Calgary – February is Heart Month, and Canadian Pacific (CP) is proud to announce today that BC Children’s Hospital Foundation has been chosen as the primary charity partner for the 2023 CP Women’s Open, to be held Aug. 21-27, 2023, at the Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club in Vancouver.

“The team at BC Children’s Hospital provides expert care, research and support for children with heart conditions, and CP is grateful to have another opportunity to contribute to the critical work they do,” said Keith Creel, CP President and CEO. “The 2023 CPWO marks the third time BC Children’s Hospital Foundation has been selected as the charity partner during CP’s title sponsorship of this exceptional LPGA Tour event, helping raise more than $4 million so far. We’re honored to continue building this legacy.”

This year’s goal is to raise more than $2.5 million for BC Children’s Hospital. Those funds will be dedicated to enhancing the physical spaces of the Heart Centre to create a comfortable and healing environment for patients and their families. Funds will also help to create improved workspaces for cross-functional collaboration amongst the dedicated and talented cardiac team at BC Children’s.

“Kids with heart conditions can be some of the sickest children in BC, and the Heart Centre at BC Children’s Hospital is there to provide care for every one of them,” said Malcolm Berry, President and CEO of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. “That’s why we’re so grateful to once again be the CP Has Heart charity of choice. CP’s support helps elevate the incredible care BC Children’s is able to provide to kids and their families across the province.”

In recognition of Heart Month, CP and BC Children’s Hospital Foundation are pleased to hold a month-long fundraising campaign with CP matching all donations up to a total of $300,000. Visit www.bcchf.ca to help make a difference for BC Children’s Hospital Foundation cardiology patients.

“Families of children with heart conditions put their trust in us,” said Dr. Shubhayan Sanatani, Head, Division of Cardiology. “In turn, we help to carry the burden of their child’s health with them. That’s the essence of what our team does at the Heart Centre at BC Children’s Hospital, and CP has been a part of our team for many years. With CP’s steadfast support, we can continue to improve the healing environment for our patients and their families.”

The Tournament Partners of the LPGA awarded the CP Women’s Open with Tournament of the Year in 2022. Golf Canada and Canadian Pacific also received Gold Driver Awards for Best Sponsor Activation in 2019 and 2022 as well as Best Community and Charity Engagement in 2017, 2019 and 2022.

“We are so proud to witness the incredible impact of CP Has Heart on the lives of countless youth in the host communities of the CP Women’s Open,” said Laurence Applebaum, CEO of Golf Canada. “There is a real excitement among golf fans and event enthusiasts in the celebrated return of the CP Women’s Open to Vancouver, highlighted by world-class golf, a week-long festival experience and a meaningful legacy gift in support of the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.”

CP has helped raise more than $16 million to support children’s heart health in Canada during the nine years of CP’s title sponsorship of the CP Women’s Open.

The 49th playing of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship is set for August 21-August 27, 2023 in Vancouver

(Golf Canada) – Golf Canada, in partnership with title sponsor Canadian Pacific (CP), is pleased to announce tickets for the 2023 CP Women’s Open in Vancouver are now on sale.

The 2023 edition of the CP Women’s Open will be held at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club August 21-27, marking the sixth time the province of British Columbia has hosted Canada’s Women’s Open Championship, with the last time being 2015 at The Vancouver Golf Club, where Lydia Ko won her third CP Women’s Open title.

The 2022 CP Women’s Open at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club was recently named Tournament of the Year by the Tournament Partners of the LPGA. The tournament, which set an attendance record of more than 73k fans, also received Awards for Best Community and Charity Engagement, as well as Best Sponsor Activation.

As the only Canadian stop across 33 official LPGA Tour events, the week-long event will draw the world’s best players including 10-time LPGA Tour winner and CP Ambassador Brooke Henderson. 

Title-sponsor Canadian Pacific will once again be making a charitable donation to the host community through its CP Has Heart campaign. Since CP assumed title sponsorship of the CP Women’s Open in 2014, more than $16 million has been raised to support children’s heart health in Canada. This is the third time in the last four years the awards were handed out that the CP Women’s Open was awarded the Gold Driver for Best Community and Charity Engagement.

The week-long national championship features something for everyone including The Rink, Golf Canada’s signature Canadian themed hole that has grown in popularity at both national opens, a premium food experience at the Recipe Unlimited Fare Way, as well as partner activations, photo-ops, terrific golf and more.

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

CLICK HERE to purchase tickets
for the 2023 CP Women’s Open 

Join us to witness world-class LPGA Tour golf, activities for all ages, outstanding food and patio experiences and more. Get your tickets today and be a part of one of Golf Canada’s signature events.  

NAPLES, FLA. (Golf Canada) – ​The 2022 CP Women’s Open at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club has been named Tournament of the Year by the Tournament Partners of the LPGA.

Tournament organizers from Golf Canada and Canadian Pacific were presented with a prestigious Gold Driver Award during a ceremony held in conjunction with this week’s LPGA Tour season-ending CME Group Tour Championship at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Fla.

Golf Canada and Canadian Pacific also received Gold Driver Awards for Best Community and Charity Engagement, as well as Best Sponsor Activation.

The Tournament Partners of the LPGA (formally Tournament Owners Association) have a long-standing tradition of recognizing best-in-class tournaments with Gold Driver Awards as part of the season-ending event.

“This award is a true reflection of the hard work and collaboration from all groups and stakeholders involved with the CP Women’s Open,” said Tournament Director Ryan Paul. “Thanks to tremendous support from fans, players, volunteers, corporate partners and our host club, the 2022 CP Women’s Open was a resounding success and it is rewarding to be recognized with these significant awards.” 

The Best Community and Charity Engagement Award was earned for the CP Has Heart community investment program, which raised $2.5 million in support of the CHEO Foundation and $510,000 for Perth & Smiths Falls District Hospital Foundation – the largest charitable campaign in the history of the CP Women’s Open.

Since CP assumed title sponsorship of the CP Women’s Open in 2014, more than $16 million has been raised to support children’s heart health in Canada. This is the third time in the last four years the awards were handed out that the CP Women’s Open was awarded the Gold Driver for Best Community and Charity Engagement.

“The success of our tournaments and charitable campaign is only made possible by the tireless efforts of our dedicated team working together to support our charity partners and ensure players and guests have a memorable week,” said Chad Becker, CP Chief Staff. “We are truly grateful that these collective efforts have received this significant recognition.”

The CP Women’s Open earned Best Sponsor Activation for its Hilton on the Green experience – a first-of-its-kind opportunity for Canadian golf fans to stay in a unique, 1-bedroom pop-up hotel room on the 8^th hole at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club.

Hilton on the Green included a personal concierge, golf cart, gourmet meals including breakfast in bed, exclusive view of the action, as well as world-class service and hospitality from Hilton.

At the 2022 CP Women’s Open in August, South African Paula Reto set the Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club course record (62) en route to besting the LPGA Tour’s best players to capture her first career win on Tour. By doing so, she took home US$352,500 of the US$2.35 million purse.

The 2022 CP Women’s Open in Ottawa was the most attended tournament in event history.

The stars of the LPGA Tour are headed back to Vancouver as next year’s CP Women’s Open will be contested at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club August 21-27, 2023.

The championship will mark the sixth time the province of British Columbia has hosted Canada’s Women’s Open Championship, with the last time being 2015 at The Vancouver Golf Club, where Lydia Ko won her third CP Women’s Open title.

For more Information on the CP Women’s Open visit www.cpwomensopen.com.

OTTAWA – Canada’s Maddie Szeryk has proven to herself that she can compete on the LPGA Tour.

Szeryk, from London, Ont., had her best-ever performance on the world’s top women’s golf circuit this past week, finishing in a tie for 26th at the CP Women’s Open. She closed out the national championship with an even-par 71 at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club on Sunday to finish at 9 under overall.

“It’s really special. I definitely got a little choked up on No. 18, just the crowd and everyone coming out and being so supportive,” said Szeryk, steps away from the grandstand surrounding the course’s final hole. “It was really special.”

The 26-year-old Szeryk missed the cut at six consecutive tournaments to start her first full season on the LPGA Tour. She and partner Kristy McPherson of the United States tied for 36th at Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational on July 13, earning her US$$4,841 in winnings.

She earned more than quadruple that at the CP Women’s Open, taking home $19,701.

“I was hoping for a few more birdies, but overall it was a great week,” said Szeryk. “I’m really, really happy with the result.

“It was just awesome to have such a good week at the CP Women’s Open.”

Szeryk turned professional in 2018 and tied for 35th in the LPGA Q-Series to earn a tour card this season. Her showing at the CP Women’s Open will lift her from 184th to 158th in the Race to the CME Globe standings and opens up new opportunities to maintain her tour status.

She’ll be in the field at next week’s Dana Open at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio, and will play in the rest of September’s events as well.

“It’s very nice because it’s a been a lot of last-minute trips this year,” said Szeryk. “At least I know the next few and I can go from there.”

Hamilton’s Alena Sharp (67) earned the third Sandra Post Award of her career as the low Canadian at the national championship, tying for 17th at 10 under. Like Szeryk, the 41-year-old Sharp said it will be a benefit to her and may help her avoid having to re-qualify for the LPGA Tour.

“When I do make the cut at the Canadian Open I usually do pretty well, so it was nice to have a good finish here,” said Sharp. “That’ll definitely get me into Q-Series, the last stage, so I don’t have to do Q-II, so that’s a huge thing, too.

“Hopefully I can keep this momentum going and I don’t have to even do that.”

World No. 5 Brooke Henderson (69) of Smiths Falls, Ont., tied for 49th at 5 under. Amateur Lauren Zarestky (73) of Thornhill, Ont., who starts at Texas Tech on Monday, finished 75th at 1 over. Toronto’s Rebecca Lee-Bentham (72) tied for 76th at 2 over.

OTTAWA – Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., is the low Canadian after three rounds. She shot a 2-under 69 to finish the day tied for 11th at 9 under. Hamilton’s Alena Sharp (68) was tied for 33rd at 6 under.

“You know, it’s the Canadian Open. It’s a major for us. All the friends and family are here, and just to play well in front of the Canadian crowd is really special,” said Szeryk.

Most freshmen spend their first week of university buying books and meeting new people. Lauren Zaretsky is playing in her first LPGA Tour event.

The 18-year-old from Thornhill, Ont., delayed her arrival at Texas Tech by a week so she could play at the CP Women’s Open. Betting on herself has paid dividends as Zaretsky is the only Canadian amateur to make the cut at the national women’s golf championship.

“It just brings good momentum coming in,” said Zaretsky of playing the LPGA event before beginning her collegiate career. “I know what it takes to get on the Tour and I think I belong and I’ve just got to keep grinding.”

That grind will continue on Monday when Zaretsky has to travel to Lubbock, Texas, for her first day of school. She’ll go from the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club to Toronto’s Pearson Airport to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport before finishing her sojourn with an hour-long flight to Lubbock.

Two days later Zaretsky and her Red Raiders teammates will travel to Pebble Beach, Calif., for the Carmel Cup, the first NCAA golf tournament of the season.

“It’s going to be tough because it’s just a small goodbye to my family, but I know that a lot of success and a lot of hard work is going to come out of it,” said Zaretsky, who had her family with her at the CP Women’s Open. “So I’ll come back even stronger.”

Jojo Robertson, the head coach of the Texas Tech women’s golf team, said she was already impressed with Zaretsky’s maturity and is eager for her to arrive in Lubbock.

“Her team is supportive of her. They’re ready for her to get here and join them,” said Robertson over the phone. “We never hesitated that she should have the opportunity to play in this great tournament that she’s in right now.”

Zaretsky won the Canadian women’s amateur in 2021 which would normally be an automatic berth into the CP Women’s Open. However, the national women’s championship was cancelled last year because of COVID-19, so Golf Canada saved her a spot in this year’s CP Women’s Open allowing her to still benefit from winning the amateur.

She showed some of the fire that won her the women’s amateur on Saturday. She pumped her fist after birdieing the final hole of her third round, finishing the day 2-over 73 to sit in a tie for 71st at 1 under.

“It was a struggle the last few holes so to get that putt in for birdie was really nice and to have it in front of the crowd, I had to fist pump,” said Zaretsky. “I like the big crowds and I’m very confident I like to do my fist pump.”

World No. 5 Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., struggled to a 2-over 73 to drop into a tie for 60th at 3 under. Toronto’s Rebecca Lee-Bentham (74) was 77th at 1 over.

Two former teammates are tied atop the leaderboard at the CP Women’s Open, vying for their first wins on the LPGA Tour.

South Korea’s Hye-Jin Choi and Narin An are tied at 16-under overall after three rounds at the Canadian women’s golf championship. They played together last month at the Dow Great Lakes Invitational and have known each other for more than five years after playing against each other in Asia.

“It was only about a month ago that we played on the same team and played well,” said Choi, who was paired with An and American Lindy Duncan on Saturday. “Obviously, we’re both focusing on our individual play when we played together today, but I hope we both play well tomorrow and put up a good score.”

An, the tournament’s second-round leader, shot a 3-under 68 to stay atop the leaderboard. Choi fired a 5-under 66 to move up into a tie with An.

“I didn’t like my play today as much as I did yesterday and two days ago,” said An. “But I think not making any big mistakes is a positive to take away.”

South Africa’s Paula Reto (67), the first-round leader after setting a course record at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club on Thursday, sat in third. Sarah Schmelzel (66) and Nelly Korda (68) of the United States were tied for fourth at 14 under.

If Korda wins the tournament she will reclaim the top spot in the women’s world golf rankings.

“At the end of the day, you’re not going to move up the leaderboard unless you make the putts,” said Korda. “I’m going to go to the range, try and get my swing in order, because I was kind of hitting it all over the place on the front nine.

“Hopefully I can get a one good one going tomorrow.”

For the full leaderboard click here.

OTTAWA – Lorie Kane patted her heart to thank the hundreds of fans cheering for her as she walked up the 18th fairway at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club.

Behind Kane, her niece Charlotte Jenkins _ who served as her caddie _ waved the crowd on to get the chants even louder. When Kane reached the edge of the green she took a bow to rapturous applause.

The loving tribute was a fitting farewell for one of the most successful and influential golfers in Canadian history.

Kane, who turns 58 this December, had already announced that this year’s CP Women’s Open would be her last. As it was clear she would miss Friday’s cut, fans, officials and volunteers came out to watch her last round ever at the national women’s golf championship.

“It’s very humbling,” said Kane about the ovation. “I love to entertain, but when it’s directed totally at you, it’s really ? it’s uncomfortable.”

That instinct to entertain lasted right through her final two holes.

On the hockey-themed No. 17, Kane pulled on a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey, wearing a mischievous grin as chants of “Lorie! Lorie!” turned into boos and calls of “Go Sens!” and “Anybody but the Leafs!” She stopped to fist bump only one fan at that hole, pointing at his Maple Leafs windbreaker before tossing him a keepsake.

“I just played golf to put smiles on people’s faces,” said Kane. “I know the Leafs jersey didn’t go over quite as well as I would have hoped, but it was fun.”

After the rousing ovation on her approach on the 18th hole Kane missed her first putt. As the crowd groaned she made an exaggerated shrug to laughs before tapping in her final shot, finishing 28 over.

Kane thanked Hamilton’s Alena Sharp and Australia’s Sarah Jane Smith, her playing partners on Friday and Saturday, as she grinded out her final two rounds at the CP Women’s Open.

Sharp shot a 1-over 72 to finish the day tied for 57th at 3-under par when play was called due to darkness. She said it was an honour to play alongside Kane, who had been such a positive influence on her career.

“I grew up watching her and then playing with her out here on the LPGA Tour, it’s great. She’s a legend,” said Sharp. “It’s cool to be part of (Kane’s final rounds).

“With all of her successes I think it gave everybody inspiration to play well. You can win on the LPGA Tour.”

Kane, from Charlottetown, won on the LPGA Tour four times. She won the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award as The Canadian Press’s female athlete of the year in 2000. She was named to the Order of Canada in 2006 and has been inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

Maddie Szeryk (68) of London, Ont., was the low Canadian after two rounds. She had her second consecutive bogey-free day to sit in a tie for 13th at 7 under.

“I just played really solid. I hit a bunch of greens and putted it OK,” said Szeryk, who had back-to-back bogey-free rounds for the first time in her career.

Brooke Henderson, from nearby Smiths Falls, Ont., shot a 3-under 68 to sit at 5 under in a tie for 32nd. Amateur Lauren Zaretsky (71) of Thornhill, Ont., also made the cut, tied with Sharp at 3 under.

Toronto’s Rebecca Lee-Bentham was through 15 holes and sat at 4 under when the horn sounded. She will resume her second round early Saturday morning, looking to stay below the 2 under cutline.

Several Canadians missed the cut on Friday. Selena Costabile, also from Thornhill, Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., Valerie Tanguay of St-Hyacinthe, Que., Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., and Megan Osland of Kelowna, B.C., will not play in the third or fourth rounds.

Amateurs Vanessa Zhang, Michelle Liu and 12-year-old Lucy Lin, all from Vancouver, will not play the weekend rounds. Amateurs Katie Cranston of Oakville, Ont., Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont., Yeji Kwon of Port Coquitlam, B.C., Sarah-Eve Rheaume of Boischatel, Que., and Monet Chun of Richmond Hill, Ont., also missed the cut.

From all of us who have been lucky enough to have witnessed your career, thank you.

You are the superlative ambassador for @CanadianPacific, @GolfCanada, the @LPGA & all of 🇨🇦.

WE are the lucky ones. pic.twitter.com/RLqRHoVlHb

— CP Women’s Open (@cpwomensopen) August 27, 2022

OTTAWA – LPGA Tour rookie Narin An hasn’t won in North America yet but she’s put herself in a good position to at the CP Women’s Open.

An shot a 6-under 65 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead, 13 under overall, at the Canadian women’s golf championship. The 26-year-old from South Korea’s lead was safe as second-round play was suspended due to darkness.

“I don’t have experience winning in the U.S., but I do have some experience in Korea, so it’s not an unfamiliar feeling right now,” said An of her lead. “I hope to put up good results the next two days just like I did yesterday and today.”

An has played most of her golf on the LPGA of Korea Tour until this season. She believes her experience on that tour will translate well to this continent.

“I don’t think there’s that big a difference between Canada, the U.S., and Korea,” she said. “There’s different environments here, so I need more time to adjust to each one.”

Fellow Korean Hye-Jin Choi (63) sat in a tie for second with American Nelly Korda (64) and first-round leader Paula Reto (69) of South Africa at 11 under overall. Sarah Schmetzel (64) of the United States and Japan’s Nasa Hataoka (67) were tied for fifth at 9 under.

Reto had rocketed up the leaderboard on Thursday when she fired a course-record 9-under 62. She said her putting wasn’t as sharp in the second round, which is why the lead slipped away from her.

“My speed on the greens was a little bit off. I was ramming the putts by, so my lines and speed didn’t match, so I just didn’t make any putts,” said Reto. “I had a couple close looks but they didn’t go in because of that.”

Play was suspended for two hours due to heavy rain and lightning around Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club on Friday morning. That delayed the tee times for the afternoon wave, with many of them having to finish their second rounds early Saturday morning.

“I thought rain would continue to come and I’m glad it didn’t,” said An. “I definitely had to focus more in the event that it would rain again.”

Maddie Szeryk (68) of London, Ont., finished her round just before darkness fell on the course. She had her second consecutive bogey-free day to sit in a tie for 13th at 7 under and was the low Canadian after two rounds.

“I don’t think I’ve ever done that before,” said Szeryk of the two mistake-free rounds. “I just played really solid. I hit a bunch of greens and putted it OK.

“I hit it well, so I wasn’t ever really in a lot of trouble. It’s pretty cool. I definitely don’t think I’ve done that before.”

Brooke Henderson, from nearby Smiths Falls, Ont., shot a 3-under 68 to sit at 5 under in a tie for 32nd. The horn sounded to suspend play due to the weather just as she putted for birdie on her second hole. As the horn echoed around the course her putt dropped in the cup.

“I hit it and I was startled because I heard the sound, so it was nice to see it go in,” said Henderson. “My brother-in-law was calling me Michael Jordan for the buzzer beater.”

Amateur Lauren Zaretsky (71) of Thornhill, Ont., and Hamilton’s Alena Sharp (72) also made the cut. They were tied for 57th at 3 under when play was called.

Toronto’s Rebecca Lee-Bentham was through 15 holes when the horn sounded and sat at 4 under. She will resume her second round early Saturday morning, looking to stay below the 2 under cutline.

Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Lorie Kane of Charlottetown played her 30th and final round at the CP Women’s Open. She missed the cut.

OTTAWA – Hundreds of fans followed local hero Brooke Henderson around Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club, even as her five-year-old course record was falling elsewhere.

South Africa’s Paula Reto fired a 9-under 62 to rocket up the leaderboard for a two-stroke lead in the first round of the CP Women’s Open on Thursday. That topped Henderson’s 8-under 63 in 2017 when the Canadian national women’s championship was last held in Ottawa.

Reto wasn’t even aware she was making history until she came off the ninth green, having started her round on No. 10.

“I didn’t know it was the course record, so kind of finding out after my round takes the pressure off,” said Reto, who learned about her new record from an LPGA official as she approached reporters for a post-round interview.

“I’m happy about it. You know, I’m hoping to do some more good rounds coming here.”

Reto set a blistering pace in her first nine holes with six birdies to start her day. A birdie on the par-5 No. 9 to finish her day clinched the record.

“Usually when I make two, three, birdies I feel like it’s going to be a good day whether I either make a few more or not,” said Reto. “Under par is always good but to go low is fun and to have no bogeys.”

South Korea’s Narin An sat in sole possession of second after a 7-under 64. Americans Robyn Ree, Lilia Vu, and Emma Talley were tied for third at 6-under 65.

Hamilton’s Alena Sharp and Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., were the low Canadians, finishing the day tied for 16th at 4-under 67. Amateur Lauren Zaretsky of Thornhill, Ont., had a hole-in-one to finish her round in a group tied for 30th.

“I just came in with no expectations, really,” said Sharp. “Just wanted to get a good feel on that first nine, make good decisions and hit some good shots, and putts went in.”

Henderson, from nearby Smiths Falls, Ont., and Selena Costabile of Thornhill were tied for 51st at 2 under.

Despite an underwhelming first-round result, the 24-year-old Henderson remained the star of the show. As the winningest professional in Canadian golf history _ regardless of gender _ and a local hero, she drew fans wherever she went around her home course.

“It was unreal. It’s so cool to have that much love and support,” said a smiling Henderson. “They’re happy even when I bogeyed the last hole. They were still cheering for me.

“It’s just an amazing feeling and I can’t wait for hopefully a better day tomorrow, and just can’t wait to hear some bigger roars.”

Henderson had a hot start, with three straight birdies to open her round to the delight of the large gallery that followed her around the course. However, a bogey on her fifth hole and then two more on her 16th and 18th holes submarined her day.

The 12-time LPGA champion seemed relaxed and confident despite the disappointing finish.

“I was hitting the ball well, playing pretty well, too. I feel like the score doesn’t show as well as I played,” said Henderson. “I was just trying to embrace the fans and enjoy the moment.”

The CP Women’s Open has not been held since 2019 because the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the event in back-to-back years.

On Tuesday, August 23, the Ottawa Infinity Centre played host to the CP Women’s Leadership Summit.

Now in its fifth year, the Summit brought together influential leaders across business and sports with impactful speakers lending diverse perspectives regarding diversity of thought and women in leadership.

The conference was hosted by TSN’s Lindsay Hamilton and included segments on Power, Passion, & Perseverance, Women of Impact, Women of Colour in Golf, and wrapped up with a fireside chat with keynote speaker and serial entrepreneur Arlene Dickinson.

Watch the full conference below.

OTTAWA, Ont. – When Michelle Liu qualified for the 2019 CP Women’s Open at 12 years, 9 months and 6 days old, it was a record that many thought would last for the foreseeable future.

Then came Lucy Lin.

On Monday, Lin earned a spot in the 2022 CP Women’s Open via a 3-for-1 playoff in the Final Qualifier at The Marshes Golf Club in Ottawa, Ont. and when she tees it up at Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club on Thursday at the age of 12 years, 7 months and 12 days, she will become the youngest female ever to qualify for Canada’s National Women’s Open.

“I feel like super excited right now – I have no words to describe it.”

LUCY LIN

The Vancouver, B.C., native scrambled out the gates, making two bogeys and a double on her opening four holes. Five pars followed as she steadied the ship before shifting it into high gear. On the back nine, Lin, who finished as the runner-up in this year’s Canadian Junior Girls Championship, rolled in four birdies to get into a playoff.

 “Honestly, I was just trying to hit every shot the best I can. [I] was a bit nervous, but I tried to just stay patient,” said Lin. “I had a rough start, but I had to come back.”

In the playoff, the 12-year-old made par on No. 7 at The Marshes to advance to her first ever LPGA Tour event.

“I had driver and then like a 128-yard shot and it was dark out, so I couldn’t see really well, but I just tried to do my swing and I tried to make my putt, but it was close,” said Lin.

In the end it didn’t matter. The champion of the NextGen Western Championship’s tap in par booked her ticket to the CP Women’s Open.

Lin says she thinks her mom, who follows her at every tournament, will be on the bag come Thursday and says she looks forward to “seeing those great players and having a great experience.”

The aforementioned Liu also advanced to her second CP Women’s Open with an even-par 72, author of the lowest score of the day along with Gianna Clemente, a 14-year-old from Estero, Florida. Canadian Vanessa Zhang posted a one-over par 71 to clinch her spot at the national championship.

“Just knowing how the overall experience works, I know that’s definitely something that will make the environment a little less foreign to me,” said Liu, who previously held the record as the youngest female to ever qualify for the tournament. “Having the experience of playing in an event where there are spectators and there are camera people, it not being the first time I’ve been in this situation will definitely, I hope, be advantageous to me.”

At the mere age of 12 in 2019, Liu, for obvious reason, found herself far back in the fairway from her older competitors. That is something she figures will change this time around.

“Over the three years from 2019 to today, you know, I hit my driver further, I think I’ve had a lot of experience because I’ve played in other events that really mattered, so I hope that can all coalesce into something that will help me play better.”

The CP Women’s Open takes place August 25-28 at the Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club in Ottawa, Ont.