PRESS RELEASE

Amateur sensation Lydia Ko wins 2012 CN Canadian Women’s Open

Entering the day atop the leaderboard with a single stroke advantage over Stacy Lewis, Inbee Park, Chella Choi and Jiyai Shin, Ko, the top-ranked amateur in the world and the reigning U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, converted seven birdies and posted just two bogeys on Sunday, en route to posting a four-day tally of 13-under par 275 for a three-stroke win over Park, who finished solo second at 10-under par 278.

Ko is the first amateur in tournament history to win Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship title. She also claimed the Marlene Stewart Streit low amateur medal as the tournament’s top amateur.

“It’s great to win, and the last few holes it got a bit nerve-wracking, but Stacy Lewis after my birdie on 15, she said, you know you can do it,” said Ko, who earned a berth in the LPGA Tour’s season-ending CME Group Titleholders event with the win. “It feels amazing…It’s always awesome to be able to play with the pros.”

At 15 years, 4 months and 2 days, Ko becomes the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history, eclipsing the previous mark set by Lexi Thompson, who was 16 years, 8 months and 8 days when she won the 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic. She also becomes only the fifth amateur in LPGA Tour history to win an official event and the first in more than 40 years, the last being JoAnne Carner, who claimed the 1969 Burdine’s Invitational.

The victory is Ko’s second win at a professional event in 2012. She won the New South Wales Open on the Australian LPGA (ALPG) in January to become the youngest winner in history on a professional golf tour at the age of 14 years, 9 months and 5 days. That record was eclipsed in June by Team Canada Development Squad member Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. Henderson bested the field at a CN Canadian Women’s Tour event in Beloeil, Que. at 14 years, 9 months and 3 days.

As an amateur, Ko was unable to accept the $300,000 winners’ cheque, which was awarded to Park as the second place finisher.

Shin, Chella Choi and Na Yeon Choi finished T3 at 8-under par 280, five strokes off the lead.

Jessica Shepley of Oakville, Ont. finished T41 and earned the Sandra Post medal as the Championship’s low Canadian for the second consecutive year with a score of 2-over par 290. Of the 15 Canadians in the initial player field, Shepley was the lone competitor to qualify for weekend play.

“I think it just shows how much I love this country and I love playing here, and in front of my family and friends,” said Shepley. “It’s always good when you play well in your home country. It’s always been a good confidence booster for me to come out west. I love it out here.”

The 2013 CN Canadian Women’s Open will be contested next August at Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton.

THE FOLLOWING ARE FINAL CANADIAN SCORES FOR SUNDAY, AUGUST 26TH, 2012:
T41 - Jessica Shepley – 73-74-70-73, 290, +2

-Missed Cut-
CUT - Lorie Kane – 72-76-148, +4
CUT - Samantha Richdale – 77-72-149, +5
CUT - Rebecca Lee-Bentham – 75-74-149, +5
CUT - (a) Natalie Gleadall – 78-72-150, +6
CUT - Isabelle Beisiegel – 76-74-150, +6
CUT - Alena Sharp – 75-76-151, +7
CUT - (a) Christine Wong – 79-73-152, +8
CUT - (a) Brooke Henderson – 77-76-153, +9
CUT - Kirby Dreher – 75-78-153, +9
CUT - (a) Augusta James – 75-78-153, +9
CUT - Sara-Maude Juneau – 81-73-154, +10
CUT - (a) Jisoo Keel – 77-78-155, +11
CUT - (a) Brittany Marchand – 80-77-157, +13
CUT - (a) A Ram Choi – 84-77-161, +17

CN MIRACLE MATCH RAISES RECORD $1.8 M FOR B.C. CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATIONS
CN announced today that the CN Canadian Women's Open raised $1.8 million for the B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundations through the CN Miracle Match program, which was created in 2006 to raise funds for children’s hospitals by matching funds raised through various initiatives connected with the CN Canadian Women’s Open.

With this year’s results, CN has now raised over $8.2 million for children’s health since the CN Miracle Match was launched at the inaugural CN Canadian Women’s Open in London, ON in 2006.

CN Miracle Match is a national charitable initiative designed to rally communities across Canada behind a very worthy cause – supporting children's hospitals. CN pledges to help maximize local fundraising through the CN Miracle Match program where together we can help Canada's leading healthcare facilities treat children who need medical attention.

Each year since 2006, CN has raised funds to support a children's hospital by matching funds raised through various initiatives that are connected with the CN Canadian Women's Open. For more information, please visit www.cnmiraclematch.ca.

ABOUT THE 2012 CN CANADIAN WOMEN’S OPEN
The CN Canadian Women’s Open is proudly sponsored by CN, CVS Controls Ltd., TaylorMade adidas Golf, Molson Coors Canada, The Globe and Mail, The Delta Burnaby Hotel & Conference Centre, Reader’s Digest, Shaw, The Glenlivet, AutoCanada and CBC. Tickets can be purchased online, at www.cncanadianwomensopen.com, or by phone, at 1-866-571-5742.

ABOUT CN
Canadian National Railway Company -- and its operating railway subsidiaries – 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 metropolitan areas of Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., Green Bay, Wis., Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America. For more information on CN, visit the company’s website at www.cn.ca.

ABOUT GOLF CANADA - LOVE THE GAME. GROW THE GAME.
Golf Canada is the governing body of golf in Canada, representing more than 340,000 members at almost 1,500 clubs across the country. Recognized by Sport Canada as the National Sports Organization (NSO) for golf in Canada, Golf Canada is responsible for promoting participation in and a passion for the game of golf in Canada.

A proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Golf Canada actively conducts championships, programs and services to help shape the present and future of golf in Canada. High performance athlete development, Golf in Schools presented by Callaway, Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru, 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. As the authority for golf in Canada, the association also administers the Rules of Golf, amateur status and handicapping and course rating.

In addition, Golf Canada 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 provide world class competitive opportunities for Canada’s top golfers to showcase their talents.

For more information about what Golf Canada is doing to support golf in your community, visit us online at www.golfcanada.ca.

Media Contacts:
Dan Pino
Director, Corporate Communications
Golf Canada
M: (416) 434-5525
dpino@golfcanada.ca

Matt Cudzinowski
Coordinator, Media and Public Relations
Golf Canada
M: (289) 259-5616
mcudzinowski@golfcanada.ca