CPKC Extending Sponsorship of CPKC Women’s Open
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
(Chuck Russell Photograph Courtesy of Golf Canada)
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) is extending its title sponsorship of the CPKC Women’s Open for up to four more years, the Class I railroad and Golf Canada reported July 10.
Canadian Pacific—before its April 14, 2023 merger with Kansas City Southern to form the first single-line, transnational railway connecting Canada, the U.S. and Mexico—became a title sponsor in November 2013.
The new agreement, the partners said, keeps CPKC as the title sponsor for the 2025 and 2026 tournaments, with an option to maintain the title sponsorship in 2027 and 2028. Additional terms of the partnership were not disclosed.
The prize purse for the CPKC Women’s Open will increase to $2.5 million, beginning with the 2023 event, which will take place August 22-27 in Vancouver, British Columbia. The 156-player field will be competing at the Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club—the first time in tournament history and the first time the province of British Columbia has hosted the CPKC Women’s Open since 2015.
Through CPKC Has Heart (formerly CP Has Heart), CPKC has helped to raise more than $17.3 million for heart health initiatives in the event’s host communities. CPKC and Golf Canada will support the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation as the primary charitable beneficiary for the 2023 CPKC Women’s Open. Among the charitable engagements during tournament week will be the Birdies for Heart hole on No. 16 at Shaughnessy with a $5,000 donation made for every birdie made on the hole during the four rounds of the competition. Additionally, CPKC will support a community beneficiary in Royal Inland Hospital Foundation in support of cardiac care.
CPKC reported that it is also extending its role as a “premier partner” of Golf Canada’s National Team Program (Team Canada), which supports Canadian emerging golf talents in their path to the LPGA Tour and PGA Tour. Additionally, the railroad said it supports 13-time LPGA Tour winner Brooke Henderson along with Canadian golf legend Lorie Kane as CPKC Ambassadors, and will continue its support of the CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit (formerly the CP Women’s Leadership Summit), to be held August 22 at nearby Marine Drive Golf Club.
The 2023 CPKC Women’s Open is also sponsored by BDO, Audi, RBC, theScore, Levelwear, Transitions, Titleist, FootJoy, Journie Rewards, Hilton, Sleeman Clear 2.0, Think Turkey, The Keg, Johnsonville, Cayman Islands, Masi, Celebrity Cruises, STALK&BARREL, Matt & Steve’s, Coca-Cola, and Rolex, and is supported by Sport Hosting Vancouver, the province of British Columbia, and the government of Canada.
“We are excited to extend our partnership with Golf Canada as title sponsor of the CPKC Women’s Open and proud of the significant contributions this event has made to heart health in communities across Canada,” CPKC President and CEO Keith Creel said. “The success of this tournament and the community benefits it brings have only grown in the last 10 years. We look forward to continuing that success in the years to come.”
“CPKC has made an incredible impact in supporting Canadian golf excellence and leaving a meaningful legacy in our host communities, and we are extremely honored for their continued partnership,” Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum said. “CPKC is a major supporter of women’s golf globally, and under the leadership of Keith Creel, their commitment to delivering a world-class experience for players, caddies, fans and charitable beneficiaries, has bolstered the status of Canada’s National Women’s Open to one of the premier events on the LPGA Tour.”
Early Field Commitments for 2023 CPKC Women’s Open
Golf Canada and CPKC also reported that many of the world’s top players have committed to compete in the 49th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship.
The list of early commitments includes defending champion Paula Reto (2022) and eight past CP Women’s Open champions: Jin Young Ko (2019; Ko is currently ranked No. 1 in the world and No. 3 on the current Race to the CME Globe Standings), Brooke Henderson (2018), Sung Hyun Park (2017), Ariya Jutanugarn (2016), Britney Lincicome (2011), Cristie Kerr (2006), and Lydia Ko (2015, 2013, 2012). Also signed on to participate are Minjee Lee, Jennifer Kupcho, In Gee Chun, Danielle Kang, Lexi Thompson, Nelly Korda, Megan Khang, Sei Young Kim, Linn Grant, Stacy Lewis, and Paula Creamer.
Additionally, the 2023 CPKC Women’s Open will welcome LPGA Tour in-year winners, including 2023 Major winners: Lilia Vu (The Chevron Championship), Ruoning Yin (KPMG Women’s PGA Championship), and Allisen Corpuz (U.S. Women’s Open). Among other in-year winners signed on are Grace Kim, Celine Boutier, Hannah Green, Pajaree Anannarukarn, Rose Zhang, Ashleigh Buhai, Patty Tavanatanakit, Ariya Jutanugarn, and Moriya Jutanugarn.
Brooke Henderson—a CPKC Ambassador who made history at the Wascana Country Club in Regina in 2018 becoming the first Canadian since the late Jocelyne Bourassa 45 years earlier to win Canada’s National Women’s Open—will be joined by fellow Canadians Maude-Aimee Leblanc, Maddie Szeryk, Alena Sharp, Sarah-Eve Rheaume, Selena Costabile, and Victoria Liu (Shaughnessy member and Glencoe Invitational winner), as well as a collection of Canadian athletes expected to receive tournament exemptions in the coming weeks to compete in Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship, according to CPKC and Golf Canada.
