By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

She isn’t exactly all grown up quite yet, but Vancouver’s Michelle Liu is feeling like she’s much better prepared for her second appearance at the CP Women’s Open.

Three years ago as a 12-year-old, Liu made headlines when she became the youngest player to tee it up in a Canadian LPGA Tour event.

She has some great memories of that tournament, held at Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ont., but she also remembers being somewhat overwhelmed by the length of the course. Physically, she wasn’t quite ready to handle it.

“I remember hitting a lot of woods and hybrids into the greens in 2019,” she said in a telephone interview.

Liu, who is entering Grade 11 and plays out of Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club, is excited about getting a second opportunity to tee it up with some of the game’s greats this week at the Ottawa Golf & Hunt Club.

She earned a spot in the field by finishing as co-medalist at the Monday qualifier, where she shot an even-par 72 at The Marshes Golf Club in Ottawa.

Liu knows her game is more refined now than it was three years ago. She’s gained a tremendous amount of experience the last three years and has matured physically, although she remains relatively small in stature.

“Having spent the last three years playing lots of golf and having had the opportunity to play in some really big amateur tournaments, I think I have definitely improved both mentally and also physically,” Liu said.

“I know more shots, I think my swing is in a more consistent space than it was before. And I definitely hit my driver farther.”

Three years ago, a good drive for Liu was, at most, about 210 yards. These days she’s comfortable hitting it the 250-yard range. That should give her better looks for her second shots, especially on the longer par 4s.

Liu also thinks having had the experience of playing in the 2019 event will help her this week. She knows what to expect. “I am definitely better prepared just having had the experience in an environment where there are significantly more spectators than there are at junior events and also kind of knowing what the environment is like so it doesn’t feel as foreign, I guess.”

Liu, who won the B.C. Women’s Amateur Championship as a 13-year-old in 2020, doesn’t like to set too many goals before she tees it up “I would like to play better than I did three years ago,” she said, before adding with a laugh, “that’s not the highest bar.”

Three years ago, Liu shot rounds of 81 and 82 at Magna and was not close to the cutline. “I like not to have too many expectations or performance-based goals going into an event,” she said.

“I found that just personally it is something that has helped me with my mental game. I have found that when I am trying to go for a specific number or a specific performance-based goal, when I am not playing that well, that becomes something that makes me a little more frustrated. I am hoping I can play a good game. I think if I can keep my composure and stay relaxed and I really trust myself and my game I am hoping I can definitely play pretty well.”

Liu, a member at both Marine Drive & Shaughnessy in Vancouver, was one of three B.C. juniors to earn spots in the field at the Monday qualifier. Vancouver’s Vanessa Zhang, who plays out of Marine Drive Golf Club, and fellow Vancouver resident Lucy Lin from Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club, also both earned spots.

The 12-year-old Lin will replace Liu as the youngest player to qualify for a Canadian LPGA Tour event. Lin is about two months younger than Liu was when she played at Magna.

Port Coquitlam’s Yeji Kwon could also draw into the field. Kwon, who won the Canadian Junior Girls Championship earlier this summer, lost in a three-way playoff for the last spot at the Monday qualifier and is the first alternate.

For more on the CP Canadian Women's Open click here.