Photo Credit: Justin Naro/ Golf Canada

Vancouver’s Michelle Liu made history when she finished in a tie for 12^th at the Canadian Women’s Amateur at Red Deer Golf and Country Club, in Red Deer, AB, on Friday.

Liu’s finish was the low by a Canadian in the field, and in turn she received a spot in the CP Women’s Open at the prestigious Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ont. next month. She’ll compete against many of the best in the world, including defending champion and Golf Town athlete, Brooke Henderson. The first round of the tournament starts Aug. 22. Liu finished at 1-over in Canada’s top amateur tournament for female golfers.

Liu will be 12-years and nine months old when she tees it up at the CP Women’s Open.  “I’m very proud of myself, especially being able to play with so many well-known professional players,” Liu said after the amateur event concluded. “I started off today not very well – at three over through four holes and I was like ‘oh, this may not happen.’ I managed to get back and get my scoring under control.”

Brianna Navarrosa of San Diego won the Canadian Amateur tournament with a score of 10-under.

Liu told the Canadian Press that she was excited to be able to play in an event with Brooke Henderson, who is one of her heroes.

“I really look up to Brooke Henderson,” Liu said. “She’s Canadian and she’s such a great golfer. It also means a lot to me to play in a professional tournament, especially one that’s local to me on a national basis I guess. I think the Canadian Women’s Open is a benchmark for me because it’s professional. It’s not only a professional tournament, but also like a big tournament where lots of well-known players will be playing.”

The CP Women’s Open will be a star-studded event, with 16 of the Top 20 players in the world committed to coming to Canada. That includes Jeongeun Lee, the current leader on the LPGA money list, as well as the likes of Lexi Thompson, Nelly Korda, So Yeon Ryu, and many others.

Last year, Henderson became the first female Canadian golfer to win the national championship in 45 years with a stunning performance in Regina.