Quarantine Restrictions Force Cancellation Of 2020 Canadian Women’s Open At Shaughnessy G&CC
The Canadian Pacific Women’s Open LPGA Event Will Return To Shaughnessy In 2021 - Image Courtesy Facility
By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf
The Canadian Pacific Women’s Open has become another COVID-19 sports casualty and will not be played late this summer at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club in Vancouver.
Golf Canada made the announcement Tuesday. With the Canada-U.S. border remaining closed and strict self-quarantine restrictions in place, it simply was not feasible to play the event, which was scheduled for Sept. 3-6. There was some good news for Shaughnessy and Metro Vancouver golf fans, however, as the Southwest Marine Drive layout will play host to the event in 2021.
Next year’s event will be held Aug. 26-29 at Shaughnessy. “That really was the Achilles heel, the quarantine restrictions and the border closure,” said Ryan Paul, tournament director of the CP Women’s Open.
Paul said the fact Shaughnessy has agreed to play host to the event in 2021 takes some of the sting out of the 2020 event being cancelled. “To be able to announce that we are going to stay at Shaughnessy for 2021 is a huge win for us,” Paul said. “While this is a sad day today, we are very happy to announce that we are going to stay put in Vancouver.
“Shaughnessy, Sport Hosting Vancouver, the City of Vancouver and Tourism B.C. were all very quick to welcome us back and do everything they could to say that although the event moves around the country we want to make sure it stays in Vancouver next year and we’ll make sure 2021 is a great event.”
While disappointed that the 2020 event is a no-go, Shaughnessy is excited about playing host to the event next summer. “We were looking forward to showcasing our club, but we know that 2021 may present even better opportunities for an exceptional event with the year that we are having,” said Ashely Zibrik, director of golf and head professional at Shaughnessy. “We almost feel that next year will be an even bigger opportunity to host.”
The CP Women’s Open is no stranger to the Metro Vancouver area. Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam played host to the event in 2012 and 2015. Both of those events were won by Lydia Ko of New Zealand. Beth Daniel won the event in 2003, when it was played at Shaughnessy’s neighbour, Point Grey Golf & Country Club.
The CP Women’s Open offers one of the LPGA Tour’s larger purses at $2.25 million US and always attracts a stellar field. Tuesday’s announcement did not come as a surprise as LPGA commissioner Michael Whan had hinted recently that this year’s tournament was in serious jeopardy. “I think it is going to be a challenge in 2020,” Whan said.
“I am not sure we can (overcome) the border restrictions. Right now if 156 of us show up representing 42 different countries and we all bring caddies from 32 other countries I am not sure B.C. feels as excited about having us as they would in any other year. . .If we can’t get around the 14-day quarantine unfortunately it won’t work for a Tour event.”