By Canadian Press

CP Women’s Open showcases past, present, and future of Canadian golf

Aug 24, 2022 | 2:33 PM

OTTAWA — Lorie Kane won’t hear any kind of talk about her legacy as she plays in the CP Women’s Open one last time.

Kane will tee off in the national women’s golf championship for the 30th and final time on Thursday, one of 18 Canadians in the field at the national championship. The 57-year-old from Charlottetown insists that the sport’s future in Canada has already arrived and that she had nothing to do with it.

“We have a great group of young women who are making their way. I’ve heard a lot said about me passing of a torch. There’s no torch,” said Kane. “I think every woman that has played golf in this country has flown the flag as high as they can to make it better.

“I learned that from Jocelyne (Bourassa). I learned that from Sandra Post. I learned that from Dawn Coe-Jones, Gail Graham, Lisa Walters, Nancy Harvey. Alena Sharp came on board. Now we have Brooke Henderson.”

When asked specifically about her legacy and how she has inspired subsequent generations of Canadian golfers, Kane still demurred.

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“I try not to think about that because, like I said, I love what I do and I love to share. I never want it to be anything more than the best that I could be,” said Kane, adding that the concept of “lift and climb” has been an influence in how she carried herself on and off the course.

“What it means is on your way up, you bring someone with you.”

Henderson, the most successful Canadian professional golfer, politely disagreed with Kane’s self-assessment. The 24-year-old Henderson said that Kane has been a tremendous influence on her.

“Lorie is incredible. You know, growing up she was women’s golf in Canada. I looked up to her and she’s been a great friend and mentor,” said Henderson. “I think all of Canada just loves her dearly, so it is sad that this is her last one.”

Kane said that she had originally intended to retire from the tournament when it was scheduled for Vancouver’s Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club in 2020. But it was cancelled that year because of the COVID-19 pandemic and again in 2021, making the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club the setting for her farewell rounds.

Although Kane remains modest about her contributions to golf, her impact is undeniable. She’s a member of the Order of Canada, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, and the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. On Wednesday, Golf Canada named two awards after her for people who used golf as a platform to positively impact their communities.

Henderson, from nearby Smiths Falls, Ont., is very much golf’s present. She enters this week’s tournament as the world No. 5 and is second on the LPGA Tour’s Race to CME Globe standings. She has won twice this season, including the Evian Championship for her second major title.

She said she’s excited to be back on her home course and looking for her 13th LPGA Tour title, and second as CP Women’s Open champion.

“Every year it’s circled on my calendar and I always get super pumped up for it, especially as the weeks grow closer to it,” said Henderson. “It’s just been so long since I was able to play in front of the hometown crowd. 

“Even in the practice rounds yesterday and today there has been so many people out watching. It’s just amazing to have this much love and support from home.”

Vancouver’s Lucy Lin may be the future of Canadian golf. She qualified for the tournament on Monday and, at 12 years, seven months and 12 days old, is the youngest player to ever compete in the event.

“It’s a dream come true, definitely being here at a very young age. but I’m super excited,” said Lin. “Going into Monday I wasn’t really knowing I would be here, but I did the best I could. But I ended up here, so I’m really excited about it.”

Other notable Canadians teeing it up on Thursday include Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Ont., Hamilton’s Sharp, Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., amateur Monet Chun of Richmond Hill, Ont., and Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., who announced on Tuesday that she is turning professional after a successful NCAA career.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 24, 2022.

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press