Katherine Hull Tops List of Former Champions Set to Compete at 2009 CN Canadian Women’s Open

Defending champion to be joined at Priddis Greens by former champions Lorena Ochoa, Cristie Kerr, Meena Lee and Meg Mallon in challenging for the $2.75 million (US) purse

Calgary (RCGA) – CN and the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) announced today that defending champion Katherine Hull will headline a group of former champions who have confirmed their intention to be in Calgary August 31-September 6 to compete for the $2.75 million (US) CN Canadian Women’s Open at Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club.

After winning the 2008 CN Canadian Women’s Open in Ottawa, Hull became a Rolex First-Time Winner and crossed the $1 million mark in career earnings. After her career year in 2008, the Australia native currently sits at number 13 on the Rolex Rankings and 16th on the LPGA Official Money List with more than $338,000 (US) in winnings this season.

Hull’s confirmation was announced Thursday in Calgary where she was joined by Canada’s own Lorie Kane at an event held at Priddis Greens promoting the 2009 CN Canadian Women’s Open and this year’s host charity beneficiary, the Alberta Children’s Hospital.

Along with Hull (2008), four other past champions were confirmed for Priddis including the world’s number-one player Lorena Ochoa (2007), Cristie Kerr (2006), Meena Lee (2005), Meg Mallon (2002, 2004). Also in the field is LPGA Tour and World Golf Halls of Famer Karrie Webb, who won the 1999 du Maurier Classic, the last time Priddis Greens hosted Canada’s only stop on the LPGA Tour.

“We are thrilled that Katherine will be joining us in Calgary to defend her title,” said Sean Van Kesteren, Tournament Director, CN Canadian Women’s Open. “Our list of former champions includes many of the LPGA Tour’s finest players over the past several years and I’m sure Calgary golf fans will realize very quickly why Lorena, Cristie, Meg and Meena are considered among the most talented competitors ever to compete on the LPGA Tour.”

Hull, Ochoa, Kerr, Lee and Mallon will join previously confirmed notables Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome, Michelle Wie, Morgan Pressel, Natalie Gulbis and Yani Tseng, as well as Canadian favourites Lorie Kane and Alena Sharp.

The 2009 CN Canadian Women’s Open will take place August 31-September 6 at Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club. The Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation has been designated as the community charity for the CN Miracle Match program.

Tickets for the 2009 CN Canadian Women’s Open can be purchased online at www.cncanadianwomensopen.com or by calling 1-866-571-LPGA.

ABOUT THE 2009 CN CANADIAN WOMEN’S OPEN
Stars of the LPGA Tour will be featured at the US$2.75 million CN Canadian Women’s Open from August 31 to September 6 at Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club in Calgary, Alta. The CN Canadian Women’s Open is proudly sponsored by the Canadian National Railway Company along with event partners CVS Controls Ltd., TaylorMade adidas Golf, Corona Extra, The Globe and Mail, CE Franklin Ltd., Calgary Sport Tourism Authority, Safeway, Mexico Tourism, CBC, The Glenlivet, Bell, Reader’s Digest and local media partners Calgary Herald, Corus Entertainment and Global Calgary. For updated corporate hospitality, sponsorship opportunities, daily tickets, and volunteer information please visit www.cncanadianwomensopen.com.

NORTH AMERICA’S RAILROAD
CN – Canadian National Railway Company – 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 ALBERTA CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
The Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation raises funds for excellence in child health and family centred care. Through the generosity of donors, the Foundation provides funding for innovative family centred programs, state of the art equipment, advanced medical training and internationally recognized pediatric research. For more information please visit www.childrenshospital.ab.ca.

ABOUT THE ROYAL CANADIAN GOLF ASSOCIATION
The Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) is the governing body of golf in Canada, representing 377,000 members at 1,600 clubs across the country. Recognized by Sport Canada as the National Sports Organization (NSO) for golf in this country, the RCGA’s mission is to grow participation in and passion for the sport while upholding the integrity and traditions of the game. The RCGA conducts programs and services to help shape the future of golf in Canada. High performance athlete development, Rules of Golf and amateur status, handicapping and course rating, turfgrass and environmental research, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum and CN Future Links, Canada’s national junior golf program, are only some of the initiatives the association leads for golf in Canada. In addition, the RCGA conducts Canada’s most prestigious golf championships. The RBC Canadian Open and CN Canadian Women’s Open attract the best professional golfers in the world, while regional junior and national amateur championships showcase the best in Canadian golf.

For further information on what the RCGA is doing to support golf in your community please visit www.rcga.org.