Tee it up
Richmond, B.C. - A stellar field of Canadian and international female golfers, as well as top female amateurs, will open the 2012 CN Canadian Women's Tour season on May 15.
A number of LPGA Tour players headline the field at Richmond Country Club, including Jessica Shepley of Oakville, Ont., the reigning two-time Jocelyne Bourassa Player of the Year Award winner. LPGA Tour rookie and CN Canadian Women's Tour event winner Kirby Dreher of Fort St. John, B.C. is also in the field, alongside Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C.
Team Canada graduates Sara-Maude Juneau of Fossambault, Que. and Sue Kim of Langley, B.C., are amongst a talented group of Symetra Tour players taking to the A.V. McCann design design that also features Ashley Sholer of Hamilton, Ont., Danielle Mills of Pointe-Claire, Que., Melissa Mabanta of Langley, B.C., Amy Eneroth of Colbert, Wash., and CN Canadian Women's Tour event winner Candace Schepperle of Birmingham, Ala.
A total of 18 amateurs are also slated to compete for the season-opening CN Canadian Women's Tour title, including former Canadian University/College Championship winner and reigning B.C. Women's Amateur and B.C. Women's Mid-Amateur champion Christina Proteau of Port Alberni, B.C., Ally Shin of Coquitlam, B.C., Kyla Inaba of Kelowna, B.C., and Sydney MacDonald of Calgary.
Coquitlam, B.C. native Jisoo Keel is one of seven Team Canada players in the field. Keel, a member of Team Canada's National Squad, won last season's CN Canadian Women's Tour Top Amateur of the Year Award.
The winner will earn the season's first Tour exemption into the 2012 CN Canadian Women's Open which will be played at The Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, B.C. this August.
In addition, the top two players on the CN Canadian Women's Tour season-ending Order of Merit will be awarded direct entry into Stage 2 of LPGA Qualifying School.
Following the season opener at Richmond Country Club, the Tour will head to Club de golf Beloeil in Beloeil, Que., in June with the final event taking place at Legends on the Niagara in Niagara, Ont., later that month.