Lorie Kane bids farewell to CP Women’s Open after influencing a generation of female golfers

OTTAWA — Lorie Kane tapped her heart to thank the hundreds of fans who cheered her on as she wound up the 18th fairway at the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club.

Behind Kane, his niece Charlotte Jenkins – who served as his caddy – waved to the crowd to crank up the chants even louder. When Kane reached the edge of the green, she bowed to enthusiastic applause.

This loving tribute was a fitting farewell for one of the most brilliant and influential golfers in Canadian history.

Kane, who turns 58 in December, had previously announced that this year’s CP Women’s Open would be her last. As it was clear she would miss Friday’s cut, fans, officials and volunteers came out to watch her final round at the Women’s National Golf Championship.

« It’s very humbling, » Kane said of the standing ovation. « I love to entertain, but when it’s totally directed at you, it’s really…it’s uncomfortable. »

That entertainment instinct lasted through his final two holes.

Hockey-themed No. 17, Kane donned a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey, sporting a mischievous grin as the chants of « Lorie! Lorie! » turned into boos and calls of « Go Sens! » and « Anyone but the Leafs! » She stopped to punch a single fan at that hole, pointing to her Maple Leafs windbreaker before throwing a souvenir at her.

« I just played golf to make people smile, » Kane said. “I know the Leafs jersey didn’t go as well as I would have hoped, but it was fun.

After the enthusiastic ovation as he approached the 18th hole, Kane missed his first putt. As the crowd groaned, she gave an exaggerated shrug before tapping out her final shot, finishing 28 over.

Kane thanked Alena Sharp of Hamilton and Sarah Jane Smith of Australia, her playing partners on Friday and Saturday as she played her final two rounds at the CP Women’s Open.

Sharp shot a 1 of 72 to end the day tied for 57th at 3 under par when the game was called off due to darkness. She said it was an honor to play alongside Kane, who had such a positive influence on her career.

« I grew up watching her and playing with her here on the LPGA Tour, she’s awesome. She’s a legend, » Sharp said. « It’s cool to be part of (Kane’s last rounds).

« With all of his success, I think that inspired everyone to play well. You can win on the LPGA Tour. »

Kane, of Charlottetown, has won the LPGA Tour four times. She won the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award for Female Athlete of the Year by The Canadian Press in 2000. She was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2006 and was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and the Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

Maddie Szeryk (68) of London, Ont., was the weak Canadian after two rounds. She had her second straight bogey-free day to sit tied for 13th at 7 under.

« I just played really solid. I hit multiple greens and got it done, » said Szeryk, who had back-to-back bogey-free rounds for the first time in his career.

Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., had a 3-under 68 to sit 5 under in a tie for 32nd. Amateur Lauren Zaretsky (71) of Thornhill, Ont., also made the cut, tied with Sharp at 3 under.

Rebecca Lee-Bentham of Toronto completed 15 holes and was sitting at 4 under when the horn sounded. She will resume her second round early Saturday morning, looking to stay below the 2-under cut line.

Several Canadians missed the cup on Friday. Selena Costabile, also of Thornhill, Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., Valérie Tanguay of St-Hyacinthe, Que., Brigitte Thibault of Rosemère, Que., and Megan Osland of Kelowna, B.C., will not play in the third or fourth rounds.

Fans Vanessa Zhang, Michelle Liu and Lucy Lin, 12, all of Vancouver, will not play the weekend rounds. Fans Katie Cranston of Oakville, Ont., Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont., Yeji Kwon of Port Coquitlam, BC, Sarah-Eve Rheaume of Boischatel, Que., and Monet Chun of Richmond Hill, Ont. , also missed the cut.

This report from The Canadian Press was first published on August 26, 2022.

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press