The CPKC Women鈥檚 Open isn鈥檛 just a showcase for some of the LPGA Tour鈥檚 top players 鈥� it鈥檚 an opportunity for Canada鈥檚 youngest professional golfers to see how they measure up.
Although Brigitte Thibault and Sarah-Eve Rheaume both missed the cut at the Canadian women鈥檚 golf championship on Friday (Aug. 25), they agreed they learned a lot from the experience.
The 24-year-old Thibault has been playing on the Women鈥檚 All-Pro Tour this season, a third-tier circuit that has most of its tournaments in Texas. She said that playing in an LPGA Tour event was a good way of seeing how her golf is progressing.
鈥淚 felt very comfortable. I know I belong,鈥� said Thibault after a 3-over 75 second round put her at 8 over. 鈥淚鈥檓 hitting shots that I know are super tough, and I鈥檓 kind of pulling them away and giving away shots on easier shots.
鈥淪o just cleaning up and fine tuning the easier shots and I鈥檒l be right up there.鈥�
Likewise, the 22-year-old Rheaume saw that she can play at the highest levels of women鈥檚 golf. She has been playing on the second-tier Epson Tour this season, and sits 150th on its money list.
鈥淵ou see that you鈥檙e pretty close,鈥� said Rheaume about her second-ever appearance in an LPGA Tour event. 鈥淥nce you鈥檙e at the Epson Tour level the difference to step up to the LPGA isn鈥檛 that big.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a good confidence booster, because you see, you can really compete out here.鈥�
Rheaume had a 2-over 74 round on Friday to finish the tournament at 7-over par. The projected cutline was set at 2 over.
Thibault is from Rosemere, Que., and Rheaume is a native of Quebec City. As the only two Qu茅b茅cois players in the field they were proud to represent la Belle Province.
鈥淚鈥檝e seen a lot of Qu茅b茅cois out here,鈥� said Thibault of the large galleries at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been nice to just feel the support and the warmth of them, just following you and cheering for you.鈥�
Rheaume, who played two groups behind Thibault, also felt the love.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important to have some representation,鈥� said Rheaume, who played in the CP Women鈥檚 Open in Ottawa last year. 鈥淲e had four girls play (in 2022) and this year we only had two.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very nice to represent Quebec and we鈥檙e really proud of our province and our country.鈥�
Brooke Henderson (68) of Smiths Falls, Ont., and Hamilton鈥檚 Alena Sharp (76) were the only Canadians to make the cut. Henderson was tied for 11th at 1 under and Sharp was tied for 33rd at 1 over.
鈥淚鈥檓 just gonna go back out and do my best again tomorrow,鈥� said Sharp, who finished as dark was falling on the course. 鈥淚t was tough being on the clock for four holes at the end, rushing around like that wasn鈥檛 help helping on some of those holes.
鈥淚鈥檓 not super happy with how I finished but glad to have 36 more holes.鈥�
Amateur Brooke Rivers (79) of Brampton, Ont., made a clutch putt on the par-3 17th hole to save par but then double bogeyed the pat-4 No. 18 to miss the cut by two shots.
鈥淚鈥檝e never played an events as big as this,鈥� said the 18-year-old Rivers. 鈥淭he courses are set up a little bit different so it was nice to see what the pros do and what I can learn from them.鈥�
Sisters Maddie and Ellie Szeryk of London, Ont., played together in both rounds but missed the cut.
A total of 10 amateur Canadians, including Ellie Szeryk, played in the event.
Lauren Kim and Angela Arora of Surrey, B.C., Luna Lu of Burnaby, B.C., Toronto鈥檚 Vanessa Borovilos, Vancouver鈥檚 Victoria Liu, Katie Cranston of Oakville, Ont., Lauren Zaretsky of Thornhill, Ont., Yeji Kwon of Port Coquitlam, B.C., and Victoria鈥檚 Sonja Tang also missed the cut.
John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press
