Sharp unveils Broncos bag in Regina
REGINA Green and yellow are the colours of Alena Sharp’s golf bag at the CP Women’s Open.
Sharp is using the custom-made golf bag and towel during the LPGA event at Wascana Country Club as a sign of her support for the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Humboldt Broncos.
Sixteen people were killed and 13 were injured as a result of an April 6 crash in which a semitruck collided with the Broncos’ bus while they were en route to a playoff game against the Nipawin Hawks.
“Growing up playing hockey, I’ve been on a lot of buses going to hockey tournaments,” Sharp said. “So I have been there and done that and what happened still makes my skin crawl.”
Sharp, who hails from Hamilton, has an aunt and cousins who live in Humboldt.
“I wanted to do something for the community,” Sharp said. “Giving back and being on this platform as an LPGA Tour player … it was just something I could do to help.”
Sarah Bowman, Sharp’s caddie, came up with the design for the bag. Along with the Broncos’ team colours, the bag features the slogan “Humboldt Strong ” on the strap and at its base.
“Every week is a privilege to carry Alena’s bag,” Bowman said. “This week is certainly an extraspecial privilege in remembering the tragedy that occurred with the Humboldt Broncos.”
Sharp and Bowman timed the unveiling of the bag to coincide with the CP Women’s Open in Regina, about 220 kilometres south of Humboldt. The CP Women’s Open takes place on the same weekend the Broncos are to open their training camp.
A week after the crash, the LPGA Tour was in Hawaii for the Lotte Championship. Sharp and Bowman, following the lead of Canadian female golfers on the Symetra Tour, placed green and yellow ribbons in the lockers of the Canadian players to wear. That practice continued at the Wascana, where a number of Canadian golfers were wearing green and yellow ribbons.