WINNIPEG — It’s been almost five years since Prince Edward Island’s Lorie Kane has had a sub-70s weekend on the LPGA Tour.
It’s been nearly three years since the 45-year-old Tour veteran has even finished in the top-10.
She didn’t quite make it there on Sunday at the St. Charles Country Club, but an 11th-place tie after a 68-67 weekend at the CN Canadian Women’s Open is a huge step forward from an injury-plagued swoon.
“It’s a process of having put in a lot of hard work and the work is not done yet and it’ll still be another while,” Kane said after posting a five-under-par 67 on Sunday. “I’m rounding the corner. I don’t think I’ve hit the straightaway yet. So hopefully we’ll get to see (teacher) Sean Foley a little bit this fall.”
Kane picked a great time to jump to life.
Her cheque for $38,707 US vaulted her from 103rd on the Tour’s money list to 79th ($61,350), now inside the important top-80 that keep their cards for 2011.
“It’s never been about the money and it never will be about the money,” she said. “I’m a professional golfer and I want to shoot low numbers. The real Lorie Kane needs to have weekends like this all the time.”
The work for the year isn’t done yet, but Kane’s weekend of 11 birdies against just two bogeys is wonderful progress.
“It’s been two very good, consistent rounds of golf, but four rounds of golf that I didn’t give up,” she said.
Her tournament — saved by a critical 20-footer for bogey on Friday to make the cut right on the plus-four number — included 20 birdies and an eagle, so clearly she’s got something good going on.
“Sean has just a great understanding of how individuals play the game and he has watched me play before and knew that I was a little bit off track in probably my path going back and at impact,” she said. “I was leaking some oil in those two areas, so he gave (me) some drills to do and gave me the confidence that I could get it together.”
The reception Kane received as she approached the 18th green Sunday was loud instead of just ceremonial.
“It doesn’t matter, win, lose or draw. I had the support of the Canadian fans and that means a lot to me,” Kane said. “The last couple of years haven’t been my best and like I said, I’m rounding the corner and to know that they’re behind me, it’s fun to have that support.”
Kane, who received the newly named Sandra Post award as the top Canadian at the Open, said her best Winnipeg memory will be: “That the first two rounds I felt like I was in a fight and I never went down.”
The two other Canadians who made the cut didn’t fare quite as well.
Adrienne White of Red Deer, Alta., shot 75-73 and finished tied for 54th, earning $6,484. Lisa Meldrum of Montreal shot 71-76 and finished tied for-60th, good for $5,404.
