GARDEN CITY, Kansas, September 8, 2017 – Anne-Catherine Tanguay (Quebec, Canada) and Carlie Yadloczky (Casselberry, Florida) posted stellar rounds of 5-under, 67 in sustained winds of 18 miles-an-hour to share the 18-hole lead at the Garden City Charity Classic at Buffalo Dunes. Tanguay made one eagle on the day while Yadloczky made eagles on back-to-back holes. Wind was a major factor for much of the day with gusts reaching 23 miles-an-hour in the afternoon.

Six players share third place at 4-under, 68 including No. 4 on the Volvik Race for the Card money list Erynne Lee (Silverdale, Washington), No. 11 Kendall Dye (Edmond, Oklahoma) and No. 13 Sophia Popov (Heidelberg, Germany).

The first-place payout of $22,500 would go a long way in moving Tanguay, No. 8 on the money list, closer to securing her LPGA Tour card. She could move as high as fifth with a victory, which would be the first of her career.

“My ball striking was really, really solid,” said Tanguay, who made five birdies and an eagle on hole 13. “I gave myself a lot of chances to go at pins. I felt like I was at home in Norman, Oklahoma. I have to thank my coach Veronique Drouin-Luttrell for putting us through these conditions. It think it really pays off and I’m in my comfort zone here.”

Tanguay played college golf at the University of Oklahoma from 2010-2014 and posted 15 top 10 finishes. She also closed her career with the second lowest scoring average in school history.

“This was an above average windy day in Norman,” said Tanguay. “You can get out of practice in windy conditions and it has been awhile, but I stayed really focused all day and that helped me a lot.”

Tanguay hit 12 of 14 fairways and attempted only 25 putts.

“Everything was good today,” said Tanguay. “I hit it close enough to give myself a lot of birdie chances, some four-five footers for birdies, but you have to make those putts. My putter was rolling really nicely and I made a 25-footer for eagle on 13.”

In 2015, Tanguay finished in a tie for fourth in Garden City so she has good memories at Buffalo Dunes. She didn’t play last year.

“This course fits my game really well, but I’m a different player than I was two years ago so it is good to be able to test my game again,” said Tanguay. “I took some more aggressive lines and it is definitely good to know the greens.”

Tanguay started the year with five top 10 finishes in the first six events, but doesn’t have a top 10 since May. She was pleased to start strong this week.

“I feel like I’ve been playing well these last few months, but the results haven’t been there,” admitted Tanguay. “It is good for my confidence to shoot under-par and I’m really happy.”

(September 8, 2017 – Innisfil, Ont.) – St. Simon’s Island, Georgia’s Scott Wolfes shot a second consecutive 7-under 65 on Friday at National Pines Golf Club to take the second-round lead at the Ontario Championship, the 11th event of the 2017 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season.

The 24-year old made six birdies, an eagle and a bogey on the day to reach 14-under, one stroke ahead of Tampa, Florida’s Lee McCoy through two rounds at National Pines. With three top-25s this year but no top-10 finishes, the Georgia Southern grad said he hoped to turn his season around this weekend.

“It’s been a struggle this year. I know I’ve been good enough and the scores just weren’t there, and I’ve just been trying to stay patient,” said Wolfes, admitting that his year to this point hasn’t been what he had hoped for in his second Mackenzie Tour season. “Hopefully I can produce some good results this weekend. I have nothing to lose, so I’m just trying to get better and get on the Web.com Tour.”

McCoy, who was one of five co-leaders after day one, shot a 66 to sit one back heading to the weekend, crediting his round to a strong tee-to-green performance once again.

“If you told me, given those conditions, that I would be not in the lead at 13-under, I would have told you that you were wrong,” said McCoy with reverence for Wolfes’ playing. “Obviously Scott played some great golf yesterday and today, and I’m looking forward to tracking him down.”

California’s Johnny Ruiz was a stroke further behind at 12-under after a 67, while British Columbia’s Stuart Macdonald was at 11-under with a 67 of his own.

NOTES

Scott Wolfes

24-year old Scott Wolfes is making his 22nd career start on the Mackenzie Tour this week. He owns one previous top-10, when he finished T2 at the 2016 ATB Financial Classic. Wolfes ranks 55th on the Order of Merit this season thanks to three top-25 finishes, including a season-best T11 at the Players Cup. Wolfes played college golf at Georgia Southern University, where he was named an Honorable Mention All-American in 2015.

Lee McCoy

University of Georgia alum and former NCAA All-American Lee McCoy is making his 11th career start on the Mackenzie Tour. Earlier this year, he set the record for largest margin of victory during the PGA TOUR era on the Mackenzie Tour with an eight-stroke win at the Freedom 55 Financial Open. McCoy ranks sixth on the Order of Merit heading into the week. In 2016, he thrilled hometown fans in Palm Harbor, Florida by finishing solo fourth as an amateur at the Valspar Championship on the PGA TOUR.

Johnny Ruiz

23-year old Johnny Ruiz is making his 10th career start on the Mackenzie Tour. Earlier this year, he earned exempt status for the first eight events of the season with a T2 finish at the British Columbia Q-School and has since recorded three top-10 finishes, including his first Mackenzie Tour win at the Staal Foundation Open last month. Thanks to his win, Ruiz moved into second on the Mackenzie Tour Order of Merit and earned an exemption into the 2017 RBC Canadian Open. He missed the cut by one stroke. Ruiz ranks fourth on the Order of Merit heading into this week. Ruiz did not begin playing golf until age 14 and notched his first pro win at the 2016 Monterey Open.

QUOTABLES:

“I’ve definitely been waiting for it all year, for special things like that to happen that don’t happen every week. It was nice to have them happen today, but I’m going to have to make a few more putts the next couple of days. This week is do-or-die for me, so it’s just kind of pedal to the medal and whatever happens, happens.” – Riley Wheeldon on a 6-under 66 that included a hole-out eagle on No. 7 and a chip-in eagle on No. 9.

“Honestly, I had one of my best ball striking rounds I’ve had in a while and just kind of caught fire. I threw a lot of darts and had a bunch of tap-ins.” – Stuart Macdonald on a 6-under 66 that included an inward nine of 6-under 30.

Miscellaneous notes:

• Weather: 14 degrees Celsius, partly cloudy, winds at 15 km/h gusting to 22 km/h.
• Preferred lies were in effect for Round 2.

Click here for scores.

CHIBA, Japan _ Scott McCarron was in a familiar spot at the top of a PGA Tour Champions leaderboard in his first trip to Japan. California childhood rival Kevin Sutherland was close behind _ again.

Coming off his third victory in the last six tournaments, the 52-year-old McCarron shot his second straight 6-under 66 on Saturday at Narita Golf Club to take a one-stroke lead over Sutherland in the Japan Airlines Championship _ the senior tour’s first event in Japan.

“I’ve been in this position a lot as of late,” McCarron said. “I really enjoy being in this position. I get to play with Kevin Sutherland again. We’ve been making a habit out of it this last month, I think we’ve been in the final group three out of the last four weeks. We’ve been battling it out and I’m sure it will be a good battle tomorrow.”

Sutherland, tied for the first-round lead with Glen Day at 65, had a 68. Also visiting Japan for the first time, Sutherland made a 30-foot putt on the par-4 18th for his third birdie on the last four holes.

“I stayed really patient today,” Sutherland said. “I didn’t get frustrated at all. I wasn’t making any birdies and then all of a sudden you birdie three of the last four. But I think a lot of it was just early in the round I just didn’t let any sort of frustration creep in.”

The long-hitting McCarron birdied all four par 5s after birdieing three of them Friday. He saved par on 18 with a 6-footer to keep the outright lead.

“These greens are absolutely perfect,” McCarron said. “The golf course is in great shape, so we’re just having a lot of fun here.”

McCarron won the Shaw Charity Classic last week in Calgary, Alberta, to tie Bernhard Langer for the tour victory lead with four. The three-time PGA Tour winner won the Allianz Championship in February in Florida, the major Senior Players Championship in July in Maryland and the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open three weeks ago in upstate New York. He has six victories in the last two seasons on the 50-and-over tour.

“I prepared very hard to get ready for this PGA Tour Champions,” McCarron said. “I knew how good these guys were and I wanted to get my game in the best shape that I could possibly be in. I’m starting to reap some of those rewards from all that hard work. But it’s just been a lot of fun for me. That’s the biggest thing I think why I’m playing well, I’m really enjoying it out here.”

The 53-year-old Sutherland has five straight top-10 finishes. He was second in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open and tied for third in Calgary to remain winless on the tour. His lone PGA Tour victory came at McCarron’s expense in 2002 at La Costa in the Accenture Match Play Championship, when he beat the fellow Sacramento, California-area player 1 up in the 36-hole final.

“I felt like I drove the ball a lot better today, which is a good sign for tomorrow,” said Sutherland, the only player to shoot 59 in tour history.

Todd Hamilton, the 2004 British Open champion and an 11-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, was three strokes back at 9 under along with Colin Montgomerie and Carlos Franco. Hamilton birdied the last two holes and five of the last seven for a 65.

“I figured I would see some people I hadn’t seen for a while, which I have,” Hamilton said. “The Japanese people are very good hosts and I think we’ve been treated to a very good week.”

Montgomerie had a 66, and Franco shot 68.

“The greens were most difficult today,” Montgomerie said. “They were quicker and the pins were on more slopes than they were yesterday, so it was harder.”

Jeff Sluman birdied the last four holes for 66 to match Paul Goydos (69), Stephen Ames (67) and Wes Short Jr. (69) at 8 under. Goydos won the 3M Championship last month in Minnesota.

Day was another stroke back after a 72.

Ames’ second round 5 under 67 has him 8 under through 36 holes, four shots off the lead. Fellow Canadian Rod Spittle sits T14 at 6 under.

Massy Kuramoto topped the six Japanese players in the field at 5 under after a 72.

Fan favourite John Daly closed with a double bogey for a 73 that left him 2 under. Tom Watson, at 68 the oldest player in the field, was 1 under after a 73.

(September 7, 2017 – Innisfil, Ont.) – Murray, Kentucky’s Patrick Newcomb, Camarillo, California’s Johnny Ruiz, Tampa, Florida’s Lee McCoy, St. Simon’s Island, Georgia’s Scott Wolfes, and Raleigh, North Carolina’s Carter Jenkins each shot rounds of 7-under 65 on Thursday at National Pines Golf Club to share the first round lead at the Ontario Championship, the 11th event of the 2017 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season.

The quintet finished the day one stroke ahead of six players at 6-under 66, with 21 players within two strokes of the lead after Thursday’s play.

Newcomb, the winner last week at the Cape Breton Open, was bogey-free on the day with seven birdies and said he was even better on the greens than during his three-stroke victory last week.

“I holed a couple of putts today that I haven’t been holing, even last week, so it was good. I hit 17 greens today and just had no stress, and I almost chipped in on the one I missed, so it was a nice, easy day,” said Newcomb.

Ruiz, a winner earlier this year at the Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel, birdied three of his last four to reach 7-under and said he was comfortable on this week’s course, which was designed by Tom McBroom – the same designer as Whitewater Golf Club, where he captured his win in Thunder Bay.

“The course really suits my eye. If I can keep it in the fairway and hit a couple of irons close, I can play really well this week. It’s a matter of hitting them close and making a few putts here and there,” said Ruiz.

McCoy, who also owns a win earlier this year at the Freedom 55 Financial Open, said a great day tee-to-green led him to his 7-under 65 despite minimal help from a cold putter.

“My ball striking was awesome. Most of my birdies were tap-ins, and I didn’t really make any putts, which has kind of been the trend lately. I did have a couple of holes where it felt a little bit better, so I’m starting to feel a little bit more comfortable and am just working the kinks out on some of the shorter ones,” said McCoy.

Wolfes and Jenkins each birdied their final holes of the day to share the lead, one ahead of Kentucky’s Hunter Stewart, Missouri’s John Kelly, Oklahoma’s Max McGreevy, Texas’ Brian Dwyer, Georgia’s Greyson Sigg and England’s Charlie Bull.

Miscellaneous notes:

• Weather: 14 degrees Celsius, cloudy with showers, winds at 9 km/h gusting to 14 km/h.
• Preferred lies were in effect for Round 1.
• Jared du Toit, Sebastian Szirmak and Stuart Macdonald were tied for low Canadian after opening with a trio of 5-under 67s
• Click here for scores.

INDIANAPOLIS _ Lexi Thompson shot a 9-under 63 on Thursday to take a one-shot lead over Sandra Gal and Kris Tamulis in the LPGA Tour’s inaugural Indy Women in Tech Championship.

Thompson had 11 birdies and two bogeys to fall a stroke short of the Brickyard Crossing record set by Mike McCullough in the PGA Tour Champions’ 1999 Comfort Classic.

“It was quite the early morning, so it was a bit cold on the range and struggled a bit on the range, but I just hit a few good drivers at the end,” Thompson said. “I just committed to one thing going into the round and I think that’s what made my day a lot easier on me. I just stuck to my routine and committed to my golf shots.”

Gal, like Thompson, started her morning round on the back nine that features four holes inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Gal hit 12 of 14 fairways in regulation in her bogey-free round.

“It’s cool, it’s funky. I really do like the course,” Gal said. “I think it has really good challenges off the tee and the greens, and it’s cool being inside the track. It gets a little bit windy in there actually. It’s just so big, it’s unbelievable to be in there.”

Tamulis had the best afternoon score with four birdies on each side.

“I think actually just worrying about the hurricane makes me feel like golf’s not a big deal, so I just hit it where I was looking, made some putts,” said Tamulis, who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Thompson, the 22-year-old Florida player ranked No. 3 in the world, tied for 21st last week in Portland, Oregon, in her first event since the Solheim Cup _ where she overcame a big deficit in her closing singles match against Anna Nordqvist to earn a half-point for the winning Americans.

“I would say that round definitely gave me the confidence that I can make those birdies if I just let it go and fire at pins and commit to my shots and don’t doubt it,” Thompson said. “That’s how golf is. Golf is a lot about confidence and just committing to yourself and believing in yourself, something I’m learning along the way.”

Taking advantage of the wide fairways and forgiving greens softened by overnight rain, Thompson birdied three of the first five holes. She has seven birdies and a bogey in an eight-hole stretch from No. 17 to No. 6, and rebounded from a bogey on No. 8 with a birdie on No. 9.

“It was just two really bad iron shots and just ended up bogeying,” Thompson said. “But for the most part, I hit it great. Just hit a few bad shots with the bogeys, but I’m definitely not complaining.”

She won at Kingsmill in May for her eighth career victory.

The 32-year-old Gal needed a little more time to get started. After opening with five straight pars, the German player birdied six of the next seven holes and closed with two more birdies at Nos. 5 and 9.

“I’ve been feeling like my game’s been pretty good the last couple months, but I just haven’t been scoring, so everything just came together,” Gal said. “I think I also had a good attitude. I felt like I enjoyed it a little bit more out there.”

Lydia Ko, winless in more than a year, was two shot back at 65 along with Moriya Jutanugarn.

“It’s nice to get off to a really solid start,” Ko said. “I’ve been struggling the last few months, so it’s nice to be able to put myself in a different rhythm. And I was with a really good group with Anna and Stacy (Lewis). Obviously, Stacy winning last week, it’s really nice to play alongside them.”

Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Amy Olsonshot 66, and Cristie Kerr and Brooke Henderson topped the group at 67.

“It’s so different than every other golf course that we get to play,” Henderson said. “It’s in amazing condition and it really makes you think all the way around, which I think is good for my game.”

Lewis opened with a 72. The Houston player donated her winnings last week in Portland to hurricane relief efforts in her hometown area.

Nordqvist had a 74.

Danielle Kang tried to play through a leg infection, but withdrew before finishing the round.

The 54-hole event ends Saturday.

OTTAWA (Golf Canada) – The final four spots into the 2017 CP Women’s Open field will be determined Monday, as the Final Qualifier is set for Camelot Golf and Country Club.

A total of 32 competitors will challenge for one of four spots into the field for Canada’s National Women’s Open Golf Championship.

The Final Qualifier features 18 holes of stroke play with the low four competitors receiving an exemption into the 2017 CP Women’s Open field.  If necessary, a hole-by-hole playoff will be conducted immediately following the conclusion of play.

Click here for pairings, start times and results from Final Qualifying on Monday, August 21. Results will be available as players complete their rounds.

Tournament week for the 2017 CP Women’s Open kicks off Monday, August 21 at Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club. In addition to practice rounds in the morning, the Brooke & Friends Pro-Am gets underway with a shotgun start at 1:30pm. Sixteen teams will tee it up alongside Canadian sensation Brooke Henderson and fellow LPGA Tour stars with proceeds benefiting the Golf Canada Foundation and the Henderson Family Foundation. Click here for a list of players taking part in the inaugural Brooke & Friends Pro-Am.

For the third year in a row, WestJet raised funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Canada at the RBC Canadian Open.

Have you ever wondered what hundreds of mini balls look like soaring onto the 18th green? Now you don’t have to. Watch below to find out how the day unfolded.

Want to learn more? Visit: https://blog.westjet.com/turning-a-toonie-into-round-trip-flights-for-two/

Oakville, ON – For the second year, the RBC Canadian Open 5K Golf Run officially kicked off RBC Canadian Open tournament week at Glen Abbey Golf Club, running the tournament ready holes at the championship course, just days before the golf professionals. A total of 522 participants took part, surpassing 2016’s total of 361.

“It is very special to be able to put on an event that combines the love for running, walking and golf, and to be able to do it as part of the RBC Canadian Open is remarkable,” said Elliott Kerr, President of Landmark Sport Group Inc., the organizers of the RBC Canadian Open 5K Golf Run.

Runners, walkers and golf enthusiasts gathered near the first tee of the championship course to mark the beginning of their journey through the PGA TOUR ready course, finishing alongside the iconic 18^th green.

“The RBC Canadian Open 5K Golf Run once again proved to be a huge hit with runners and golf fans,” said Brent McLaughlin, RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director. “It is a great way to kick off Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship.”

Participants were treated to experiencing Glen Abbey set up for the RBC Canadian Open, before the pros arrive to compete in the tournament, beginning Monday, July 24^th. The fun continued post-race at the Coors Light Beer Garden, where participants and spectators were invited to enjoy beverages and watch the third round of the British Open live on large television screens. The RBC Canadian Open Trophy was also available for photos.

“We are extremely pleased with the turnout for the second year of this event,” said Brody Coles, Race Director. “People are attracted to the uniqueness of the event, as it isn’t your typical race. The atmosphere of being at Glen Abbey just prior to a PGA TOUR Tournament begins is truly exciting.”

On a competitive note, Connor Hammond, Oakville and Rebecca Kowalenko, Toronto finished first overall in the male and female categories, with respective times of 17:40 and 20:06. All participants received a finisher’s medal upon crossing the finish line, with additional prizes handed to top finishers in each age and gender category. Each participant also received a complimentary “any single day” ticket to the RBC Canadian Open, earning the chance to watch their favourite golfers compete on the same course they completed their run through. Glen Cairn Golf Club won the Golf Club Championship by having the most club members registered for the event, and each registered member received an upgraded pass to Golf Canada House Powered by Boston Pizza.

For more information, visit www.golfrun.ca.

Golf Canada and RBC are pleased to announce the final field of competitors vying for the US$6.0 million purse at the 2017 RBC Canadian Open, July 24-30 at Glen Abbey Golf Club.

World no. 1 Dustin Johnson will be challenged by a stellar field of PGA TOUR stars including world No. 18 Matt Kuchar, two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson, two-time RBC Canadian Open champion Jim Furyk, world No. 33 and 2013 RBC Canadian Open champion Brandt Snedeker, three-time PGA TOUR winners Ryan Palmer and Graeme McDowell, as well as World Golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els.

Other notable additions to the field for the 108^th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship include defending champion Jhonattan Vegas, Ian Poulter, 34-time PGA TOUR winner Vijay Singh, eight-time winner K.J. Choi, six-time winner Hunter Mahan, world No. 28 Kevin Chappell, world No. 39 Charley Hoffman, world no. 48 Gary Woodland and rising-star Tony Finau, who sits 27^th on the FedEx Cup Point Standings.

“The field is nearly set and we’re ready to tee-up the 108^th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship starting next week at Glen Abbey Golf Club,” said Tournament Director Brent McLaughlin. “It’s a big year for Canada celebrating 150 years and with a tremendous mix of international stars and the deepest field of Canadian talent ever, we couldn’t be more thrilled to treat fans to a world-class showcase of golf steeped in Canadiana.”

In total, 156 players will compete for the US$6.0 million purse next week in Oakville when Canada’s National Open Championship returns to Glen Abbey for a record 29^th time.

Past Champions….

Defending champion Jhonattan Vegas will be joined by seven other former champions including Team RBC members Brandt Snedeker – who won in 2013 at Glen Abbey Golf Club – and Jim Furyk who claimed back-to-back championships in 2006 and 2007. Other confirmed past champions include Scott Piercy (2012), Sean O’Hair (2011), Carl Pettersson (2010), Chez Reavie (2008) and Vijay Singh (2004).

PGA Tour In-Year Winners….

A total of nine in-year PGA Tour winners will compete at Glen Abbey including Cody Gribble, Mackenzie Hughes, Harris English, Matt Kuchar, Hudson Swafford, Dustin Johnson, Adam Hadwin, D.A. Points and Kevin Chappell.

13 Canadians to compete for National Men’s Open Title….

World no. 54 Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., will lead a 13-member Canadian contingent into Canada’s national Open championship. The 29-year old is in the midst of his finest season with a win at the Valpsar Championship and a 59 at the CareerBuilder Challenge. Hadwin will be joined by fellow recent PGA TOUR winners Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont. and Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. as well fellow Canadian fan favourites Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., Brad Fritsch of Manotick, Ont. and Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Mike Weir of Bright’s Grove, Ont.

Other Canadians confirmed include Jared du Toit, the 22-year old Team Canada member played in the final pairing at the 2016 RBC Canadian Open. The Calgary native returns to Glen Abbey as a professional hoping to recapture the magic that made him the story of last year’s championship.  Team Canada National Amateur Squad members Hugo Bernard of Mont St-Hilaire, Que., the reigning Canadian Men’s Amateur champion along with Austin James of Bath, Ont., will also compete.

Former Team Canada member Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont., has earned his third consecutive RBC Canadian Open exemption by winning his third straight Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship. PGA of Canada professional Bryn Parry of Vancouver earned his way into the 2017 RBC Canadian Open by claiming the No. 1 position on the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC, while former Team Canada member Matt Hill of Brights Grove, Ont., won the 144-player Ontario Regional Qualifier to earn an exemption.

The Canadians in the field have their sights set on becoming the first Canadian to capture the national title since Pat Fletcher claimed victory in 1954.

Final Tournament Exemptions to be Named…

The top three players on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada Order of Merit following this weekend’s Mackenzie Investments Open in Mirabel, Que. will earn exemptions into the field for the 2017 RBC Canadian Open.

The final four exemptions into the field for the 2017 RBC Canadian Open will be handed out at the Monday Final Qualifier on July 24 to be played at Heron Point Golf Links near Ancaster, Ont.

Click here for the full list of competitors competing in the 2017 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club from July 24-30.

TICKETS:

Grounds tickets for all days of the 2017 RBC Canadian Open, as well as, a limited number of premium ticket packages are still available. A full list of ticket packages and pricing is available online at www.rbccanadianopen.com/tickets.

Golf Canada and RBC are also pleased to offer FREE admission to juniors 17 and younger—Click here to download a FREE Junior Pass.

For the first time, Saskatchewan will play host to a major LPGA Tour event as Golf Canada and Canadian Pacific (CP) have announced the 2018 CP Women’s Open will head to Regina’s Wascana Country Club from August 20-26, 2018.

“We are very excited to bring the CP Women’s Open to Regina and the province of Saskatchewan in 2018,” said Tournament Director Brent McLaughlin. “Saskatchewan is a tremendous golf community and we are confident Wascana Country Club will be a fitting test to challenge the world’s best women’s golfers.”

Through its CP Has Heart campaign, CP will once again be making a significant charitable donation within the host community. In its first three years of title sponsorship, from 2014-2016, the campaign has raised over $4.5 million in host communities.

“We are proud to be part of such a high-profile event on the LPGA Tour and are excited to bring the tournament to Saskatchewan, an integral province within our rail network,” said Martin Cej, Assistant Vice-President of Public Affairs and Communications for CP.  “In coordination with our CP Has Heart campaign, we look forward to leaving a significant charitable legacy in the Regina community.”

After a three-year recruiting process, Wascana Country Club finally earned its opportunity to host the stars of the LPGA Tour after originally submitting a bid back in 2014. The club is one of only four private golf courses in a province that counts 206 total facilities.

“We are delighted to have been chosen to host the prestigious 2018 CP Women’s Open, as this will be a chance for us to show the world what the city of Regina has to offer,” said Michael Fougere, Mayor of Regina.

The Wascana Country Club has welcomed more than 30 notable championships since its founding in 1911, including the PGA of Canada Championship in 1992; the Saskatchewan Men’s Amateur Golf Championship six times, most recently in 2005; and the Saskatchewan Women’s Amateur Golf Championship 10 times between 1915 and 1990. The 18-hole championship course set in the wetlands of Saskatchewan will also play host to the 2017 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship later this summer in August.

“Our board of directors, members and staff are truly excited about hosting this most prestigious event,” said Greg Dukart, Chief Executive Officer of Wascana Country Club. “Our venue is ready and our championship golf course will provide a memorable and unique examination to the world’s greatest female golfers. We are looking forward to being part of the great history of the CP Women’s Open.”

Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship has traditionally featured one of the strongest fields on the LPGA Tour vying for a total purse of $2.25 million USD, one of the largest purses on tour. The CP Women’s Open welcomes the top players on the LPGA Tour including CP golf ambassadors Brooke Henderson and Lorie Kane and fellow Canadian Alena Sharp, along with past champions and LPGA stars such as Lydia Ko, Ariya Jutanugarn, So Yeon Ryu, Suzann Pettersen and Michele Wie.

“The Greater Regina Area is emerging as one of the best places in Canada to host an event, convention or trade show. Our unique assets and attractions combine to create what we call, the Regina Advantage. The 2018 CP Women’s Open Championship will help showcase Regina and all we have to offer to a world-wide audience,” said John Lee, President & CEO of Economic Development Regina. “

First conducted in 1973, Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship has allowed the brightest stars of the LPGA Tour to shine on Canadian soil and to inspire the nation’s next generation of female golfers.

As part of ongoing Canada 150 celebrations, Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club will host the 2017 edition of the CP Women’s Open later this summer in Canada’s capital.

Information regarding tickets, volunteer opportunities and corporate hospitality for the CP Women’s Open can be found at www.cpwomensopen.com.