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Cristie Kerr stuns Angela Stanford to win the CN Canadian Women's Open
- Click here to view official results -
London,
ON (CP) - The sun had dipped below the towering trees at London Hunt and
Country Club as Cristie Kerr stood on the driving range preparing for a
playoff that would never happen.
Even when the nearby crowd groaned as Angela Stanford made a three-putt
on the final hole to give Kerr the CN Canadian Women's Open, Kerr didn't
believe she had completed a comeback from eight behind until she was in
the arms of fiancé Erik Stevens.
"I just said, 'I can't believe it. I can't believe it.' It's been that kind
of day."
Stanford talked about how difficult it is to win an LPGA event and then
went out and showed how easy it is to lose one.
Kerr came out of the pack to catch the third-round leader with a 7-under
65 Sunday to win the $1.7-million US event. The eight-stroke comeback was
the largest on the LPGA this season.
"I played a perfect round of golf today and that's what it took," said Kerr,
who earned $255,000 for the win.
Her 65 was eight strokes better than the fourth-round average, but she was
still trailing by a shot when it was all over.
Stanford then made bogey from the sand on the tough par-3 17th - she was
0-for-4 on sand saves in the final round - before bogeying 18 for a 74 that
left her alone in second place. It was a shocking finish for a player who
led here from very early in the first round until the 72nd hole.
"All day long I felt I had control," said Stanford, who started the day
with a four-shot lead. "I felt like I was in a good spot all day long."
"I never really thought (I had lost control) until 17."
It was deja vu for the duo.
Stanford also surrendered a four-shot lead to Kerr in the final round of
the Franklin American Mortgage Championship in May. On that day outside
Nashville, Kerr had a 67, while Stanford shot a 73.
She came from even further behind to secure her eighth LPGA victory and
second this season. Kerr was once considered a failed prodigy after joining
the tour at age 19 in 1997 and taking 136 events to get her first victory,
which came at the 2002 Longs Drug Challenge.
Clearly, she's learned to win since and thinks her story could be a lesson
for Stanford, whose lone LPGA victory came three years ago.
"People don't remember that though," Kerr said of her early struggles. "People
remember now, today. I think that winning is very much a learned behaviour
and I think she should not get down herself."
"I think that she should learn from this."
Kerr's round really got going on the seventh hole, when she made the first
of three straight birdies. She played the final 12 holes in 6-under par
but her up-and-down from the sand on No. 17 to save par was as big as any.
A large gallery had the chance to see Kerr's splendid round as she was playing
alongside fan favourite Lorie Kane of Charlottetown, who shot a 75 and finished
in a tie for 16th. Kim Brozer of Red Deer, Alta., was the next best Canadian
in 37th after a 76.
Kane walked off the 18th at London Hunt blowing kisses to the fans and was
full of praise for her playing partner.
"What really impresses me about Cristie is that she can pull it out of her
hat when she needs to," she said. "She's a very determined young lady and
has a great golf game."
"Cristie had it all today."
Kerr's dramatic comeback was only fitting for a tournament that was almost
left for dead a year ago and still managed to exceed all expectations here.
The sun shone brightly all week and the fans turned out in droves to cheer
on the golfers and get autographs from the always gracious LPGA players.
London Hunt also played like a true championship course, giving players
several chances to make birdie but also penalizing them for missed fairways
and greens. The scoring average was above par each day.
When CN stepped in to save the tournament last October, this is exactly
the kind of event - and dramatic finish - they envisioned.
"We couldn't be more thrilled," said Hunter Harrison, the president and
CEO of CN. "We're committed to making this one of the premier events. We're
not just a fill-in sponsor."
"We couldn't be more satisfied with how things have come off this week."
Stanford will no doubt arrive in Portland, Ore., for next week's LPGA event
with a lump in her throat.
She gave herself several opportunities on Sunday to get some distance on
the field, but couldn't find the range with her putter - the club that has
probably most held her career back.
Still, it took an unlikely 65 on a difficult golf course for her to lose.
"I didn't really make any mistakes again," said Stanford. Until the final
two holes. Kerr knew that was possible because the pins were tucked tight
to the edge of the green on both holes. After signing her scorecard and
taking a look at the giant scoreboard off the 18th green, the 28-year-old
American said, "It's not over yet."
Stanford promptly came through, made two bogeys and buried her head in her
hands. Several minutes later she still couldn't believe that Kerr had caught
her.
"Yes, I'm surprised . . .," Stanford said before trailing off. She wasn't
the only one.
Notes: Stanford also lost a playoff an 18-hole playoff at the 2003 U.S.
Women's Open . . . Salimah Mussani of Burlington, Ont., and amateur Laura
Matthews of Essex, Ont., each shot final-round 75s, Jessica Shepley of Oakville,
Ont., carded a 77 and Monday qualifier Jennifer Greggain of Chilliwack,
B.C., had a 78.
CHIP SHOTS
Canadian Recap
T16 Lorie Kane 68-70- 73-75--286 (-2)T37 Kim Brozer 73-71-71-76--291 (+3)
T58 Salimah Mussani 73-74-73-75--296 (+8)
T65 (a) Laura Matthews 75-74-74-75--298 (+10)
T76 Jessica Shepley 75-74-76-77--302 (+14)
81 Jennifer Greggain 73-74-79-78--304 (+16)
Record Attendance
The residents of London and the surrounding Southwestern Ontario area came out in droves this week setting record attendance numbers at the CN Canadian Women's Open. During the final round, 16,500 made their way through the gates, bringing the final tally up to 61,000 – a new high record for the Canadian Women's Open.Weekly Attendance Figures
Monday – 1,500; Tuesday 1,000; Wednesday – 1,500; Thursday – 12,500; Friday – 13,500; Saturday – 14,500; Sunday – 16,500; TOTAL = 61,000Volunteers Make a Difference
Last night a caddie bag signed by all players competing this week was auctioned off during the volunteer appreciation party. The unique souvenir fetched a total of $3,250 for the Children's Hospital of Western Ontario. That figure was generously matched by CN, bringing the grand total raised to $6,500.Outstanding Volunteers
The community of London made an impact with its gracious support and hospitality of the 2006 CN Canadian Women's Open. Over 1,300 volunteers devoted countless hours and enthusiasm to make the championship an overwhelming success. Players, officials, spectators, and guests were served with a smile all week – Well done London!Top Amateur
Laura Matthews of Essex, Ont. was the lone amateur qualifying for the weekend and played well representing the Southwestern Ontario area. Matthews, the Head Coach of Oklahoma State University, will use her experience this week at the upcoming Women's World Amateur Team Championship held October 26-29 in South Africa.Media Interviews
Audio from Sunday's final round interviews of Cristie Kerr, Angela Stanford, Lorie Kane, Kim Brozer and Laura Matthews, E. Hunter Harrison and Sean Van Kesteren are accessible in the media room section of www.canadianwomensopen.com.CN Donates $250,000 to Children's Hospital of Western Ontario
CN presented a $250,000 cheque to Children's Hospital of Western Ontario at London Health Sciences Centre at the CN Canadian Women's Open. E. Hunter Harrison, CN president and chief executive officer, presented the cheque to Debbie Comuzzi, president and chief executive officer of the Children's Health Foundation. CN has a long-time commitment to help build safer, stronger communities where its trains operate. This practice of supporting a local charity will be repeated at future CN Canadian Women's Opens.Get Ready Edmonton
Edmonton will be the place to be next year as the CN Canadian Women's Open will be contested at the Royal Mayfair Golf & Country Club from August 13 – 19, 2007. For corporate hospitality, tickets, and volunteer information please visit www.cncanadianwomensopen.com or call 1-866-571-LPGA.ABOUT THE 2006 CN CANADIAN WOMEN'S OPEN
The stars of the LPGA Tour were featured at the $1.7 million (U.S.) CN Canadian Women's Open from August 7-13, 2006 at the London Hunt and Country Club in London, Ontario. This year marks the championship's 34th season on the LPGA Tour. The CN Canadian Women's Open is proudly sponsored by Canadian National Railway Company as well as Deep Heating Deep Cold, Curocom, Molson, Penfolds, Coca-Cola, Delta London Armouries Hotel and the Host City of London. For more information please visit www.cncanadianwomensopen.com.NORTH AMERICA'S RAILROAD
CN is the only transcontinental railroad in North America whose network spans Canada and mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico, serving the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the key cities of Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., Green Bay, Wis., Minneapolis/ St. Paul, Memphis, St. Louis, and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America. For further information please visit www.cn.ca.ABOUT THE ROYAL CANADIAN GOLF ASSOCIATION
The Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) is the governing body of golf in Canada, representing close to 400,000 members at over 1550 clubs across the country. Some of the RCGA's core services include the Rules of Golf, handicapping and course rating, support of turfgrass and environmental research, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum and CN Future Links, Canada's national junior golf program. In addition, the RCGA conducts Canada's most prestigious golf championships. The Canadian Open and CN Canadian Women's Open attract the best professional golfers in the world, while six regional junior championships, 10 national amateur championships and the CN Canadian Women's Tour showcase the best of Canadian golf. For more information please visit www.rcga.org.Anthony Alfred
Director, Media and Public Relations
Royal Canadian Golf Association
(t) 519-641-3962 (c) 416-819-0286
(e) aalfred@rcga.org
Michael Grobe
Senior Coordinator, Media and Public Relations
Royal Canadian Golf Association
(t) 519-641-3962 (c) 905-467-2944
(e) mgrobe@rcga.org
