Kira Meixner Puts A Professional Career On Hold

Citing her desire to adequately prepare as a member of Canada's team in the next month's World Amateur Women's Team Champion in Adelaide, Australia, Meixner told BC Golf News this week that her plans to attend the LPGA Tour's Qualifying School have been shelved until 2009.

"I was chosen for the World Amateur Team which I'm very excited about," said the Richmond Golf & Country Club member who, after graduating with honours from Kent State University, had planned to attend two LPGA Tour sectional qualifying schools with the World Amateur sandwiched in between.

"I'm someone who really likes to be organized and prepared and I just didn't feel like I would be if went to both sectionals."

A pivotal member of Kent State's NCAA team during her four years on a golf scholarship, Meixner has also been a key member of the Royal Canadian Golf Association's National Women's Team for the past three seasons and is scheduled to 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 in Adelaide.

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.

For 22-year-old Kira Meixner, representing Canada is an honour she has always taken seriously when the occasions arise and for a dedicated student, who graduated Magna Cum Laude in magazine journalism from KSU, perhaps it's not a surprise when she explains how she is approaching the next stage of her promising career as a professional golfer.

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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.

Doug Roxburgh, the RCGA's Director. High Performance, believes Meixner has an excellent chance of being selected in November for the National Women's Team for 2009, based on her performances in international, national and provincial tournaments in 2008 together with her attitude and commitment to the national team program.

"Kira is a talented player with a bright future and would certainly be an asset to the national program and her teammates."

Members of the National Team have the ability to be nominated to Sport Canada to become a carded member of the Athlete Assistance program, an initiative of Sport Canada to assist amateur athletes in off-setting expenses to allow them to focus their time and energy on elite performance.

While in Adelaide playing for Team Canada Kira Meixner will be filing personal reports for her blog with BC Golf News.