AURORA, Ont. – Brooke Henderson remembers being rather star-struck when she made her first appearance at the CP Women’s Open.

It’s a feeling that fellow Canadian Michelle Liu is experiencing herself this week at the Magna Golf Club.

Henderson played in the 2012 tournament in Coquitlam, B.C., at age 14, about two years older than Liu is now. She recalled her friendship with fellow Canadian Alena Sharp taking root at that event and also being stunned that four-time LPGA Tour winner Lorie Kane knew who she was.

Henderson called her two-round appearance at the Vancouver Golf Club a life-changing experience filled with memorable moments.

“Just walking around the clubhouse with the best players in the world when you’re 14 years old and trying not to ask for autographs,” she said with a smile. “I think (that) was probably the hardest thing.”

Now Henderson, the defending champion and a nine-time winner on the LPGA Tour, is one of the star players that juniors like Liu are excited to meet.

Liu chatted with Henderson on the driving range Monday and played practice rounds with Christina Kim, M.J. Hur and Daniela Darquea. The Vancouver amateur earned a spot in the field by finishing as the low Canadian at the 2019 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.

“She seems very nice, a very sweet girl,” Henderson said. “It’s pretty cool that she got an invite to play here.”

Liu will be 12 years nine months and six days old when first-round play begins Thursday, making her the youngest golfer to play in the 47-year history of Canada’s national women’s championship.

“I’d definitely say crazy is a good word for it,” Liu said of the experience so far. “I would say I’ve got to play with some really nice and really good LPGA players. Christina Kim, M.J., and all of them.

“I think I really got to learn something from them and especially how warm and welcoming they are to me.”

Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ont., previously held the record for youngest player at this tournament.

Liu won’t be the youngest to ever play in a national championship on the LPGA Tour. American Lucy Li qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open as an 11-year-old in 2014.

Liu drew raves from Kim after they played the back nine together Monday.

“Can’t wait to watch her golf career, and her stroke is pureeeee!” Kim said in an Instagram post. “Made nearly everything she looked at!”

Liu, who took up the sport at age six, will start Grade 8 in a couple weeks. She turns 13 in November.

After coolly dropping a 12-foot putt on the 15th hole on Tuesday, Liu was greeted by several autograph seekers on her way to the next tee.

“I feel like I’m getting pretty famous,” she said with a laugh. “It’s a new experience for me, so I would say that’s definitely pretty cool.”

Liu is one of five Canadian amateurs on the 156-player entry list. The others are Celeste Dao of Notre-Dame-de-l’Ile-Perrot, Que., Emily Zhu of Richmond Hill, Ont., Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., and Mary Parsons of Delta, B.C.

Henderson, meanwhile, has been her usual steady self on Tour this season. She has traditionally been quite comfortable in the role of defending champion.

She won her first LPGA Tour event at the Cambia Portland Classic in 2015 and defended the title in ’16. The 21-year-old also won the LOTTE Championship for the second time in a row last April.

Henderson won last year’s CP Women’s Open at Regina’s Wascana Country Club and will be the star attraction this week in her home province.

“I’m going to give it all I have, my best shot,” she said. “I think it’ll be extremely hard to repeat. It’s just facts, I think. Like I said, I’m going to give it my all, see what I can do, and hopefully post a solid round on Thursday and give the fans something to cheer about.”

A strong field is confirmed for the US$2.25-million tournament. Nine of the top 10 players on the LPGA money list are entered, including Jin Young Ko of South Korea, American Lexi Thompson, Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand and Sung Hyun Park of South Korea.

The par-72, 6,709-yard course has rather wide fairways and large, undulating greens. A total of 96 bunkers will be in play and nine holes have water features.

Warm, dry weather conditions are expected through the week.

Kane is playing the tournament for a record-setting 29th time, moving the Charlottetown native ahead of JoAnne Carner for most all-time appearances at Canada’s women’s golf championship.

Sharp, from Hamilton, is also in the field with Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., Megan Osland of Kelowna, B.C., Valerie Tanguay of Saint-Hyacinthe, Que., Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., Quebec City’s Anne-Catherine Tanguay and Casey Ward of Picton, Ont.

There are more television options this year with TSN and RDS providing coverage of all four rounds along with the Golf Channel. There was no domestic broadcast or simulcast of the 2018 tournament.

When Henderson led after 54 holes last year, Bell Media and the Golf Channel reached an agreement to allow Canadian viewers to watch the last three hours of the final round live.

Click here for more information on the CP Women’s Open.

Tuesday at the CP Women’s Open saw the LPGA’s top athletes get in practice at Magna Golf Club. Defending champion Brooke Henderson (Smiths Falls, Ont.) and 12-year-old Michelle Liu of Vancouver are two to watch this week at the CP Women’s Open.

Click here for tickets.

Magna Golf Club superintendent Wayne Rath (and canine sidekick) on keeping the course in stellar condition ahead of the 2019 CP Women’s Open in Aurora, Ont.

Click here for tickets.

Hamilton, Ont., native Alena Sharp is ready to play in front of the hometown crowd at the 2019 CP Women’s Open at Magna Golf Club.

Click here for tickets.

Wayne Rath, longtime Superintendent of Magna Golf Club, knows what it takes to host a championship, and to beautify a course for the lights of TV coverage.

Magna is definitely a crowning achievement, and he and his team have done a fantastic job prepping the grounds for the best players in the world.

But one thing they haven’t been doing is cutting the rough. Nelly Korda and Maria Fassi, LPGA Tour phenoms, have both commented that long stuff around Magna is some of the thickest they’ve had on Tour this year. On a schedule that’s already hosted five Major Championships, that bodes well for the fun of the fans in attendance, and those watching on TSN at home.

Wayne and his team have no plans to cut the rough either. “It’s healthy, thick, probably playing at a half-shot penalty for these girls. But we’re not really going to touch it, we want to focus on the short grass the rest of the week.”

But that won’t stop the players from going low. After all, Magna is hosting one of the best fields outside the Majors on the entire LPGA schedule. “It’s hard to say what they’ll shoot, but if they hit the fairway, and give themselves around 140-yard approaches all week, the greens are big enough and soft enough that they could go low.”

When pushed, Wayne eluded that around 20-under par could be the number, but they have to make sure to stay out of the bunkers. Ninety-six different sand traps covering 28,000 square feet takes up a lot of the team’s maintenance hours, but Wayne is “proud” of how much work his team has put in during the preparation for the event.

When the subject matter changed to focus on the best holes on the course, Wayne has to be diplomatic of course, but his personal favourites as a player, Superintendent and course architecture fan are sixteen and nine, for the challenge they present to the player and the uniqueness of their aesthetic.

Besides that, he thinks that five and fifteen are the best fan viewing experience, as they are both short par-4’s where players can bomb drivers or play positional iron shots, and as a fan from the rope line, you can see all four shots from the same place, and see the way different players and different playing styles dissect the challenge before them. It’s “a real decision-making hole,” says Rath, “it will be interesting to see how the girls choose to play it.”

One more notable spot is the par-5 14th hole, an uphill par which Rath says “is by far the prettiest, up on that hill the view is just gorgeous.”

The course is ready, the fans are excited, and the players are getting dialled in, its championship week from Magna Golf Club and the CP Women’s Open.

Thank you to all the grounds crew and their fearless leader, Wayne Rath, for setting the stage to what will surely be a shining moment in Canadian Golf.

OSOYOOS, B.C. – Two-time defending champion Sue Wooster of Australia shot the low round of the day, a four-under par 69, to move into a tie for lead at the 49th playing of the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship.

Wooster, who did not have a birdie in her opening round on Sunday, had six of them Monday at Osoyoos Golf Club. The difference was, she sunk some putts.

“You asked the question yesterday, what did I have to do, and I said hit the ball closer and sink some putts,” Wooster said. “I did that today.”

The Melbourne resident also put in some considerable time working on her putting and trying to get a better feel for the greens at Osoyoos Golf Club.

“I spent probably an hour and half last night on the putting green,” Wooster said. “I have come from the U.S. Amateur and the greens were running 13 and half. I think I was still in that mode. I was stroking it too soft and needed to get a bit of firmness.”

Wooster shares the lead with Nonie Marler of Vancouver at two-under par.

Four individual trophies will be awarded following Tuesday’s conclusion of the 54-hole event being played on Osoyoos Golf Club’s Park Meadows Course. The Mid-Amateur competition is open to players aged 25 and older. The Mid-Masters title is open to players aged 40 and older. The Senior competition is for players aged 50 and older and the Super Senior title is being contested by players aged 60 and older.

Wooster has the lead in the Mid-Master and Senior divisions.

Marler, the first-round leader, shot an even-par 73 Monday to remain at two-under. She chipped in for eagle on the par 5 18th hole — her ninth hole of the day — to exact some revenge on the hole. On Sunday, Marler three-putted the 18th green for a frustrating par.

Marler’s eagle came after her 8-iron approach rolled through the green and onto the back fringe.

“It put me in a bit of a precarious situation,” she said. “I would have had to go over the first cut and the upper part of the rough if I wanted to putt it. I couldn’t do that. I took out my wedge and I just committed to it and I figured if I land it where the rough sort of ends it will at least give me a shot at a birdie putt. And it turns out I didn’t need the birdie putt.”

Marler, a commercial realtor who is only eligible for the Mid-Amateur competition, felt she could have gone lower Monday given how well she struck the ball.

“My putter let me down a little bit,” she said. “I hit quite a few greens in regulation, so I was pleased with my iron play. I am going to do some work on my putting. That is sort of what was giving me a little bit of grief today. Some days you have it, some days you don’t have it.”

Judith Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont., who won the Mid-Amateur, Mid-Master and Senior titles in 2016, is just one shot back of Marler and Wooster. She shot an even-par 73 Monday to remain at one-under for the tournament.

Jackie Little of Procter, B.C. leads the Super Senior division, which she won last year. Little fired a one-over 74 Monday and sits at three-over through two rounds. That is seven shots better than Holly Horwood of Vancouver and Ruth Maxwell of Reno, Nev., who share second place.

The Ontario team of Kyrinis, Mary Ann Hayward and Andrea Blackwell won the 36-hole inter-provincial team competition. Ontario’s team score of three-over par was 15 shots better than the runner-up team from Alberta. Quebec placed third. Ontario has won the team title six straight years.

Full scoring can be found here.

AURORA, Ont. – Kelly Tan’s 7-under-par 65 led the way at the 2019 CP Women’s Open Monday Qualifier at Scarboro Golf and Country Club.

Tan, of Malaysia, was the medalist Monday by five shots. Tan is a full-time member of the Symetra Tour who has played four times on the LPGA Tour in 2019. She also represented Malaysia at the 2016 Rio Olympics. This will be Tan’s fifth appearance at the CP Women’s Open.

Suzuka Yamaguchi of Japan finished in second with a 2-under-par 70. Yamaguchi is 145th on the Race to CME Globe.

Robyn Choi of Australia and Muni He of China finished at 1-under 71 to round out the four golfers earning spots in the 2019 CP Women’s Open via final (Monday) qualifying.

Maddie McCrary of the United States and Julieta Granada of Paraguay, a past winner on the LPGA Tour, were awarded sponsor invitations following qualifying.

Casey Ward (72) of Picton, Ont., finished as the low Canadian and was also awarded a sponsor exemption. Ward is an award-winning PGA of Canada member based out of Credit Valley Golf and Country Club.

With the addition of Ward to the field, there will now be 15 Canadians competing at the 2019 CP Women’s Open, including defending champion Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. and Lorie Kane of Charlottetown, PEI – who is making her record-setting 29th appearance at the CP Women’s Open.

Click here for the full Monday Qualifier leaderboard.

CANADA DAY ALL-STAR  PRO-AM A SUCCESS
Some of Canada’s top golfers teed it up alongside excited amateurs at Canada Day All-Star Pro-Am benefitting the Golf Canada Foundation.

Funds from the Foundation go towards growing golf in Canada, as golfers played 18 holes at Magna Golf Club from the same tees the world’s best golfers will play.

Top Canadian on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada Taylor Pendrith was in the field along with past Canada Life Canadian Player of the Year on the Mackenzie Tour Jared du Toit – both members of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Squad.

Celebrated Canadian amateurs including Emily Zhu – the 2019 Canadian Junior Girls Champion along with Mary Parsons, Brigitte Thibault and Joey Savoie, fresh off winning bronze in the mixed team event at the Pan American Games, teed it up along with LPGA stars Brittany Marchand, Alena Sharp and AC Tanguay.

2019 CP WOMEN’S OPEN TICKETS
One of Canada’s premier annual sporting events, the CP Women’s Open features miles of front row seating for golf fans to experience Canada’s lone stop on the LPGA Tour and cheer on Canadian sensation and CP Ambassador Brooke Henderson as she defends her national title on home soil.

General admission tickets, starting at just $30 for early week access, provide access to the grounds to get an up-close look at the stars of the LPGA Tour. Tournament rounds for Thursday, Friday and Saturday are just $65; a Sunday final-round ticket is $80; and a weeklong, fully transferable badge is $150.

A specially priced youth ticket (13-17 years old) is also available while juniors aged 12-and-under gain FREE grounds admission all week long.

In addition to general admission tickets, a limited number of upgraded spectator viewing experiences are still available. A full list of ticket packages and pricing is available online at www.cpwomensopen.com/tickets.

TSN’s Bob Weeks and Lindsay Hamilton set the stage for the 2019 CP Women’s Open at Magna Golf Club from Aug. 19-25 in Aurora, Ont.

Click here for tickets.

Team Canada members and Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada pros Jared du Toit and Taylor Pendrith share in the excitement heading into this week’s All-Star Pro-Am at the CP Women’s Open at in Aurora, Ont., at Magna Golf Club.

RICHMOND HILL, Ont. – Top amateur golfers over the age of 25 will gather Aug. 20-23 for the 33rd playing of the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship taking place at Summit Golf Club in Richmond Hill, Ont.

Joseph Deraney of Belden, Miss., captured the title in 2018, becoming only the second non-Canadian to win the championship. Deraney started the final day in sixth position, but a remarkable round of 65 earned him the championship. The 36-year-old is returning to defend his title in 2019.

Deraney and Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont., headline a full field of 156 competitors who will take to the fairways of Summit Golf Club. Rank recently won the prestigious Western Amateur and is a three-time Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion, having won the tournament in 2014, 2015 and 2016. He’s also a NHL referee and former Team Canada member.

Rank and Deraney are among the five former champions competing in the event, along with Dave Bunker of Brampton, Ont. (2008-10), Rob Couture of Dallas, Tx. (2011) and Todd Fanning of Winnipeg (2017).

“We are thrilled to bring this talented field to Summit Golf Club,” said Akash Patel, the Tournament Director and Rules and Competitions Coordinator with Golf Canada. “The Mid-Amateur is a great opportunity for Canadian amateurs to find success and compete on a national stage. This beautiful course is in great condition and sure to draw out some exciting competition.”

The first round will take place Tuesday, Aug. 20 and the field will be reduced to the low 70 and ties for the final two rounds.

The championship was first contested in 1987 and includes a Mid-Master competition for players over the age of 40 that runs concurrently with the tournament. Todd Fanning of Winnipeg defended his Canadian Men’s Mid-Master title in 2018.

An inter-provincial team competition for the R. Bruce Forbes Trophy is held over the first 36 holes. Team Ontario is aiming for its fifth consecutive inter-provincial team victory. The trio of Rank, Bunker and Toronto native Patrick Forbes won with a score of 8 under. Team British Columbia finished runner-up at 2 over.

In addition to the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title, the 2019 champion will receive an exemption into the 2020 RBC Canadian Open at St. George’s Golf & Country Club in Toronto from June 8-14.

Founded in 1912, Summit Golf Club was partially designed by famed golf course architect Stanley Thompson. The 2019 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship will be the fourth Golf Canada championship conducted at Summit Golf Club, along with the 1970 Canadian Junior Girls, the 1973 Canadian Men’s Amateur and the 1999 Canadian Men’s Senior Championships.

“We are truly honoured to host the prestigious Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Summit Golf Club,” said Director of Golf and General Manager Ian Leggatt. “We look forward to challenging this strong field with our historic golf course, in addition to showcasing the beautiful city of Richmond Hill and all it has to offer.”

Additional information about the tournament, including the full field and tee times is available here.

NOTABLES

Garrett Rank, Elmira, Ont.
Rank won the 2019 Western Amateur in early August, becoming the first Canadian since 1977 to capture the prestigious championship. The current NHL referee is a three-time winner of the event, but hasn’t had his named etched on the trophy since 2016. Rank represented Canada at the 2018 World Amateur Championship and the 31-year-old’s older brother, Kyle, is also in the field.

Joseph Deraney, Belden, Miss.
The defending champion is looking to become the seventh golfer to win back-to-back Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateurs. Deraney has won two tournaments in 2019 – the Mississippi State Amateur Championship and the Greenwood Invitational. As the 2018 champion, Deraney earned an exemption to the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, missing the cut.

Dave Bunker, Brampton, Ont.
A three-time winner of the event from 2008-2010, Bunker is looking to rebound after missing the cut in 2018. The 54-year-old has played well in 2019, earning two top-10 results at the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship and the Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship.

Todd Fanning, Winnipeg
Fanning has claimed the Mid-Master competition two years in a row, winning both the Mid-Master and Mid-Amateur in 2017. He played the RBC Canadian Open as a 50-year-old in 2018 – the fifth time he played the tournament and his first appearance in 16 years.

Rob Couture, Dallas
The former champion has played four tournaments thus far in 2019, with his best result being an eighth-place finish at the North Texas Mid-Amateur Championship – a tournament he has won on three occasions. Couture was the first non-Canadian to win the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur when he did so in 2011.

FAST FACTS

The Championship was first contested in 1987 and was originally known as the RCGA Pre-Seniors Championship before it was renamed to its current name in 1989.

The inter-provincial team championship for the R. Bruce Forbes Trophy was first conducted in 1992 and is played concurrently over the first two rounds of stroke play.

Graham Cooke of Hudson, Que. and Stu Hamilton of Brampton, Ont. captured 11 of the first 20 championships played. Cooke was the inaugural champion in 1987 and has the most event wins with seven.

The defending champion is Joseph Deraney, who won the title by posting a final round of 65.

Three players have won the event three times in a row: Garrett Rank, Dave Bunker and Graham Cooke – no one has won it four straight years.

The format changed from match to stroke play in 2006, with the Mid-Master category introduced for golfers over the age of 40.

In 2018, Team Ontario won the inter-provincial R. Bruce Forbes Trophy for the fourth straight year.