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There
was no award given out in 1999, when Nancy Greene was honoured
as athlete of the century. “She's a great lady and really represents
the game well,” said golfer Mike Weir, a former playing partner
of Kane's at the JC Penney Classic. “She's had a fantastic year,
a breakthrough year for her this year and I could see that coming
with as good a game as she has.”
Kane received 112 of 167 first-place votes and 394 points in balloting
conducted by The Canadian Press and Broadcast News of sports editors
and broadcasters across the country. The award is named after
all-round sportswoman Bobbie Rosenfeld, voted female athlete of
the half-century in 1950.
Diver Anne Montminy was second with 22 first-place votes and 214
points, followed by six-time Paralympic swimming gold medallist
Jessica Sloan (eight first-place votes, 85 points), hockey-softball
player Hayley Wickenheiser (6, 78) and kayaker Caroline Brunet
(8, 52).
Kane's year was not without its ups and downs. An airline lost
her golf bag (“Delta Airlines is still looking for my clubs,”
she noted wryly), she misplaced her lucky loonie (it was found
and now she has two 1989 lucky $1 coins) and she fell victim to
self-doubts. “It got off to a good start, then kind of hit the
skids,” Kane acknowledged. “For some reason in August I really
turned things around and started playing some great golf.” After
nine career second-place finishes, the constant questioning about
when she was going to win took its toll. Kane took some time off
in June and went home to P.E.I. to refocus. “There were times,
at different points where I would just wish people wouldn't say
it to me -- `When are you going to win?' -- because I was trying
to do everything I could. I think as a result I put too much pressure
on myself.”
Back home, she watched a du Maurier Series qualifier where young
golfers were attempting to crack the du Maurier Classic field.
“I did get grounded and I did see where I had come from, to where
I am now, and that in fact there was nothing wrong, that I was
playing great golf and I just needed to be patient and keep putting
myself in contention.”
When she went to St. Louis for the Michelob Light Classic in early
August, she recalled a woman telling her: “This is your week.”
“And I looked at her and I looked at her right in the eye and
I said, `Yes it is and I'm the only one who could do something
about it.' And I simply went on and won.” Kane won by three strokes.
The joy of winning was shared by her fellow pros, who doused her
with beer at the 18th hole. “For some of those girls to change
plane tickets and reservations to stay with me and to celebrate
with me really meant a lot,” Kane said. “The beer shower was a
lot of fun,” she added. “I don't think I've worn that outfit since.
I don't know that I ever will.”
Her success continued with victories at the New Albany Golf Classic
and the Mizuno Open. “In a 10-week run, I won three times and
finished in the top 10 about eight times,” Kane said. “It's just
been a fantastic run.” And Kane has no regrets about the bumps
en route to her success. “Now looking back, I'm glad I finished
second nine times. I'm glad I didn't win the playoff in 1997 at
the (ITT LPGA) Tour Championships with Annika Sorenstam and Pat
Hurst because I don't think I was ready to win then. “I think
I needed to build a foundation, a solid foundation of what I have
now. And I think I would never have had that opportunity had I
had won right off the bat.”
Kane finished the season fifth on the LPGA money winnings list
with $929,189 US. She also emerged with a winning attitude, something
she says Mark Messier helped put into focus when Kane watched
his news conference upon rejoining the New York Rangers prior
to her first win. Kane has also worked with Dave MacNeil, her
high school basketball coach, on the mental side of the game “I
definitely know now that I have a feeling of what Karrie (Webb)
and Annika come each week to the tournaments with and that is
they have the ability to win. “Maybe they won't win every week,
but having that attitude and feeling the confidence that that
attitude brings definitely raises your play and just makes everything
a little easier.”
Now she is looking for a fourth win, to reach the ultimate goal
of being No. 1 “and possibly the Hall of Fame.” Kane, an Islander
through and through, credits the support network in her home province
for giving her the grounding to handle success. “It was easy for
me to leave and find success on the road and the LPGA Tour because
I know when I come home, I'm Lorie, I'm still the same Lorie.
People might see me a little bit differently as someone they see
on TV and I'm a little more recognized but I still am Lorie Kane
from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.”
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