CPKC WOMEN'S OPEN

August 20, 2025

Alena Sharp

Mississaugua Golf & Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Hello everyone, welcome to the media center at the 2025 CPKC Women's Open. Pleased to be joined by 2025 Ontario Golf Hall of Fame inductee, Alena Sharp. Alena, talk about it means to you to be inducted into the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame?

ALENA SHARP: It's a huge honor. When I was notified earlier this winter I was driving home in the golf course after a nice practice and it was a great way to end the day.

Feel very honored to be in that Hall of Fame with a lot of other great players from Ontario. It also makes me feel a little bit old because these things happen towards the end of your career. I've also realized I have had a great career, so it's been kind of almost like a wake-up call because this year has not been the greatest for me.

But something like this can -- I mean, it's really kind of boosted my level of confidence for this week.

Q. This is going to be your 20th appearance at this tournament. Speak to how you've seen this tournament evolve and golf in the last 20 years.

ALENA SHARP: Yeah, it's hard to believe that it's already been 20 years. I still remember my first Canadian Open. Back then it was the B Mo (?) And it was in Niagara. I just remember being there and I think played a practice round with some of the legends on the Tour like Juli Inkster.

I have seen this tournament grow throughout the last 20 years. It's unbelievable when CPKC Women's Open has done. We keep raising the bar here. This is such a beautiful buildout. We're spoiled. We're getting amazing food.

Obviously we -- I'm impartial, but we have the best volunteers on Tour and looking forward to seeing a lot of fans this week.

Q. Looking over the list of CPKC Women's Opens, and this is the closest we've been to Hamilton since Niagara. How does it feel being not just in Ontario, but so close to home for the CPKC Women's Open?

ALENA SHARP: It's great to be here. I think I played here for the Canadian Amateur probably like 25 years ago, so I don't really remember the course all that well. I could kind of visually remember some of the holes, like No. 9 by the water. I remember that uphill hole, No. 15.

I don't remember how I did in that Canadian Amateur, but just used to the area. Used to playing golf in Southern Ontario. Makes me feel right at home, so super happy to be here. I think the rest of my fellow competitors will love it as well.

Q. A lot of Canadian amateurs in the field this week. Had the chance to speak to any of them or give them some guidance?

ALENA SHARP: It's interesting, it's been a busy week already this week. I've seen a few of them on Monday for the Golf Canada Foundation pro-am. It's like, oh, we're playing and there was a talk afterwards and then everybody left. Yesterday I think they had a lot of the obligations so I haven't really cell phone them this week yet, but hopefully on the rake or up in player dining I will.

The coaches are giving them great advices. Salimah and Jen are here. I think they played it a few times so should be giving me the advice.

Q. I'm curious about what is keeping you motivated these days to play and to compete? Is it purely just a love of the sport? The desire to want to continue to get better? What's keeping you going?

ALENA SHARP: Yeah, you know, I've been through some rough years lately, and last year got through, got my card. Started out well this year and have not played well. I thought maybe this would be my last year. Well, I don't want to end like this, but I still have a few events left.

Next year I'll be 45 so I'll have options to play the Senior Tour. But, yeah, I have still a lot of drive and grit. I want to get better every day. I still love the game. Maybe don't love the travel as much as I used to because it tires me out more.

But, yeah, I still love to play. I don't know, I don't think -- I think you get a sign and I'm just not ready to go done yet.

Q. When the sentence comes out of your mouth, I have the option to play the Senior Tour, how does that feel? Almost flabbergasted that you can say that?

ALENA SHARP: Yeah. I'm 44. I mean, going to be 45 in March so I don't really feel my age. I think it's being around all the young kids on the Tour.

It's a nice option to have just to play a few events next year. I played the Epson Tour a few week ago and it was Senior Epson. Again, played a practice round with Juli Inkster, saw Gail Graham, saw a lot of people that as a rookie I was playing with.

They looked like they were having fun. Didn't look as cutthroat, playing 6,000 yards, probably can't hit driver very much.

Yeah, it's a nice option to keep things light.