Adrienne White knew what to expect heading into the qualifying round for the LPGA’s Canadian Women’s Open, which may have been just what she needed.
White, who went through the qualifying last year in Ottawa, shot an even-par 72 at the Calgary Elks Club Monday to grab one of the four qualifying spots in the Canadian Open, which runs Thursday through Sunday at the Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club.
“Having the experience of going through it before helped a lot,” said White in a telephone interview.
“Knowing what to expect allowed me to keep my head. I knew I didn’t have to be super low, just play solid golf.”
The 25-year-old from Red Deer tied for third with Erynne Lee of Silverdale Wash., two strokes back of leader Jimin Jeong of South Korea. Sara Butler of Woodlands, Tx, was second with a 71.
White had only one blimp on her card, a double bogey on the par-4 sixth.
“I started well with five straight pars, but the sixth just jumped up and bit me,” she said. “But after that I knew I couldn’t have any more bad holes and had to fight back if I wanted to qualify.”
As it was White was still one over coming home, but birdied the par-4 18th which kept her out of a four-way playoff for the final qualifying spot.
“I was still sceptic about the 72, but I felt a 73 wouldn’t get me in for sure,” White added. “The experience I gained over the last year helped me a lot on that last hole.”
Still White found it tough coming home.
“It’s a challenging course and the wind picked up, which didn’t help matters,” she said.
“Still I was able to keep my cool with the help of my caddy.”
White had one of her best friends — Jade McClendon, nee Polonich — on the bag.
“She’s been through the qualifying as well, so that helped a lot. . . . it made it easier to just focus on golf.”
McClendon will caddy for White during the Open.
“I wouldn’t want to change a good thing,” White said with a laugh.
While White knew what to expect at the qualifying, the fact it was practically in her own backyard added pressure.
“I knew the ins and outs, but still with it being so close to home and so many of my friends calling and saying they want to come down and watch if I made it added a little pressure,” she said. “But it also will be a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to it.”
• White, who is one of 12 Canadians in the field of 156, will register for the championship today with a practice round scheduled . . . Last year White had rounds of 73-76 in Ottawa and missed the cut by one stroke . . . Kim Brozer of Red Deer shot a 79 at the qualifying Monday while Banff’s Nicole Forshner, formerly of Sundre, had an 80 and Laura Witvoet of Ponoka an 81.
drode@www.reddeeradvocate.com