Golf Canada – News and notes from Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club for Wednesday, August 23rd –

OTTAWA (Golf Canada) – Ariya Jutanugarn has won the last two times she’s stepped onto Canadian soil. This week, she’s hoping to make it three-for-three at Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club.

Last year, Jutanugarn capped her five-win season with a four-stroke win at the 2016 CP Women’s Open at Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club in Calgary. And in June 2017, she won the Manulife LPGA Classic in Kitchener, draining a 25-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to beat In Gee Chun and Lexi Thompson.

“I love everything here,” said Jutanugarn, who also had success here as an amateur, winning the 2012 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship. “All the spectators, they’re so nice. They come support us and not only the tournament days. Even practice rounds they come out and give us full support. I feel like (it’s) my second home.”

Since the Thailand native’s victory in June, a nagging shoulder injury dating back to 2013 has been bothering the young player. She was forced to withdraw from one event and missed the cut at three of her last five starts. However, Jutanugarn comes into Ottawa off two weeks of rest and rehab and is ready to defend her title.

Jutanugarn will tee off on No. 10 on Thursday at 1:42 p.m. with Angel Yin, who sank the clinching putt for the USA at last week’s Solheim Cup, and 2017 U.S. Women’s Open champion Sung Hyun Park.

Lydia Ko already has her name on the CP Women’s Open trophy three times, twice as an amateur in 2012 and 2013 and then as a professional in 2015. This week in Ottawa, she would love nothing more than to add a fourth title and second as a professional to that tally.

“I’ve been working hard with my team to be a bit more consistent,” said Ko, who is looking for her first title of 2017. “I think consistency is so important on Tour because you’re playing week in and week out, and to have that consistency is going to help to, I guess, build confidence too. I love playing in Canada, so hopefully I’ll be able to have a good result this week.”

Ko actually almost became a Canadian rather than a New Zealander as a young child. Ko was born in the Republic of Korea, and her parents contemplated both countries before ultimately deciding to become Kiwis.

“I feel like there are a lot of similarities between New Zealand and Canada,” said Ko. “The people are great, super nice. The towns and the cities remind me a lot of New Zealand. So, I know I’m going to a different country, but it feels like home almost. The Canadians have really taken me in as one of their own.”

Ko will tee off on No. 1 on Thursday at 8:27 a.m. with 2010 CPWO champion Michelle Wie and 2017 LPGA rookie Nelly Korda.

This week marks Katherine Kirk’s first visit to the Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club since 2008, when she won the CP Women’s Open for her first LPGA victory. You might think that all the excitement would make this a can’t-forget moment. But with a sheepish grin, Kirk admits that it’s all a blur.

“I remember a little bit of Thursday’s round and a little of Sunday’s round, but Friday, Saturday, not so much,” said Kirk, who trailed Yani Tseng by six strokes going into Sunday’s final round. “If you asked me what I shot, I don’t think I could tell you. Actually, I’d have to look it up.”

For the record, Kirk shot a final-round 69 to win by one stroke over Se Ri Pak and two strokes over Tseng. Of course, many people here at Ottawa Hunt still remember the Australian for her 2008 success.

“I’ve had a few volunteers come up to me and say, hey, we met you at the volunteer tent back in ‘08 and you signed a hat for us,” said Kirk, who captured the third win of her LPGA career at July’s Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic. “Or people would come up to me, hey, hopefully you can repeat from ‘08. So obviously there are a lot of folks that have come back or either volunteered or they’re going to come out and watch the tournament this week.”

Kirk will tee off on No. 10 on Thursday at 1:20 p.m. with Paula Creamer and Inbee Park.

Pairing and start times – Rounds 1&2…
Pairings for the first and second rounds of the 2017 CP Women’s Open are available here.

Interview transcripts, audio files and video…
Interview transcripts, audio MP3 files, as well as downloadable royalty-free images and broadcast quality videos for all media interviews and scrums will be available online here.

Media guide…
Download the 2017 CP Women’s Open Media Guide by clicking here.

CP Has Heart Charity Campaign to benefit the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario…
Now in its fourth year, CP’s community investment program, CP Has Heart, is committed to raising funds in support of children’s heart health in the host community of the CP Women’s Open. The 2017 edition of Canada’s National Women’s Open is proud to have the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) as the beneficiary charity. 

The CP Has Heart fundraising activities tied to the CP Women’s Open and CHEO are part of CP’s overarching “Beautiful Hearts” campaign across the Ottawa region which will also run during the CFL regular season, playoffs and Grey Cup

The “Beautiful Hearts” campaign will support the refurbishment of facilities that patients use every day at CHEO and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and celebrate the resiliency and spirit of the human heart.

Through August 27, 2017, CP will match all donations made towards pediatric cardiac at www.cheoheart.com. CP will also donate $5,000 to CHEO for every birdie made by a player on the 15th hole at Ottawa Hunt during this year’s championship. The 15th hole will also feature the 15th Green CP Fan Zone where golf fans can donate $20 to upgrade their grounds pass to access a covered greenside bleacher and viewing area with all proceeds to benefit CHEO. 

Since 2014, the CP Has Heart charity campaign has raised more than $4.5 million in support of children’s heart health. 

Kids 17-and-under Get in Free…
Golf Canada and CP are committed to offering a fan friendly, family event with the CP Women’s Open. To introduce more juniors to the sport, children aged 17-and-under get FREE admission to the CP Women’s Open for the entire week.

Tickets…
Juniors – 17 & Under Free
Anyday Grounds (Thurs-Sun) $39.55
Weekly (Mon-Sun) $90.40

Television coverage…

Thursday, August 24
Golf Channel 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m

Friday, August 25
Golf Channel 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Saturday, August 26
Golf Channel 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Sunday, August 27
Golf Channel 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.

NOTE: All times listed are in Eastern Time. Times are approximate and are subject to change without notice.

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ABOUT THE 2017 CP WOMEN’S OPEN
The stars of the LPGA Tour will challenge for the CP Women’s Open from August 21-27, 2017 at Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club in Ottawa. The CP Women’s Open is proud to name the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario as the official tournament charity for 2017. Funds raised will be dedicated to the pediatric cardiology program and are being matched by CP through its CP Has Heart community program. The CP Women’s Open, Canada’s National Women’s Open Golf Championship, is proudly sponsored by CP, RBC, WestJet, Levelwear, Coors Light, Ballantine’s, MNP, Golf Town, Acura, the Government of Canada and Ottawa Tourism. For information on volunteer opportunities, tickets or corporate hospitality, visit www.CPwomensopen.com, or call 1-866-571-5742.

ABOUT CANADIAN PACIFIC
Canadian Pacific (TSX:CP)(NYSE:CP) is a transcontinental railway in Canada and the United States with direct links to eight major ports, including Vancouver and Montreal, providing North American customers a competitive rail service with access to key markets in every corner of the globe. CP is a low-cost provider that is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit www.cpr.ca to see the rail advantages of CP.

ABOUT CP HAS HEART
At CP, we know that a railroad may serve as the arteries of a nation, but at its heart is community. That’s why, through CP Has Heart, we’ve already committed more than $10 million to help improve the heart health of men, women and children across North America. And along the way, we’re showing heart whenever we can. Find out more on www.cpr.ca or @CPhasHeart.

GOLF CANADA – LOVE THE GAME. GROW THE GAME.
Golf Canada is the National Sports Federation and governing body for golf in Canada representing 305,000 golfers and 1,400 member clubs across the country. A proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Golf Canada’s mission is to grow participation, excellence and passion in the sport while upholding the integrity and traditions of the game. By investing in the growth of the sport and introducing more participants of all ages to the game, our goal is to be relevant to and respected by all Canadian golf enthusiasts from coast to coast. For more information about what Golf Canada is doing to support golf in your community, visit www.golfcanada.ca.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Terry Lenyk
Manager, Professional Championship Communications 
Golf Canada
(c) 416-407-3893
(e) tlenyk@golfcanada.ca

Jeremy Berry
Director, Media Relations
Canadian Pacific
(p) (403) 319-6227
(e) jeremy_berry@cpr.ca