Kira Miexner Named to Canada's World Amateur Team

Miexner will join Stephanie Sherlock of Barrie, Ont. and Maude-Aimee LeBlanc of Windsor, Que. in the biennial World Amateur Team Championship October 8-11 at the West and East courses of the Grange Golf Club.

From the RCGA

Teams from around the world will compete for the Espirito Santo Trophy with the top two scores each day counting towards the team total. Contested over 72 holes of stroke play, the event will feature both a team and individual component.

Meixner, Sherlock and LeBlanc are all members of the RCGA's National Amateur Team and will be looking to improve on Canada's disappointing 15th place finish at the 2006 event in South Africa. Meixner is the lone returning player from the 2006 team.

RCGA National Women's Team coach Dean Spriddle will once again accompany the team in Australia. Sue Kim of Langley, B.C. will be the team's first alternate while Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Mary Ann Lapointe of Georgetown, Ont. - an eight-time member of Canada's World Amateur Team - will be the non-playing captain.

"This year's women's team features tremendous talent and ability," said Doug Roxburgh of Vancouver, RCGA Director of High Performance. "Kira, Stephanie and Maude-Aimee have distinguished themselves through their play this season and we are thrilled to have them represent Team Canada and the RCGA on the world stage at this prestigious international championship."

The final selection for the Women's World Amateur Team took place following the CN Canadian Women's Open where all four athletes including Kim competed against the stars of the LPGA Tour.

Team Canada's recent best showing at the event came in 2004 when the team finished tied for second. Canada's Women's Team also finished runner-up in both 1966 and 1968.

The biennial World Amateur Golf Team Championships features two consecutive tournaments - the women's event for the Espirito Santo Trophy followed by the men's event for the Eisenhower Trophy.

The Men's World Amateur Team Championship will take place October 16-19. The RCGA will be announcing Men's World Amateur Team next week following the completion of the US Amateur.

The 2008 World Amateur will see a record 125 teams competing with Australia hosting for the second time in the event's 50-year history.

More information about the World Amateur Team Championship is available on-line at www.internationalgolffederation.org.

Team Canada, the pinnacle of the RCGA's High Performance Program, provides access to world class resources including coaching, nutrition, sport science, mental management, equipment and elite competitive opportunities. For more information about Team Canada or to make a donation towards the development of Canada's future golf stars, please visit www.rcga.org.

ABOUT THE RCGA NATIONAL TEAM PROGRAM
The RCGA National Team Program incorporates advanced coaching, sport science expertise, training camps and world-class competition. The RCGA allocates over $1 million of its resources annually to the National Team program, encompassing strength and conditioning, sports psychology, nutrition, biomechanics and technique development. Players who are selected to the National Amateur and National Developmental Teams represent Canada at six to 10 internationally-sanctioned golf competitions throughout the year. The intent of this comprehensive program is to aid Canada's top up-and-coming amateur players in all areas of their development, helping Canada produce the best golfers in the world.