HARRIS, Mich. – Four Winds Invitational Champion Brooke Henderson (Smiths Falls, Ontario) shot an opening round 70 in her first round as an official member of the Symetra Tour and currently sits in a tie for 18th at the Island Resort Championship.

“I didn’t play my best today,” Henderson admitted. “It was a little bit up-and-down. I started off with a bogey on the first hole but was able to bounce back and finish 2-under which I’m happy about. I still have a lot of work to do but I’m excited to be out here as an official member of the Symetra Tour and to compete against these players.”

Following her victory in South Bend, Henderson petitioned to waive the minimum age requirement and was granted Symetra Tour membership by LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan.

With her new membership, Henderson was able to get into the field this week based on her Category C status. The 17-year old has been taking advantage of the opportunity and enjoying her first event in the Upper Peninsula.

“The hospitality is top of the line for sure,” Henderson said. “It’s been an honor to be here the past couple of days. Great people and they’ve treated us like gold.”

After the first round four players – Dani Holmqvist (Stockholm, Sweden), Lee Lopez (Whittier, Calif.), Lauren Doughtie (Suffolk, Va.) and Giulia Molinaro (Treviso, Italy) – sit atop the leaderboard at 5-under-par.

“You never expect five under,” Molinaro said. “Today I think it’s as easy as it could get. There was no wind and perfect weather. I’m not surprised that there were some lower scores today.”

“I think it played very fair,” Holmqvist added. “If you hit a good shot you would get a pretty good result from it.”

The four at the top of the leaderboard sit a stroke clear of Anne-Catherine Tanguay (Quebec, Canada), Ani Gulugian (Irvine, Calif.) and Annie Park (Levittown, N.Y.) who sit at 4-under. In total, there are 39 golfers within four strokes of the lead.

Second round play will begin off the first and tenth tees starting at 7:30 a.m. on Friday.

HARRIS, Mich. – The Symetra Tour, Road to the LPGA, has announced that Brooke Henderson was granted Symetra Tour membership by LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan following her win at last week’s Four Winds Invitational. By virtue of her win, Henderson will be placed in category C on the Symetra Tour Priority List for the remainder of the year. She has committed to play in the Island Resort Championship this week in Harris, Michigan and was already scheduled to play the Tullymore Classic, July 3-5, as a sponsor invite.

Henderson carded a 3-under 69 on Sunday at Blackthorn Golf Club to win her first Symetra Tour event by three shots at 10-under 206. She became the third youngest winner in Symetra Tour history behind 16-year-old Hannah O’Sullivan, who won the Gateway Classic at Longbow Golf Club earlier this year, and Cristie Kerr, who was 17 years old when she won the 1995 Ironwood FUTURES Classic.

“I‘m really excited to be a member of the Symetra Tour and that my petition was accepted by Mike Whan and the LPGA,” said Henderson. “I have worked really hard to maximize the playing opportunities on both LPGA and Symetra Tours and to get a win at the Four Winds Invitational feels really good and gets me closer to my goals.”

Here is the statement from LPGA Chief Tour Operations Officer Heather Daly-Donofrio on Henderson being granted membership on the Symetra Tour:

“On Sunday, Brooke Henderson petitioned Commissioner Whan to waive the minimum age requirement to be eligible for Symetra Tour membership. Commissioner Whan reviewed the petition and accepted it. Based on her win Sunday at the Four Winds Invitational, Henderson will now be seeded into Category C on the 2015 Symetra Tour Priority List for the remainder of the season. As a Symetra Tour Member, she will be eligible to earn official money for the purposes of the Symetra Tour Money List and the Volvik Race for the Card. Per Symetra Tour regulations, any money previously earned by Henderson as a non-member will remain unofficial for the purposes of the Symetra Tour Money List. Henderson plans to compete this week at the Island Resort Championship in Harris, Michigan.”

Henderson’s $22,500 first-place check for the Four Winds Invitational victory will not count towards the official Volvik Race for the Card money list because she played the event as a non-member. However, any money earned by Henderson at the Island Resort Championship and any Symetra event moving forward will count.

While the money that Henderson won last week is unofficial, her victory at the Four Winds Invitational will count toward potential additional playing opportunities on the LPGA. Winners of three official Symetra Tour tournaments during the current year can earn a spot in Category 13 on the LPGA Priority List. A spot in Category 13 does not give a player LPGA membership but it is an opportunity for that player to compete in LPGA events as a non-member.

“Since turning professional this year, Brooke has compiled an impressive list of accomplishments including her victory Sunday at the Four Winds Invitational,” said Chief Business Officer of the Symetra Tour Mike Nichols. “We welcome her to the Symetra Tour for the remainder of the season as she continues her pursuit of ultimately joining the LPGA Tour.”

This year, Henderson has competed in seven LPGA events as a non-member while posting two top-10 finishes and five top-25 results. She recently finished in a tie for fifth at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Henderson is scheduled to play in the U.S. Women Open in July after finishing in a tie for 10th at last year’s U.S. Women’s Open.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. carded a 3-under 69 to win the 2015 Four Winds Invitational by three shots at 10-under 206. Henderson becomes the third youngest winner in the history of the Symetra Tour.

“It’s amazing to win and I’m so thankful that I got the sponsors exemption this week so I’d be able to play with my older sister,” said 17-year-old Henderson. “I’m very grateful for the win here and I think it will be a big confidence booster moving forward.”

“These are great players out here (on the Symetra Tour) and this win is huge for me,” Henderson continued. “I have big goals and this is definitely a stepping stone towards them.”

Henderson played the front nine in 1-under to move to 8-under for the tournament and made the turn in a share of the lead with Dottie Ardina. Then, Ardina made birdie on the tenth hole to take the lead at 9-under. Both Ardina and Henderson made birdie on the 11th hole and Ardina held a one shot lead with seven holes to play.

The momentum shifted in Henderson’s favor on the 12th hole when she made birdie and Ardina made bogey. Henderson also birdied the 13th hole to move to 11-under. She would cruise to victory as Ardina made four bogeys over five holes between the 12th and 16th holes.

“I was 1-under on the front nine and I knew I was near the lead, but I was kicking myself because I knew I needed to get it going,” said Henderson. “Holes 11 and 12 were huge turning points where Dottie and I kind of switched positions and then I was able to keep it from there.”

Henderson has been very busy and will continue to be, but she is fine with that.

“I’ve been busy, but I wouldn’t change it for the world, it has been a lot of fun,” said Henderson. “People often ask me how busy it is and why I don’t take a week off, but I love being out here and I think every week I am learning a bit more about myself and my game and I think it is helping me be better.”

Brooke’s older sister, Brittany, a Symetra Tour member, followed her from hole 16th until the end.

“Brittany has been a huge role model for me and this week it has been awesome to be able to play with her,” said Henderson. “I’ve always followed in her footsteps and I was so excited to see her on 16 and have her follow me in. She is one of my best friends, too.”

Second-round leader Dottie Ardina of the Philippines was second. She birdied the final hole for a 74.

American Selanee Henderson, Canada’s Jessica Wallace of Langley, B.C., and Italy’s Giulia Molinaro tied for third at 7 under. Selanee Henderson had a 65, and Wallace and Molinaro shot 70.

After the victory, Henderson also took to Twitter to announce some great news. The Team Canada member – having previously been denied LPGA membership due to an age restriction – is now a member of the Symetra Tour.

So excited about my @Road2LPGA win!!! And so thankful to @LPGACommish to accept my petition to become a member of the #SymetraTour

— Brooke Henderson (@BrookeH_Golf) June 22, 2015

Brooke Henderson had petitioned Commissioner Whan to waive the minimum age requirement to be eligible for Symetra Tour membership earlier today. Commissioner Whan reviewed the petition and accepted it.

“Based on her win today at the Four Winds Invitational, Henderson will now be seeded into Category C on the 2015 Symetra Tour Priority List for the remainder of the season,” said Heather Daly-Donofrio, the LPGA’s Chief Tour Operations Officer.

As a Symetra Tour Member, she will be eligible to earn official money for the purposes of the Symetra Tour Money List and the Volvik Race for the Card.

Per Symetra Tour regulations, any money previously earned by Henderson as a non-member will remain unofficial for the purposes of the Symetra Tour Money List. Henderson plans to compete this week at the Island Resort Championship in Harris, Michigan.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Dottie Ardina birdied the final three holes Saturday in the Symetra Tour’s Four Winds Invitational, leaving Canadian teen Brooke Henderson three strokes back.

Ardina, from the Philippines, shot a 7-under 65 at Blackthorn to take a 10-under 134 total into the final round.

The 17-year-old Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ont., also had a 65.

“It was a lot of fun, my ball striking today was a lot better than yesterday and that was a big key,” said Henderson. “I didn’t give myself a lot of long birdie putts and the short ones I was able to make, which is awesome. My putter has been a little off and on the last couple weeks and today it was definitely on.”

Henderson started on the back nine and birdied the 11th hole before adding three more birdies on 14, 15 and 16. She closed her round with back-to-back birdies on eight and nine.

“My game is feeling pretty good, but I know I have a lot of work to do and I’m far from where I want to be,” said Henderson. “Rounds like this are really confidence boosters. There is a lot of golf left and a lot of great players up there on the leaderboard. I know I’ll have to post another really good round tomorrow to come away with the win.”

Henderson is playing the tournament as a non-member on a sponsor invite. Any money earned on the Symetra Tour doesn’t count towards the Volvik Race for the Card money list. She has earned $317,470 in seven LPGA Tour events this season, the equivalent of 20th on the LPGA money list.

Henderson will be aiming for her third win as a professional on Sunday.

Japan’s Chie Arimura was third at 6 under after a 66.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Natalie Sheary, Casey Grice and Katherine Perry all share the lead after the first round of the Symetra Tour’s Four Winds Invitational on Friday. Sheary, Grice and Perry all shot a 4-under 68 at Blackthorn Golf Club.

Jessica Wallace of Langley, B.C., is the top Canadian at 2-under. Wallace shot an opening round 70 and is tied for ninth.

Brittany Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., is tied for 19th at 1-under while Nicole Vandermade of Brantford, Ont., is tied for 27th.

Henderson’s sister, Brooke, birdied the final two holes and is even after the first round. Brooke Henderson shot a 72 and is also tied for 27th entering Saturday. She is ranked 51st on the LPGA rankings list, making her the highest-ranked player to ever compete on the Symetra Tour.

Any trace of inclement weather from the previous day was erased with clear skies and beaming sunshine as the Canadian Women’s Tour Ontario concluded at Smiths Falls Golf & Country Club in Smiths Falls, Ont. The 36-hole competition finished with a pair of Team Canada members emerging victorious – Young Pro Squad member Rebecca Lee-Bentham claimed the title while Jennifer Ha earned low amateur honours.

Lee-Bentham opened the day in a three-way tie atop the leaderboard. The National Team Young Pro Squad member distanced herself from the pack and secured the victory by shooting the low round of the day – a 2-under 69. “I went out with a really relaxed mindset which helped me to concentrate on each shot more and not worry about results. I think that’s what helped me today,” said the Toronto native when asked about her combined 2-under 140 performance.

With the victory, Lee-Bentham not only takes the $10,000 winner’s share of the tournament’s $60,000 purse, she has also secured an exemption into the 2015 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open to be played August 17-23 at the Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, B.C. “It’s good knowing that I secured the spot. The CP Women’s Open is probably my favourite stop on tour, so just to have the opportunity to play in it again this year is a blessing,” reflected the Team Canada member.

Lee-Bentham’s Young Pro Squad teammate Brooke Henderson returned to her home course and finished one shot shy of the winner. The 17-year-old registered a bogey on her first hole, but finished the round without another to go with two birdies. The two Young Pro Squad members’ under-par rounds were the only ones of the tournament.

Brittany Henderson, the elder of the two Henderson sisters, finished in a five-way tie for third place. The rookie on the Symetra Tour carded a second-round 73 and completed the competition at 4-over 146.

Joining Brittany Henderson for a share of third was National Team Amateur Squad member Jennifer Ha. The Calgary native was one of four players to notch back-to-back 73s; the only difference is that the Ha was the lone amateur to do so. “It was an up and down sort of day,” said Ha of her round. “I hit the ball well and overall, I’m pretty happy with the way I played. Winning low amateur has made this event extra special.”

Ha sees the honour as a stepping stone as she heads into an important summer. “It gives me a lot of confidence going into the season. It’s going to be a big year for me as I get ready to become a professional. It gives me a boost knowing that I can finish high at a professional event. Hopefully this trend continues and I can build upon the success I found here.”

For a second day in a row, the Canadian National Team contingent fared well. Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., finished in a four-way tie for eighth with a score of 5-over. Thornhill, Ont., native Elizabeth Tong equaled her first-day 74 for a share of 12^th place while London, Ont., product Maddie Szeryk was T14 at 7-over. Of the 23 amateurs in the field, the four National Team Amateur Squad members finished at the top.

Rebecca Lee-Bentham joins Michelle Piyapattra of Corona, Calif., as the winners of the first two legs on the 2015 Canadian Women’s Tour. The Tour’s third and final stop, the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada, will be contested July 20-22 at Burlington Golf & Country Club in Burlington, Ont. In addition to the exemptions awarded to the Tour champions, the top two competitors on the Jocelyne Bourassa Order of Merit, who are not otherwise exempt will join the trio at Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship, provided they have played in at least two of the three Tour events.

The five highest ranked players on the Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit will also be awarded direct entry into the second stage of LPGA Qualifying School.

Additional Information on Canadian Women’s Tour Ontario can be found here.

The second stop on the 14^th Canadian Women’s Tour saw rains come and go, but when play resumed following a three-hour delay, Rebecca Lee-Bentham, Seul-Ki Park and Jennifer Greggain took to the course and conquered the wet conditions at Smiths Falls Golf & Country Club to take the lead.

Dark skies and heavy rains clouded the morning and allowed for just the first 10 groups to tee off on-time before unplayable conditions delayed the remainder of the field of 84. The downpour subsided and gave way to brilliant sunshine to mask the wet conditions on the course. Seul-Ki Park opened with a pair of birdies on her first four holes, but the Northbrook, Ill., native couldn’t maintain her quick start. She concluded her round with a bogey on hole 18 to finish at even par.

“My tee shots kind of cost me today, but I was able to make three birdies to even out my three bogeys,” said Park, when asked about her round. “I think if I tighten up a little bit, I can position myself a little bit better. But obviously, it’s not over until the last shot.

Park’s two co-leaders needed time to re-focus following the delay, but settled down as the round progressed. Chilliwack, B.C., product Jennifer Greggain finished the front nine with a bogey to fall to 2-over par, but a pair of birdies on the 13^th and 17^th holes drew her back to even.

Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Rebecca Lee-Bentham needed a moment to gather herself, but quickly regained her form to take a share of the lead. The Toronto native went bogey-free on her final 12 holes and added a trio of birdies, including one on her final hole, to move into the tie for first.

Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad fared well to open the competition. Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., carded four birdies and sits in a three-way tie for fourth. She and Christina Foster are currently knotted for low amateur honours.

The Henderson sisters, Brooke and Brittany, opened the two-day tournament on their home course with identical 2-over 73 performances. Brooke, the younger of the two, notched birdies on the 1^st and 4^th holes, but succumbed to the difficult course conditions. Sister Brittany found her form and ended her round even across the back nine. The two are part of a six-player tie for seventh alongside National Team member Jennifer Ha of Calgary.

The remaining members of Team Canada – Elizabeth Tong of Thornhill, Ont., and Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., – finished T13 and T15 respectively to put all six National Team members within the top-15 and within four strokes of the lead.

The purse for the tournament is set at $60,000 with $10,000 going to the champion.  The tournament winner will join Canadian Women’s Tour – Alberta champion Michelle Piyapattra in receiving a prized exemption into the 2015 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open taking place August 17-23 at The Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, B.C.

The PGA Women’s Championship of Canada, the concluding event on the 2015 Canadian Women’s Tour, is set to be hosted at Burlington Golf & Country Club in Burlington, Ont., from July 20-22. In addition to the three winner exemptions, the top two competitors on the Jocelyne Bourassa Order of Merit, who are not otherwise exempt will join the trio at Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship, provided they have played in at least two of the three Tour events.

The five highest ranked players on the Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit will also be awarded direct entry into the second stage of LPGA Qualifying School.

The final round of Canadian Women’s Tour – Ontario is slated to get underway at 8 a.m. before the final threesome tees off at 10:10 a.m.

For full results and additional information, please visit the tournament’s official website.

Coquitlam, B.C. – Golf Canada in partnership with Canadian Pacific (CP) have announced that defending champion So Yeon Ryu will headline a list of seven past champions who have confirmed their intention to challenge for the US$2.25 million purse at the 2015 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.

Currently ranked No. 7 on the Rolex World Ranking, Ryu played near flawless golf last August at the London Hunt and Country Club to capture the inaugural Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. A three-time winner on the LPGA Tour, Ryu’s 23-under tournament total in 2014 set a new event scoring record in relation to par.

Also confirming her intention to compete for Canada’s National Women’s Open title will be two-time champion Lydia Ko (2012 & 2013), the current World No. 2 who made history at The Vancouver Golf Club in 2012 when she captured her first LPGA Tour victory as a 15-year old amateur.

In addition to Ryu (2014) and Ko (2012 & 2013), other past champions set to compete include World No. 5 Suzann Pettersen (2009), World No. 8 Brittany Lincicome (2011), World No. 12 Cristie Kerr (2006), World No. 14 Michelle Wie (2010) and Katherine Hull (2008).

“We’re two months away from the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and we are very pleased with how our field is coming together,” said Canadian Pacific Women’s Open Tournament Director, Brent McLaughlin. “We are fortunate to have a terrific history of champions and I know it will be especially exciting for Vancouver golf fans to welcome Lydia Ko back to The Vancouver Golf Club for the first time since her amazing win in 2012.”

Golf Canada also confirmed that 17-year old Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. has been granted an exemption to compete in the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.  Henderson, a member of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Squad and currently the No. 51 ranked player in the world, will be making her fourth consecutive appearance in Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship. In her first year as a professional, the former World No. 1 ranked amateur has amassed $317,470 in LPGA earnings including $132,725 for her tie for 5^th finish this past weekend at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

Brooke Henderson (David Cannon/ Getty Images)

“Brooke has had an outstanding start to her pro career and it comes as no surprise that she has earned an exemption to compete in Canada’s National Women’s Open for the fourth time,” said McLaughlin.  “She’s a special player and a terrific ambassador for Canadian golf and I’m sure she’ll be fan favourite once again at The Vancouver Golf Club.”

Henderson will lead a Canadian contingent that also includes four-time LPGA Tour winner and Canadian Pacific ambassador Lorie Kane of Charlottetown as well as LPGA Tour players Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont. Sue Kim of Langley, B.C. and Rebecca Lee-Bentham of Toronto.

Additional Canadian and international exemptions into the National Women’s Open Championship will be announced in the coming weeks. A field of 156 competitors will vie for the  US$2.25 million purse when the CP Women’s Open makes its return to The Vancouver Golf Club.

Community Impact…

The 2015 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open is proud to support BC Children’s Hospital as the 2015 charity beneficiary of this year’s event.

Funds raised this year will be dedicated to the pediatric cardiology research program.

As part of its community investment program CP Has Heart, CP is matching all online donations through www.bcchf.ca/cphasheart until August 23. Fan and player favourite, Birdies for Heart, also returns this year with CP committed to donating $5,000 for every birdie made on the 17th hole. In 2014, Birdies for Heart raised more than $320,000 for charity during tournament week.

Free Admission for Juniors…

Golf Canada and CP are proud to offer free admission to the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open to any spectator aged 17 and under. In addition to free admission for juniors, parents can take advantage of discounted tickets by visiting www.cpwomensopen.com/tickets and using promo code “junior”.

First conducted in 1973, Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship has allowed the brightest stars of the LPGA Tour to shine on Canadian soil and inspire the nation’s next generation of female golfers.

Additional information regarding tickets, volunteer opportunities and corporate hospitality for the 2015 or 2016 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open can be found at www.cpwomensopen.com.

COQUITLAM, B.C. – Lorie Kane is primed for a busy summer on home soil.

The Charlottetown golfer will compete in the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open at Vancouver Golf Club in August, but before that she will represent her country at next month’s Pan Am Games in Toronto.

“I’ve been joking that I might be the oldest chick in the (athletes’) village,” said the 50-year-old Kane. “I get excited when the Olympics roll around, be it winter or summer. We as Canadians, that’s what we learn to watch.

“Now to have an opportunity to be a part of that, it’s going to be really exciting.”

At the Pan Ams, Kane will team up with Brooke Henderson, the 17-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., who tied for fifth this past weekend at KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and has been making waves in the golf world.

“We have one goal and that is to win as many medals as we possibly can first and foremost,” Kane said after Monday’s Canadian Pacific Women’s Open media event. “Brooke and I will do the best to represent the best we can.”

Kane has made just two starts this season, missing both cuts, but was encouraged by her performance at the Manulife LPGA Classic in Waterloo, Ont., earlier this month.

“It may shock people if I say that (my game is) probably the best its been,” said Kane. “People judge by results and I do too, but I saw a lot of good things happen at Manulife. I just need to get into some more tournaments. Unfortunately my (ranking) isn’t great, but we will get some tournaments coming up here.”

Apart from the thrill of trying to win a medal for her country, Kane said that playing at the Pan Ams will hopefully get her in good form heading to the national championship at Vancouver Golf Club.

“The Pan Ams will be great for me,” she said. “That will be four rounds that I can play and really test things and see how I’m doing. I’d like to be peaking in August. I really think I can still challenge to win and that’s my ultimate goal.”

Kane has earned nearly US$7 million in her career, but has not won an LPGA event since 2001. She has been amazed at the rise of players like Henderson and 18-year-old Lydia Ko, who won the Canadian title in 2012 as an amateur at Vancouver Golf Club and will return in 2015.

Ko also won the 2013 Canadian title at Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton.

“You can’t hold them back,” said Kane. “They’re old beyond their days. Ya they have no fear, but they’re very tactical in what they do and how they play the game.

“The tour is so deep that any player can win on any given day.”

RYE, N.Y. – Brooke Henderson has been working hard at earning money on the LPGA Tour to earn her playing privileges for 2016.

On Monday, the 17-year-old Henderson and older sister Brittany, who is playing on the developmental Symetra Tour this season, will turn to raising money for others.

Team Henderson will host the fund-raising Magenta Mortgage Pro-Am in their hometown of Smiths Falls at the Smiths Falls Golf and Country Club where the sisters developed their emerging talents.

The pro-am will feature pros from the Canadian Women’s Tour who will be competing in their second of three tournaments in Smiths Falls on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The money raised will be used to help Smiths Falls Bears hockey player Neil Doef, who suffered a spinal cord injury while playing at the World Under 17 Championship, and his family, the Lanark County Support Services (where the Hendersons’ mother Darlene worked) and the Team Henderson 110% Club.

“We always think it’s important to give back and to do what we can to help others. It’s very important and a value of our family,” said Brooke after completing her third round at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship on Saturday.

“It’ll be a fun day and there will be a lot of exciting things will happen. It’ll be nice to give back to Neil Doef his family and also to my mom’s work, Lanark County Support Services and help with a new program that they are trying to build and also to help my sister and me out on the road, as well.

“It’ll be a great day and hopefully we’ll raise a lot of money.”

Doef was paralyzed below the waist after being hit at the U17 Championships. Through extensive physiotherapy he has regained some feeling his legs.

There has been an outpouring of support across Canada for the popular player.

“He’s a really close friend of mine. He’s an awesome guy and his family is incredible, super nice people,” said Brooke. “As much as the town has done for him and the local area and all of Canada, is really amazing. We’re hoping to just be a little part of that.”

The Canadian Women’s Tour is in its 14^th season and will offer five exemptions into the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open Aug. 17-23 at the Vancouver Golf Club.

The winner of each of the three events will be given an exemption and two other exemptions will be awarded to the top two finishers on the Tour’s Order of Merit not otherwise exempt.

There is a total of $180,000 up for grabs while the winner of each 36-hole event wins $10,000.

Michelle Piyapattra of Corona, Calif., won the first leg at the Glencoe Golf and Country Club near Calgary in May with a 4-under par total of 140, three shots better than Seul-Ki Park.

Piyapattra also won the first even on the 2014 Canadian Women’s Tour.

The Women’s Tour has also been important in providing a stage for players like Brooke Henderson to hone her skills.

She won last year’s Ontario event and the 2014 PGA Women’s Championship of Canada.

The final 2015 event will be the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada, conducted in partnership with the PGA of Canada, at the Burlington Golf and Country Club in Burlington, Ont., July 20-22.

The top five finishers on the Order of Merit also earn direct entry into the second stage of LPGA Qualifying.