Shepley earns first pro win, taking Canadian PGA title By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF 31 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, August 14, 2009 Jessica Shepley didn't hesitate. When Clarissa Childs laid up in front of the 18th green Wednesday at the Canadian PGA Women's Championships, Shepley reached for her 3-wood. "There was no question, I was going for it," said Shepley, who was tied for the lead with Childs and facing a 200-yard shot uphill into a breeze. "That's not the time to lay up." Shepley hit her approach to 30 feet, about the same distance from which she sunk an eagle putt the PHOTO COURTESY OF CPGA day before to cap a course-record round of 66 at the Dundas Valley HOMECOMING QUEEN: Oakville's Jessica Shepley won the Canadian PGA Women's Championship in Dundas Golf and Curling Club. This time her putt missed by a Wednesday, shooting rounds of 66 and 69, for her first profew inches, but with Childs in with a fessional victory. It proved to be frustrating for Shepley, who par, Shepley tapped in for birdie and her first professional victory, joining the likes of past after her best season in four years as a pro, thought she had finally achieved her dream. champions like Lori Kane and Alena Sharp. "Mentally, I wasn't in the right place when "It's a great feeling and I was fortunate to come out ahead," the 26-year-old said. "And I went into Futures tournaments," she said. to have my first professional win right in my "I was looking forward to playing LPGA tourbackyard, with friends and family there, it naments and I didn't have the right mind set. I wasn't focused. I was thinking about where was very special." So how do you celebrate a moment like that? I could be, not where I was." It's not that Shepley was playing badly -- "Me and a couple of the girls packed up and drove through the night," said Shepley, she made the cut in 12 of 13 tournaments but who was on the road bound for a Duramed she didn't post her first top-10 until three Futures Tour event in Richmond, Va. less weeks ago. Shepley said the turnaround came than an hour after sinking her final putt. "I'll when she took responsibility for her slow start. "I realized I can only change things going celebrate, but I have all winter to do that." forward and I've really been enjoying the last Shepley has had to learn to be patient. By finishing seventh on the Futures Tour money couple of weeks," she said. It would have be hard not to enjoy herself list last season, she earned conditional status in Dundas this week. Shepley had five birdies on the LPGA Tour. But she has yet to play in and an eagle on her way to 66 in Tuesday's a single event. A reduced tournament schedule due to opening round. She overcame bogeys on the second and the economy, events being moved to Europe third holes Wednesday, bouncing with birdies and players competing in more events in order to earn points and a spot on the on 5 and 7 on her way to a three-under 69. The timing of her best golf of the year Solheim Cup team -- the women's Ryder couldn't be better. Shepley will finally get her Cup -- have all conspired against golfers with conditional status, who must wait for chance to tee it up in the LPGA in September at the CN Canadian Women's Open in Calgary. openings in the field. ALL KIDS SHOULD PLAY GOLF! (THERE MAY BE A LITTLE "TIGER" AT YOUR HOUSE) GOLF CAMPS - (start August 17) A Great Way to Learn the Basics of a Terrific Family Sport... Solid Fundamentals of Golf, Rules, Courtesy and Sportsmanship. EVERY DAY AT OUR GOLF CAMPS, KIDS RECEIVE... · · · · · · · HANDS-ON COACHING BY PGA INSTRUCTORS SOLID SWING FUNDAMENTALS MNI-PUTT ON OUR CHALLENGING COURSES SHORT GAME INSTRUCTION (pitching, putting) ON-COURSE PLAYING - TOURNAMENTS RULES & ETIQUETTE, DAILY PRIZES EMPHASIS IS ON FUN, and GREAT STUFF TO LEARN "Golf's More Fun When You Play It Right!" ALL CAMPS ARE HALF DAYS 8:30am, 9:30am & 1:00pm MONDAY - FRIDAY Cost: $209.00 tax incl. CAMPS START August 17 Please Call to Register 1455 Joshua Creek Drive Just West of the 403, Oakville 905-842-6120 (push 0) www.FamilyGolfOakville.com SATURDAY NIGHT LEAGUE & THURSDAY `NOONER LEAGUE Work Evenings or Nights? Trying to get back into the game? Looking for a more affordable solution but still get your hockey fix? Experience all the benefits of playing in the largest adult recreational hockey league in North America with one of our specialty ASHL divisions! Register Now Space is Limited 905.845.6989 | www.icesports.com