Silent Auction on October 19 in Fredericton and the 2019 Golf NB Competitive Golf Season.
- For more information or to register for the 2019 Argus Audiology NB Ladies Provincial Championships please CLICK HERE.
- For more information on Golf Pokemouche pleaseCLICK HERE.
Golf New Brunswick (Golf NB), a not for profit organization founded in 1934, is the official governing body for amateur golf in New Brunswick. In January of 2006, the New Brunswick Golf Association (NBGA) officially merged with the New Brunswick Ladies Golf Association (NBLGA), resulting in one united governing body for amateur golf in the province. Programs offered by Golf NB to its 8,000 members include: 12 provincial events, rules of golf education, course rating and handicap services, junior golf development programs and member club marketing initiatives.
Argus Audiology is a family owned and operated hearing service centre. We employ bilingual audiologists, hearing aid practitioners and technicians at our New Brunswick centres. Argus Audiology has been proudly serving Southern New Brunswick since 1978 and now has 4 convenient locations working in a collaborative culture.
The Baker Sisters, Ives and Arsenault Hold to Their Leads to Win NB Provincial Golf Titles
by Bari Gourley – Golf NB
For Immediate Release:
The sun came out and the day got a little warm for the 58 players in the final round of the NB Junior Championships. The last day saw the front-runners from Day 2 hold on to their leads to become NB Champions in their respective divisions. Haley Baker and her sister Abby who represent the Ashburn Golf Club in Nova Scotia swept all 4 girls titles. Haley started the day with a 5-shot lead over younger sister, Abby, and an 8-shot lead over Julie Gauvin from Fox Creek Golf Club. Haley had a great front nine with birdies on holes #4 and #6 and a bogey sandwiched in there for a 1-under par 36. Abby managed a birdie on hole #6 but had three bogeys and a double to make the turn with a 41. The Baker girls then seemed to switch their front-nine play as Haley had 6 bogeys and shot 41 for a 77 and a 3-day total of 235. Abby wasn’t pleased with her front nine and turned on the back burners. With 2 birdies and 3 bogeys on the back nine she fired a 1-over par 36 and made up those 5 shots on her sister to also finish with a 77 and a 240 total. Haley defended her title as NB Junior Girl’s Champion and Abby captured both the Girl’s Bantam and Juvenile Divisions. Mackenzie Scott who plays out of Kingswood also shot a 77 on the day and moved up to 3rd place followed by Sarah Holt, who has been fighting a fever all tournament, who shot an 83. 1st Low Net honours for the Girl’s Division goes to Alexandra Guitard, who shot a three day low net of -16, 200.
The NB Junior and Juvenile Boys titles were fought for all round as the leaderboard was bunched up all 18 with 4 boys (Pierre Luc Arsenault, Nick Ritchie, Felix Boucher, Daniel Kirby) all fighting to come out on top. Pierre-Luc Arsenault who plays out of Le Club de Golf St-Ignace held on at the end of the day to win both the Junior and Juvenile titles with a wire-to-finish. Arsenault started out hot with a birdie on the 1st hole but it was matched by Felix Boucher of Fox Creek Golf Club, while Ritchie from the host club, (Hampton) had a par. Arsenault then bogeyed holes #2 and #3 while Boucher and Ritchie had pars and just like that, there were three tied for the lead! It stayed tied until Ritchie fell one back on the 5th hole and then Boucher bogeyed the par 6, hole #6 to give Arsenault a 1-shot lead again after 6. Arsenault parred the rest of the holes on the front but both Boucher and Ritchie bogeyed #8 and # 9 to give Arsenault some breathing room with a 2-shot lead over Ritchie and a 4-shot lead over Boucher. On the back nine Ritchie had 4 bogeys with his 6 pars to fall back a little with a 231 total when finished. Boucher righted the ship and scored 7 straight pars, to apply some pressure to Arsenault who had 4 bogeys on the back nine on holes #12, #13, #16 and # 17. Boucher also bogeyed the 17th hole which made the boys tied with one hole left. Arsenault sealed the deal with a birdie on the final hole of the tournament to shoot a 76 and a 3-day total of 227 in front of the nice-size gallery. Boucher managed a par on that hole and finished one shot back after his 75 gave him a 228 total. It was an exciting finish for both players and Arsenault got to lift two trophies after the round.
In the Boys Bantam Division, Nova Scotia native Gavin Ives, of the Ashburn Golf Club, led wire-to-wire and finished with a total of 247 after shooting scores of 84, 80, and 83. Ives has had a successful two weeks as he won the East Coast Bantam Boys’ title last week at Covered Bridge Golf & Country Club. Next week, he will play in his home province to try to win their Bantam title there. Good luck Gavin and thanks for bringing your play to NB. Claiming the runner-up position was Gowan Brae’s Golf & Country Club’s Nicholas Colton who shot consistent scores of 88, 88, 89 to finish 18 shots back of Ives. The Low net division winner was Jacob Rockwood of the home club Hampton Golf Club with a three-day net total of 9, 225.
The day doesn’t end there as this tournament acts as the qualifier of the Canadian Junior Championships where 3 boys and 3 girls (as well as an alternate for each team) will represent New Brunswick at those championships. There was a tie for the last team spot and the alternate position between Nick Ritchie and Daniel Kirby who both finished the day with a 3-day total score of 231. Kirby, who represents JH Sports in Fredericton, struggled a bit on the front nine but was only 1-over par on a stretch of ten holes and found himself in the mix for a team position. Kirby had a 1-shot lead going into the last hole but had bogeyed the final hole to meet Ritchie in a playoff for the last team spot. In a sudden-victory playoff, the boys headed to the first hole where Kirby had a birdie to Ritchie’s par to win the team spot and Ritchie being named alternate. The team of Pierre Luc Arsenault, Felix Boucher, Daniel Kirby, alternate Nick Ritchie and Coach Louis Melanson will travel to Covered Bridge Golf & Country Club in Hartland to represent Team NB in the Canadian Junior Boys Championship August 12-15th.
The girls named to Team NB and who will compete at the Canadian Junior Girls Championship are Mackenzie Scott of Kingswood, Sarah Holt of the Gage Golf & Curling Club, Julie Gauvin of Fox Creek Golf Club and alternate Alexandra Guitard of Royal Oaks. The team along with Coach Bari Gourley will head to the Lethbridge Country Club in Lethbridge, Alberta July 30 to August 2.
It was an exciting three days at the Hampton Golf Club where 8 Pee Wee and Junior titles were won. The course is in great shape, the club staff is excellent to work with, the many volunteers were amazing and the players were extraordinary!
- For more information on the 2019 Golf NB Pee Wee & Junior Championship please CLICK HERE.
- For more information on the Hampton Golf Club please CLICK HERE.
Steeves and Costain Crowned 2019 NB Pee Wee Champions
by Bari Gourley – Golf NB
For Immediate Release:
2019 NB Pee Wee and Junior Tee Times – Round 3
After a foggy start to day 2 at the NB Junior & Pee Wee Championships, the sun started to shine and the temperature and golf started heating up at the Hampton Golf Club. First off the tee were the Pee Wee players who were playing to be named the 2019 Golf NB Pee Wee Champions. As the only Pee Wee Girl entered in the tournament it was still great to see Rachel Steeves from the Sussex Golf & Curling Club play her first Provincial Championship. Steeves enjoyed her first “major” tournament and says she is looking forward to playing in it again next season. She moves up an age bracket next year as she will be 13 years old, making her a Bantam-aged girl.
The Pee Wee Boys title was won by Morgan Costain who plays out of the Westfield Golf & Country Club after shooting a great 84 for his second round in his first Golf NB tournament. Costain started out hot as he was only 2-over par on the front nine after a birdie on the par 6 hole #6 and bogeys on holes #1, #3 and #9. He bogeyed for a few holes on the back nine but he is still talking about his “quad”, as he called it, on his final hole of the day. He ended up shooting 84 for the day and was pleased with his play. Costain had this to say, “I played really well today until my quad on the 18th. I decided to hit my ball over to the driving range on that hole. I am happy I won the tournament though. When asked if he would play in the event again next year, Costain answered, “I will be back but I will be a Bantam next year”. Coming in as Runner-Up was last year’s champion, Chase Burgess from the Petitcodiac Valley Golf & Country Club after shooting a fine 86 to finish 5 shots back after the two days. Finishing at 1st Low Net is first time Golf NB tournament competitor Tristan MacKay of Kingswood Golf & Country Club.
In the Girl’s Division the Baker sisters from NS are trying to keep all of the NB Girl’s titles that they won last year and take them back to NS again this year. Haley is still leading the junior girl’s side while Abby is leading the Juvenile and Bantam divisions. Haley was 3-over on the front nine with 3 bogies on holes #2, #7 and #8, ending the day with a 40. Other than her birdie on hole #17, she hopped on the bogey-train on the back nine for a few holes to finish with a 79. Her sister Abby to low honours of the day after firing a 77 with just 2 bogeys on the front nine combined with her 1 birdie, and 4 bogeys on the back nine. She is only 5 shots back of her sister and if she catches her she would claim all 3 girls’ titles tomorrow. Three shots back of Abby is Julie Gauvin who plays out of Fox Creek Golf Club after slipping a spot after shooting an 85 today.
On Thursday the NB Junior Girl’s Team going to the Canadian Championships in Lethbridge, Alberta will be named. It is a very close race for the 3-player team. Julie Gauvin, Mackenzie Scott, hold the first two positions but there is a tie for 3rd place with Sarah Holt from Gage Golf & Curling Club, Alexandra Guitard of Royal Oaks and Mackenzie Deveau also from Fox Creek Golf Club, still looking to grab a spot. The Baker girls cannot make the NB Team but will most likely be representing Nova Scotia after their Provincial Junior Championship next week.
In the boys, division, Pierre Luc Arsenault is still holding onto his lead in both the Juvenile and Junior Divisions. Arsenault stumbled a bit on day 2 and couldn’t find his touch on the greens. After shooting even par yesterday, he followed it up with a 79 today for a 2-day total of 151. The main difference was no birdies on day 2 after four of them in the opening round. After shooting a round of 74, Nick Ritchie, the hometown favourite, vaulted into 2nd place in both the Juvenile and Junior divisions. His round started on the back nine where he made birdies on hole #12 and #18 for a 2-under 33. His back nine contained a birdie and a bogey but the two double bogies on the back slowed him down a bit. The final tally was a 2-over par 74 leaving him just 1-shot back of Arsenault at 152. Daniel Kirby of JH Sports made a move on Day 2 after shooting a 75 with a 1-under par 36 on the front and 4 bogeys on the back for a 39. Day 1 he shot a 78 so that leaves him with a total of 153. Tied with Kirby is Felix Boucher who represents Fox Creek Golf Club who’s 76 on day 2 combined with day 1’s 77 also leaves him at 153.
Gavin Ives who plays out of the two Ashburn courses in NS is running away with the Bantam title. His scorecard had 10 pars and 8 bogeys for an 80 and a 2-day total of 164. Nicholas Colton who represents the Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club is in 2nd place and Jacob LeBlanc is currently holding down 3rd spot.
On Thursday, the NB Junior Boy’s Team going to the Canadian Championships in our own province at the Covered Bridge Golf & Country Club will be named. There are a few people vying for the 3-player team so aforementioned Pierre Luc Arsenault, Nick Ritchie, Daniel Kirby, Felix Boucher and others lurking for a spot on Team NB. Day 3 is shaping up to be a great day at the NB Junior Championship at Hampton Golf Club.
- For more information on the 2019 Golf NB Pee Wee & Junior Championship please CLICK HERE.
- For more information on the Hampton Golf Club please CLICK HERE.
Golf New Brunswick (Golf NB), a not for profit organization founded in 1934, is the official governing body for amateur golf in New Brunswick. In January of 2006, the New Brunswick Golf Association (NBGA) officially merged with the New Brunswick Ladies Golf Association (NBLGA), resulting in one united governing body for amateur golf in the province. Programs offered by Golf NB to its 8,000 members include: 12 provincial events, rules of golf education, course rating and handicap services, junior golf development programs and member club marketing initiatives.
Rules of Golf: Penalty area
The term penalty area has been introduced and will replace areas previously known as water hazards.
Visit golfcanada.ca/rules to learn more.
Austin Connelly becomes third Canadian to book British Open ticket
SANDWICH, England – A third Canadian has earned a spot in the British Open.
Canadian-American dual citizen Austin Connelly of Lake Doucette, N.S., shot 8-under 136 over two rounds on Tuesday at Prince’s Golf Club to earn the third and final spot in the golf major at the qualifier.
The 22-year-old, who grew up in Texas, finished one stroke behind Curtis Knipes and Callum Shinkwin.
Connelly, who has conditional status on the European Tour, will join Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., and Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., July 18-21 at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland.
Connelly, who is scheduled to represent Canada at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru later this summer, is in the British Open for the second time in three years. He finished tied for 14th at the tournament in 2017 after falling out of contention on the final day.
Brooke Henderson welcomes stiff competition at CP Women’s Open
AURORA, Ont. – When she was just 10 years old, Brooke Henderson’s dad Dave took her to an LPGA event where she briefly met her idol Morgan Pressel. Pressel spoke to Henderson about her golf game, took a picture and autographed her shirt.
Weeks later, they met again at the CP Women’s– Open at the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club. Pressel remembered Brooke Henderson’s name, a moment the young Canadian still treasures.
Now 21-years old, ranked No. 8 in the world, and with the most wins in Canadian pro golf history, Henderson sees it as her responsibility to create memories for her young fans like Pressel did for her.
“When I first met her, she spent that little bit of extra time with me, signed my shirt, took a picture with me, it was just a really incredible moment that I’ll remember forever,” said Henderson on Tuesday. “I think now I’m just trying to pay that forward to every little kid that I meet.”
Henderson will easily be the most popular player at the CP Women’s Open at Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ont., this August, and will have plenty of opportunities to interact with her fans, most of whom are children.
“It’s really special to see those young kids, when they want my autograph or they want a picture with me it’s sort of surreal but it’s really inspiring for me,” said a beaming Henderson. “I do think that the LPGA is very approachable. We love little kids and we love spending time with them.
“I think that’s kind of what separates our tour from a lot of other major sports.”
The CP Women’s Open has not been in the Greater Toronto Area since 2001, when Annika Sorenstam won at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont. Because of Henderson’s popularity among Canadian fans and its proximity to Canada’s largest city, it’s expected that it will be one of the best attended events on the LPGA Tour’s calendar this year.
Defending champ @BrookeHenderson leads a star-studded field of early commitments to the 2019 #CPWO ??⛳️#CloserToTheGame
➡️ https://t.co/w2G0RCHkrH pic.twitter.com/uMii5HFTVU
— CP Women’s Open (@cpwomensopen) July 2, 2019
Charlottetown’s Lorie Kane, who will be playing in her 29th CP Women’s Open, thinks the timing couldn’t be better for the popularity of the sport in Canada.
“It’s time that we came back to the GTA. It’s time for women’s golf to be elevated one more level in this country,” said Kane, raising her hands for emphasis. “We all know in this room that (Henderson) is changing the way people see women’s golf in our country.
“We’ve been trending in the right direction but why do we keep saying that? We’re in a really awesome place.”
Golf Canada, the LPGA, and Canadian Pacific railways – the event’s title sponsor – announced on Tuesday that the field at the US$2.25 million tournament will include 15 of the top 20 golfers on the LPGA’s money list, and 90 of the top 100.
Henderson, the first Canadian to win the national title in 45 years, is one of seven past CP Women’s Open champions confirmed for 2019. 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) are the other past winners in the field.
Henderson welcomes the stiff competition.
“I love it. Being able to beat the best in the world is one of the best things about this sport,” said Henderson. “To tee it up and know that you are playing the best and that you have to play really, really, well and hit shots that you’ve never hit before and shoot low scores, make a ton of birdies, that’s really exciting.”