For the first time ever, the CN Canadian Women's golf tour is on its way to Squamish.
The country's top women's developmental tour will make its way to the Squamish Valley Golf Club (SVGC) from May 16 to 18, making Squamish one of the four stops on the season.
"It's great to get a tournament like this both for us and for Squamish," said Brian Avey, the general manager of the SVGC. "I think it speaks highly of the course we have here and it's exciting because we haven't had an event this big since the amateurs we hosted in 2005."
Back then, 120 of the top amateur women's players from North America descended upon Squamish and Avey said it was from that tournament that a solid understanding between Golf Canada and the SVGC began.
"We have a pretty good relationship with Golf Canada," Avey said. "We did a good job in 2005 and put in a bid to be the Western host for this tournament. This event is really important to us and it should be a very interesting few days of action. It is the top women's golf event on the West Coast this season."
The first day of the event will be Pro/Am tournament, with 13 of the top pros teaming up with local dignitaries in a fun day of golf. The following two days will be the competitive portion, with the field of 90 players battling it out in an important event on the tour. On the line is more than $60,000 in prize money and the winner will receive an automatic entry into the Canadian Open, the final event on the tour.
The event is open to professionals, top amateurs and youth golfers but 72 of the 90 players entered will be full professionals. The No. 1 women's player in the country, Alena Sharp, will compete, along with several of the same players who starred at the amateurs' event in Squamish in 2005. Stephanie Sherlock, who placed third at the event will return for the 2011 event, along with other competitors Jessica Wallace, Langley's Sue Kim and Kelowna's Samantha Richdale.
"These players should break the course record of 68 shot back in 2005," said Adam Helmer, Golf Canada's tournament director.
Avey said organizers are still looking for volunteers to provide live scoring updates during the tournament. Known as walking scorers, the volunteers follow the action on the course closely and input scores via a Blackberry. Those results are then uploaded to the leaderboards instantly so that spectators and competitors can get up-to-the-minute information. The devices are all provided and Avey said anyone who wants to volunteer can contact him at the club.
Public viewing of the tournament is free and takes place from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on both days.
For more information on the tour, visit www.cncanadianwomenstour.ca.
