Kane accepts Hall of Fame nod on behalf of ‘all Islanders’
The annoying question every Canadian has been asked when travelling abroad — back when that was a thing — is, “Oh, you’re from Canada, do you know soand-so?”
We don’t know so-and-so, and no we aren’t friends with Wayne Gretzky or Drake.
But of course, when I went to Charlottetown, there was Lorie Kane having a beer at the first pub I walked into in the Prince Edward Island capital.
Kane, the golfer who last week was named a member of the Class of 2020 to enter Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, has been representing her province and country proudly for decades.
“Both my record on the playing field and what I believe to be important, and that’s community, is I guess why I’m a new inductee, and I’m quite honoured with it,” Kane said over the phone from P.E.I. “I come from the smallest province but we’re a strong, determined group of people, and I’ll accept this place in the hall on behalf of all Islanders.”
Kane, 55, began her LPGA Tour career in 1996.
She recorded four victories and 99 top-10 finishes. She also has five wins on the Legends Tour for golfers over age 45
Kane is a natural in her role as one of the foremost ambassadors for golf in our country, but says to be recognized outside of her sport is even more humbling.
Coming up in women’s golf from Eastern Canada in the pre-Tiger, pre-Mike Weir days was a very unlikely path to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. Kane recalls two defining moments where her mettle was tested along the way.
The first was a much publicized court battle after Kane was passed over for the Canadian team at the 1992 World Amateur Team Championships in Vancouver, despite meeting the criteria.
“The courts basically told them they had to go back and look at things,” Kane said. “Fortunate or unfortunate that it had to happen, but I think that was a moment where I said, ‘It’s time for Lorie to step up.’”
It was nearly a decade later in 2000 that she recorded her first LPGA victory in St. Louis at the Michelob Light Classic, and again the amiable Canadian felt she had something to prove.
“I was told my smile was too big, that I wasn’t gritty enough, and then I went to St. Louis and decided that I had had enough and I got it done,” Kane said.
Kane is confident the popularity of golf and the success of Canadians including Brooke Henderson has already made the road smoother for the next generations.
With her playing career winding down, Kane has seamlessly transitioned into her role as a mentor to young Canadian golfers and a prominent figure in the charitable foundations supported by the CP Women’s Open.
“My parents have raised us to leave it better than we found it and I certainly hope I’m doing that in every part of life,” Kane said. “And I consider myself to be extremely fortunate that I have a platform, a game for a living that I play, that I absolutely love.”
Kane had been training in Florida, where she was able to prepare for her season before returning to Charlottetown last week. The induction ceremony for the Class of 2020 has been put off until 2021 because of coronavirus, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be small celebrations across the island this summer.