Isabelle Beisiegel
Isabelle Beisiegel of Sainte Hilaire, Que., Maude-Aimee LeBlanc of Sherbrooke, Que., Lisa Meldrum of Montreal and Adrienne White of Red Deer, Alta., have been given exemptions into the 2011 CN Canadian Women's Open.
The four are among 17 Canadians who will compete at Hillsdale Golf & Country Club in Mirabel, Que., from August 22-28.
Beisiegel has a pair of top-10 finishes on the 2011 LPGA Futures Tour, including a recent tied for fifth finish and also finished top-10 on the 2011 CN Canadian Women's Tour Order of Merit. She made headlines earlier this year when she earned non-exempt status on the Canadian Tour through the 2011 Spring Qualifying School to become the first woman to earn playing privileges on a men's professional golf tour.
LeBlanc, a recent graduate of Golf's Canada's National Amateur Golf Team Program, will be competing in her home province for the first time as a professional. The former amateur standout is a former three-time Quebec Amateur and two-time Quebec Junior Girls champion who also helped Purdue win the 2010 NCAA Division I Team Championship. Last month she finished tied for eighth at Stage-1 of the 2011 LPGA Qualifying Tournament.
Meldrum and White, both non-exempt Canadian LPGA Tour players, will be making their seventh and third appearances, respectively, at Canada's national women's championship.
Also extended exemptions to compete were Team Canada members Augusta James of Bath, Ont., and Nicole Vandermade of Brantford, Ont. James' stellar 2011 season includes a victory at the 2011 Ontario Women's Amateur, medalist honours at the 2011 U.S. Public Links qualifier and a tied for seventh finish on the 2011 CN Canadian Women's Tour Order of Merit. Vandermade advanced to match play at the 2011 British Amateur Championship, finished 9th at the Royale Cup Canadian Women's Amateur and tied for 37th at Stage 1 of the 2011 LPGA Qualifying Tournament.
James and Vandermade will join previously exempt Team Canada members Rebecca Lee Bentham of Toronto (2011 Royale Cup Canadian Women's Amateur champion); Jessica Wallace of Langley, B.C. (CN Canadian Women's Tour – Ontario event winner); and 15-year old Jisoo Keel of Coquitlam, B.C. (CN Canadian Women's Tour – Order of Merit).
Earlier this year, six players earned tournament exemptions by way of the CN Canadian Women's Tour including event winners Jessica Shepley of Oakville, Ont. (B.C. event @ Squamish Valley GC); Katy Harris (Quebec event @ club de golf Beloeil) and Jessica Wallace of Langley, B.C. (Ontario event @ Blue Springs); as well as Order of Merit exemption winners Kirby Dreher of Fort St. John, B.C., Danielle Mills of Pointe-Claire, Que., and Jisoo Keel of Coquitlam, B.C.
Teenage sensation Alexis Thompson as well as Team Canada graduate and former Quebec Amateur champion Sara-Maude Juneau of Fossambault, Que., were also extended invitations. Juneau will compete in her home province for the first time as a professional.
Rounding out the list of 2011 exemptions is American Laura Bavaird of Dearborn, Mich., winner of the 2010 PGA of Canada Women's Championship.
Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont., Lorie Kane of Charlottetown and Stephanie Sherlock of Barrie, Ont., will join fellow LPGA players such as defending champion Michelle Wie and world number one Yani Tseng in the field as they vie for the $2.25 million CN Canadian Women's Open title.