DUNDAS, ON - Jessica Shepley of Oakville, ON claimed her first career professional win today at the 2009 Canadian PGA Women’s Championship presented by NIKE Golf at Dundas Golf and Curling Club in Dundas, ON.
Shepley shot a three-under-par 69 to add to her 66 yesterday for a two-day total of nine-under-par 135. She carded six birdies today on her victorious trip around the Valley, after a rocky start to the day. Although Shepley birdied the first hole, she found it nerve-wracking to be on the first tee.
“I was so nervous on the first tee, my heart has not beaten like that in a long time, but I was really excited to be in the last pairing today and just told myself to relax and enjoy the day and not worry about the championship title, money or how anyone else was playing,” stated Shepley who turned professional four years ago.
Shepley bogeyed the second and third hole and was beginning to fall behind Clarissa Childs of Columbia, SC, which was not what she was envisioning coming into the final round. “I had a long talk with my coach Sean Foley last night, and he told me to just go out there and keep my head up the entire day, look at the horizon and make par, because the birdies will come,” stated Shepley who has not won an event since the 2002 Toronto Star Amateur Championship. “I think my attitude has shifted quite a lot in the past few years, and it seems like it is coming together for me now. Back in 2006 for example, my game would have been over after bogeying the second hole, but now, I know it’s just golf, there are 16 more holes to go and I can’t control anyone else’s game but my own.”
A pleasant surprise for Shepley was to see Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Member Marlene Stewart Streit, a mentor of Shepley’s in her junior career, on the 10th hole. She turned to Streit on the 11th green after birdying the hole and said “that one’s for you” as she matched birdies with Childs to begin her quest on the back nine leading her to victory.
“It has been incredible to see the relationships over the past few years that I have built through golf and how they have come full circle,” stated Shepley. “The last couple of months I have started to see things coming together, and relationships interlock such as my relationship with Marlene and Sandra Post. They were both so huge in terms of mentoring me in my game and in terms of growing up. To still have those relationships today is something I cherish as a lot of girls my age aren’t as fortunate.”
Shepley had a long talk with Sandra Post last night about attitude on the course. “She told me to just go out there today, have fun, enjoy it, stop trying so hard and be positive all day.” The other positive aspect of the win for Shepley other than claiming a National title is that she gets to take home the $11,500 winner’s cheque to help her pay financials.
“The win means so much to me, it is huge for my confidence. I have been waiting four years to win professionally, and it was so cool to win at home,” stated Shepley, who has promised to come back year after year to attend the Championship.
Shepley is currently en-route to Virginia to compete in the next Duramed Futures Tour event. If she wins the next two events on the LPGA development tour, she will rank in the top five on Tour, giving her full exempt status on the LPGA Tour for the 2010 season. If Shepley makes the top ten (as she did last year) she is granted conditional status on the LPGA Tour. The bottom five in the top ten on the Futures Tour are given an exemption into the last round of LPGA Qualifying School where they can compete for full status.
In addition to the Canadian PGA National Championship added to her resume, Shepley will also receive an exemption into the 2010 CN Women’s Open.
Taking home the Low Amateur award was RCGA National Team member Stephanie Sherlock, of Barrie, ON who finished with a71-69 for a two-round total of 140. The Low Club Professional of the event was 1993 Champion Lanie Cahill of Brockville, ON finishing with a 67-76 for a two-day total of 143.
The Canadian PGA Women’s Championship presented by NIKE Golf was a two day 36-hole stroke play championship at Dundas Valley Golf and Curling Club. The 22nd edition of the event, offered a purse of $70,000.
This year’s championship marks the first time that Dundas Valley Golf & Curling Club has hosted the Canadian PGA Women’s Championship, although they were host to the 2004 Canadian PGA Seniors’ Championship. The National Championship was last contested in Mississauga at Credit Valley Golf and Country Club in 2008 when Hannah Jun of San Diego, CA took home the title.
Dundas Valley Golf Club is a private club offering 27 holes of scenic beauty comprising of an 18-hole course as well as a 9-hole par 3 course. Its lush fairways gently cascade from the western tip of the Niagara Escarpment, a World Biosphere Area, offering golfers breathtaking views. Lush, mature oak, willow and maple trees line this enhanced Canadian classic designed in 1929 by one of history’s most respected course architects, Stanley Thompson, designer of 15 of the top 100 golf courses in Canada including Banff, Jasper and St. Georges.
About Nike Golf Canada:
Based in Thornhill, Ontario, Nike Golf Canada markets, sells and distributes industry leading Nike Golf golf equipment, apparel, balls, footwear, bags and accessories throughout Canada. Nike Golf is passionately dedicated to honouring and respecting the traditions and heritage of the game, and to providing committed golfers with the absolute best equipment in the game. For more information on Nike Golf Canada, visit www.nikegolf.ca. Editors and journalists seeking editorial information and downloadable images, visit www.nikegolf.com/presscenter.
About the Canadian PGA:
Established in 1911, the Canadian Professional Golfers’ Association is a non-profit association comprised of approximately 3,500 golf professionals across the country with a mandate to promote and advance the game of golf, serving the needs of both its membership and the golf public through professional and junior golf development programs and high-calibre competitive events. The National Office is located in Acton, Ontario with nine Zone Offices across the country. For more information, visit www.cpga.com
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