Jisoo KeelChuck Russell
Jisoo Keel of Coquitlam, B.C., returns to defend her title at the season opening CN Canadian Women's Tour event in British Columbia.
The 17 year old headlines a field that includes notable LPGA Symetra Tour players as well as some of Canada's best young amateur players competing in a two-day 36-hole stroke play competition at Beach Grove Golf Club in Tsawwassen, B.C.
It's the first of three Tour events conducted annually across the country.
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Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., leads a strong group of amateurs. The 15-year-old, Canada's top ranked amateur, comes into the event having won the season opening CN Future Links Pacific Championship, beating Keel by a single stroke.
Among the Symetra Tour players in the field are Canadians Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C., Kirby Dreher of Fort St. John B.C., Danielle Mills of Pointe-Claire, Que., Natalie Gleadall of Stratford, Ont., Ashley Sholer of Hamilton, Ont., and Seema Sadekar of Toronto.
National squad members Augusta James of Bath, Ont., and Brittany Marchand of Mono, Ont., are playing as well following the conclusion of their NCAA collegiate season where they came up just short of qualifying for the finals over the weekend.
Development teams members Valérie Tanguay of St-Hyacinthe, Que, Taylor Kim of Surrey, B.C., Naomi Ko of Victoria, B.C., Jennifer Ha of Calgary, Alta., and Kathy Lim of Langley, B.C.
Besides the victory, players will also be chasing an exemption into the 2013 CN Canadian Women's Open which will be held this August at Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton.
Winners of the two other Women's Tour events will also earn their way into the Canadian Open along with two additional exemptions for the top two players on the season ending money list.
Winners of each CN Women's Tour event will also receive up to three special invitations to compete in 2013 LPGA Symetra Tour Tournaments.
The top three players on the season ending Order of merit will also be awarded direct entry into Stage II of LPGA Qualifying School.
The 2013 CN Canadian Women's Tour schedule also features events at Club de golf Cowansville (June 10-12) in Cowansville, Que., and Ambassador Golf Club (June 17-19) in Windsor, Ont.