Lorie Kane will soon take her spot with Canadian golf's elite.
The Charlottetown native is one of three inductees in the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame's the Class of 2016. She will be joined by two-time Canadian men's amateur champion Warren Sye of London, Ont., and renowned golf journalist Bob Weeks, of Toronto.
"I'm quite honoured to be the first Islander inducted," Kane said Tuesday during a conference call. "We have a proud of group, and a lot of successful, athletes . . . but usually they're wearing skates and swinging a hockey stick. . .
"Golf is important to our province and I have been the benefactor of a lot of great golf courses to play and a lot of positive support."
Each one of the three inductees will have their own ceremony. Dates and locations were not announced Tuesday.
Kane won the Island junior girls championship twice and the women's amateur nine times between 1983 and 1992. She won the Canadian PGA women's championship from 1996 to 1999 and again in 2001.
She turned pro in 1993 and three years later earned exempt status on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour.
Her 20-year LPGA career includes almost $7 million in earnings and four tour wins.
She finished second nine times before her first tour victory came in St. Louis in 2000 when she captured the Michelob Light Classic at the Fox Run Golf Club. She went on to win three more times in the next 12 months.
Kane had just missed the cut at a tournament in Australia when she received an email from hall of fame officials. When she got back to Florida, Kane had a phone call explaining the news.
"Trying to keep a secret is not easy for me," she said.
While Kane admitted it was a lot of hard work to reach and stay on the LPGA Tour, she didn't do it on her own. She said there were family, teachers, friends, corporate supporters and many others who made her career possible.
She is looking forward to coming back to Charlottetown and celebrating the induction with those who have played key roles.
Kane was 12-years-old when her father Jack took her to join the Belvedere Golf Club. She also worked there for longtime pro Cecil Dowling in the back shop and helped run junior programs.
"When I think of home I definitely think of Belvedere," Kane said.
She isn't looking to hang up the clubs anytime soon. She said she loves the game more today than yesterday.
"I know when I hang up from this call I am going to practice. I still got the bug," she said. "I think I'm probably still on the back nine, haven't quite made it to 18 yet."
For photos from Lorie Kane's career visit the slideshow section at www.theguardian.pe.ca.
Lorie Kane will soon take her spot with Canadian golf's elite.
The Charlottetown native is one of three inductees in the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame's the Class of 2016. She will be joined by two-time Canadian men's amateur champion Warren Sye of London, Ont., and renowned golf journalist Bob Weeks, of Toronto.
"I'm quite honoured to be the first Islander inducted," Kane said Tuesday during a conference call. "We have a proud of group, and a lot of successful, athletes . . . but usually they're wearing skates and swinging a hockey stick. . .
"Golf is important to our province and I have been the benefactor of a lot of great golf courses to play and a lot of positive support."
Each one of the three inductees will have their own ceremony. Dates and locations were not announced Tuesday.
Kane won the Island junior girls championship twice and the women's amateur nine times between 1983 and 1992. She won the Canadian PGA women's championship from 1996 to 1999 and again in 2001.
She turned pro in 1993 and three years later earned exempt status on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour.
Her 20-year LPGA career includes almost $7 million in earnings and four tour wins.
She finished second nine times before her first tour victory came in St. Louis in 2000 when she captured the Michelob Light Classic at the Fox Run Golf Club. She went on to win three more times in the next 12 months.
Kane had just missed the cut at a tournament in Australia when she received an email from hall of fame officials. When she got back to Florida, Kane had a phone call explaining the news.
"Trying to keep a secret is not easy for me," she said.
While Kane admitted it was a lot of hard work to reach and stay on the LPGA Tour, she didn't do it on her own. She said there were family, teachers, friends, corporate supporters and many others who made her career possible.
She is looking forward to coming back to Charlottetown and celebrating the induction with those who have played key roles.
Kane was 12-years-old when her father Jack took her to join the Belvedere Golf Club. She also worked there for longtime pro Cecil Dowling in the back shop and helped run junior programs.
"When I think of home I definitely think of Belvedere," Kane said.
She isn't looking to hang up the clubs anytime soon. She said she loves the game more today than yesterday.
"I know when I hang up from this call I am going to practice. I still got the bug," she said. "I think I'm probably still on the back nine, haven't quite made it to 18 yet."
For photos from Lorie Kane's career visit the slideshow section at www.theguardian.pe.ca.
Factbox
Lorie Kane
Who - A 51-year-old professional golfer from Charlottetown.
Parents - Jack and Marilyn Kane.
The Latest - The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame announced her as one of the three inductees for 2016.
LPGA Tour Victories - Michelob Light Classic, New Albany Golf Classic and Mizuno Classic in 2000 and LPGA Takefuji Classic in 2001.
Special Recognitions - In 2006, Kane received the Order of Canada and in 2014, she was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame and Museum Inc.
More than golf - Kane is known for her generosity and dedication to charitable organizations, having been the KidSport P.E.I. official spokesperson since its inception in 1997 and serves as the CP Has Heart charity campaign's ambassador.
Need To Know - The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame is located in Oakville, Ont. It has 77 members after Tuesday's announcement. "We are a small hall of fame, but we're a proud hall of fame," said Sandra Post, Canadian Golf Hall of Fame selection committee chairwoman.
By the numbers
$6.95 million Career earnings.
1996 Rookie year on the LPGA Tour.
4 Career victories on the LPGA Tour.
99 Career top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour.
