Lorie Kane of Canada smiles after putting on the fifth hole during round two of the LPGA Golf Championship in Pittsford, New York June 8, 2013. REUTERS/Adam Fenster (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT GOLF)ADAM FENSTER/Reuters
WATERLOO, ONT. - After knocking down a 3-foot putt to secure a par on the 10th hole at the opening round of the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic on Thursday, Lorie Kane walked off the green to a warm applause and shouts of encouragement from the gallery.
"Lorie – love ya' girl," bellowed one of the Canadian's more boisterous admirers and the veteran LPGA tour member gave a friendly wave in response.
Later, as she approached the 18th green at Grey Silo Golf Club, the Charlottetown native was afforded another hearty cheer from spectators seated in the grandstands and she responded by blowing a kiss.
For Kane, the show of goodwill is always appreciated.
"Every hole I walked up on, they clapped on the tees, they clapped on the greens," she said. "They were very friendly to my playing partners because both girls played pretty good.
"But yeah, it never gets old and it definitely is humbling."
Humbling perhaps because Kane is no longer the player she once was.
In the late 1990s, Kane emerged as an LPGA force, constantly contending and winning four tournaments over an especially torrid two-year spell. Her last tour victory came in February of 2001, and she hasn't had a top-10 result since 2007. However, the 48-year-old is still insistent that, in any given tournament, she can still show the younger guns she still has what it takes to win.
"Absolutely, or I wouldn't be here."
Kane will have some work to do is she hopes to break through at this 72-hole event.
She played decently – carding a two-under-par 69 on the 6,330-yard layout that played very friendly to the international field of 144. However, it was still six strokes off the pace set by Scottish veteran Catriona Matthew and Angela Stanford of the U.S., who both shot eight-under 63 to tie for the first-round lead.
Five golfers are lurking two strokes back after 65s, a group that included South Korean sensation Inbee Park, vying for her fourth consecutive tour victory.
Park has been dominant so far this season as the world's No. 1 looks to next month's Women's British Open at St. Andrews, hoping to become the first golfer of either gender to win four majors in one season.
Matthew knows first-hand how formidable Park can be, having been defeated by the South Korean in a playoff in June, as Park won the second of her major titles at the Wegmans LPGA Championship.
"I don't know if it's intimidating," Matthew said when asked how difficult it is to contend with an opponent such as Park, who has been on an amazing run. "Obviously, it's a fantastic roll that she's on. Going for the four majors is an amazing accomplishment.
"Obviously, come Sunday, if she's up there you're going to be worried that she's going to make a run at you."
Although her results are not as consistent as the once were, Kane still remains the standard-bearer when it comes to women's golf in this country. She remains the highest-ranked Canadian on the LPGA career money list (close to $7-million [U.S.], good for 23rd overall).
This year has been somewhat of a struggle, failing to make the cut in eight of the 12 events she has entered, with earnings of $17,500.
Kane is still the top-ranked Canadian on the tour at No. 268, but Hamilton native Alena Sharp, 32, is nipping at her heels with a world ranking of 277. Sharp carded an opening-round 68, putting her five strokes off the lead.
Kane was asked if she was surprised a younger woman has yet to emerge to knock her off her perch as Canada's best-known golfing talent. "I would say yes and no," she said. "No, because of the work I've done. Yes, because I know how talented our younger players are and they just haven't taken hold of all their opportunities."
Golf is a difficult game to play for a living, Kane noted.
"I really feel for the younger girls, not just the Canadians but in general because the opportunity I had back in '96, '97, when we were playing 40 weeks and you could pick and choose a schedule.
"Now, granted we're playing for more money now, but the top players are playing more, which we need, the business needs that."
Kane said a better support system needs to be put in place in Canada to help the better young golfers move into the first couple years of their professional careers.
"We need a Team Canada to keep going through, and now that we're an Olympic sport [golf will be played at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games], we really need Team Canada."