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Six Canadian women find plenty to play for at LPGA Tour Qualifying school


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(CP) - As a 15-year-old, Corina Kelepouris was interviewed by a local television station and said she was going to be an LPGA Tour player.

Nearly two decades later, after more golfing downs than ups, she's finally earned the opportunity to make good on that prediction. "I'm really proud to be here," Kelepouris said from Daytona Beach, Fla., on the eve of the final stage of LPGA Tour qualifying. "This is where you have the chance to make your dreams come true.

"It's been a long time coming, but I've earned every inch of it."

The native of Drayton Valley, Alta., is one of six Canadian women competing for 24 exempt LPGA Tour cards at the tournament Wednesday to Sunday.

Montreal's Isabelle Beisiegel, Kim Brozer of Red Deer, Alta., Angela Buzminski of Oshawa, Ont., Jennifer Greggain of Chilliwack, B.C., and Hamilton's Alena Sharp are also in the field of 142.

With the recent growth of the women's game, there is a lot of incentive for them to become LPGA Tour players.

The purse for the 2006 Canadian Women's Open - the only LPGA Tour event in this country - was raised by more than 20 per cent after CN Railway became title sponsor of the event last month.

CN also took over sponsorship of the Canadian Women's Tour, which has been played by all six women competing at LPGA Q-school this week.

"It promotes promise, it promotes hope for the young players coming up," Kelepouris said of the recent signs of increased interest in the women's game. "It sort of puts the fuel back in the fire.

"I want be one of the veterans some of the girls can look up to."

While a spot on the tour may be the dream of teenage girls, it often becomes a financial necessity by the time they become women and turn professional.

There is significantly less endorsement and prize money available at all levels of the female game.

In that regard, the 32-year-old Kelepouris is fortunate thanks in large part to friendship with Philadelphia Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock.

The pair met several years ago on a driving range in Dallas, where Hitchcock was coaching the NHL's Stars and Kelepouris was working with former swing coach Hank Haney.

They became good friends and have co-organized a fundraising tournament - the Fairways and Dreams Foundation - in Drayton Valley the last four years.

Most of the proceeds from the event currently go to Kelepouris' expenses.

"I've had really good support," she said. "It's become less of a struggle.

"When I become more independent financially, Hitch and I would like the money to go back to others in the community. We both know how difficult that part of it is."

It's a reality all the players know well.

The roughly $30,000 US earned by Sharp in 2005 tournament winnings was the most of the six Canadians competing for LPGA Tour cards this week. After travel and coaching expenses are paid, that's not very much money.

While financial insecurity is something many female pros face, Kelepouris said it's important not to let it be a distraction at Q-school.

"There's a lot of things you can dream about," she said. "But if you're thinking about that, you're not focused on what you need to do on the course.

"We're all just at square one. The playing field has never been more level. It's time now to do what we've been preparing to do."

And Kelepouris feels like she's ready. She got through sectional qualifying in Venice, Fla., by making the cut on the number and has noticed signs that her game is picking up since.

Kelepouris said she was playing nine holes by herself last week when it finally dawned on her what she had accomplished and what was ahead.

"I just thought, 'this is it, this is what you've worked for,"' said Kelepouris. "I've spent so many hours in the heat, in the cold and the gym. It's time to just go get it and not chicken out and become all nervous. It's time to go out there and really enjoy it.

"And I'm going to."

© The Canadian Press, 2005

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