Mirabel, Que. (Golf Canada) 12/08/2010 - Golf Canada in partnership with CN announced today that Quebec golf icon Jocelyne Bourassa will serve as Honorary Tournament Chair for the 2011 CN Canadian Women's Open at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que.
Canada's only stop on the LPGA Tour will run August 22-28, marking the return of the Canadian Women's Open to the province of Quebec for the first time since 2002.
Bourassa was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1996. She was an outstanding amateur golfer throughout the 1960s and took the LPGA by storm in the early 1970s, winning the 1973 La Canadienne in her second season. In addition to being named the LPGA's rookie of the year, she was named the 1971 & 1972 French Canadian Athlete of the Year and 1972 Canadian Female Athlete of the Year. Bourassa was also named to the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Quebec Golf Hall of Fame in 1996. From 1980 to 2000, Bourassa was the Executive Director of the former du Maurier Classic and also served as a special consultant to Golf Canada from 2000-2003 assisting in the transition of the du Maurier Classic to the Canadian Women's Open.
"Jocelyne Bourassa has been so closely connected to women's golf in Canada, especially in Quebec, that inviting her to be a part of the 2011 CN Canadian Women's Open was a natural fit," said Sean Van Kesteren, Tournament Director of the CN Canadian Women's Open. "Throughout her career, Jocelyne has been a tremendous ambassador for this event and a true champion for golf in Canada. We are thrilled that she will once again be involved when the CN Canadian Women's Open makes its return to the Montreal area."
A long-time proponent of women's developmental golf in Canada, Bourassa's contributions to the game inspired the naming of the Jocelyne Bourassa Player of the Year Award - given annually to the CN Canadian Women's Tour competitor that finishes atop the Tour's Order of Merit.
In honour of Bourassa's involvement with the 2011 CN Canadian Women's Open, the Women's Pro-Am on Monday of tournament week will be renamed the Jocelyne Bourassa Women's Pro-Am.
For, Bourassa, in addition to her long history with Canada's National Women's Open Championship, it was the event's charity efforts in support of children's hospitals in the host community that played an important role in her willingness to get involved.
"I am thrilled to be involved in the 2011 CN Canadian Women's Open and the return of this special event to Quebec," said Bourassa. "This event means so much to me and I think CN and Golf Canada have done a great job making it into one of the best on the LPGA Tour. The CN Miracle Match charity program has the opportunity to raise a lot of money for local children's hospitals and I'm honoured to play a small part in an event that will have such a huge contribution to the community."
Since CN came on board as title sponsor in 2006, more than $4.3 million in charitable proceeds have been raised in the name of the CN Canadian Women's Open for children's hospitals in the event's host communities.
The host charity beneficiary for the 2011 CN Canadian Women's Open will be announced in the coming weeks.
TICKETS AND CORPORATE HOSPITALITY NOW ON SALE
Golf Canada, CN and the Hillsdale Golf Club also announced today that corporate hospitality as well weekly passes and individual tickets for the 2011 CN Canadian Women's Open are now available.
A full listing of ticket prices as well as corporate hospitality options including Pro-Am teams, skyboxes, suites and clubhouse badges are available online at www.cncanadianwomensopen.com or by calling 1-866-571-5742.
Tickets for early week (Monday-Wednesday) start as low as $10; anyday tickets (Thursday-Sunday) are $25; weekly passes are $75; and family packs are $99. More information about these and other ticket packages are available online.
As well, a limited time early bird offer is now available for a Weekly Clubhouse 2-Some at the price of $200. The offer is a $50 savings from the regular price and is only available until December 31, 2010. To activate the discount, enter LPGA into the promotion box at www.cncanadianwomensopen.co.
Golf fans are also reminded that children aged 17 and under gain free admission to the CN Canadian Women's Open when accompanying a ticketed adult.
In addition to watching the best players in the world compete for Canada's national title, golf fans onsite at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club will be treated to family activities, clinics and junior golf activities throughout tournament week.
VOLUNTEER POSITIONS STILL AVAILABLE
For any individuals interested in taking part in the 2011 CN Canadian Women's Open, Golf Canada and Hillsdale Golf and Country Club are currently recruiting volunteers for a multitude of positions.
A total of 1,400 volunteers from within the community and across Canada help to make the CN Canadian Women's Open a success and while the volunteer recruitment is well underway, a number of positions are still available.
For more information including a full listing of committees, positions and responsibilities, visit www.cncanadianwomensopen.com.
ABOUT THE 2011 CN CANADIAN WOMEN'S OPEN
Stars of the LPGA Tour will challenge for the 2011 CN Canadian Women's Open from August 22-28 at the Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que. The CN Canadian Women's Open is proudly sponsored by the Canadian National Railway Company along with event partners CVS Controls Ltd., , Corona Extra, The Globe and Mail, The Glenlivet, BlackBerry, Mike Weir Wine, CBC. For more information about tickets, corporate hospitality and volunteer opportunities, 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.
CN DELIVERS THE GREAT GAME OF GOLF
CN is proud to support golf in Canada and is pleased to bring the best of women's professional golf to Canada with its title sponsorship of the CN Canadian Women's Open and the CN Canadian Women's Tour. In addition to supporting women's golf, CN contributes to the development of golf among young people across the country through its sponsorship of the CN Future Links program. CN is pleased to work with Golf Canada to help develop golf as a sport for women and juniors across Canada and to increase the accessibility of golf to recreational and competitive golfers. Visit www.cn.ca.
GOLF CANADA - LOVE THE GAME, GROW THE GAME
Golf Canada is a member-based organization governed by the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA). Recognized by Sport Canada as the National Sport Organization (NSO) for golf in this country and representing more than 350,000 members and 1,600 golf clubs, Golf Canada is responsible for promoting participation in and a passion for the game of golf in Canada.
Golf Canada actively conducts championships, programs and services to help shape the present and future of golf in Canada. Canada's National Amateur Golf Team program, National Golf in Schools, Golf Fore the Cure, 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 the game of golf in Canada, the association also administers the Rules of Golf and Amateur Status as well as Handicapping and Course Rating under the esteemed RCGA brand.
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.
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