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And she is very humble, despite an impressive string of achievements that date back to her LPGA debut in 1996.

Since then, the Charlottetown-born Kane has earned nearly $7 million, celebrated four LPGA Tour victories and amassed 99 top-10 finishes.

She became a member of the Order of Canada in 2006 and, 10 years later, was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

Halls of Fame are generally havens for retired athletes, but Kane’s love of the game endures. As a result, she is about to tie JoAnne Carner for the most appearances at the CP Women’s Open.

“I want to tee it up and I want to be successful,” Kane said. “I just don’t want to show up and just play. I still have a very deep competitive drive within myself.

“So while I will wear the banner of moving our game forward in the country, I still want to succeed for myself as well as help promote the game.”

There will come a time to take stock of all she has accomplished, but such a reflective session is anything but imminent.

“It’s a funny thing about us as athletes, and particularly as golfers,” Kane said. “You really try to just live in the moment and be very present, so I probably haven’t spent enough time really thinking about where I’ve been.

“With the different awards that I’ve been very fortunate to have been given, yes, it has given me an opportunity to take a slight look back. I am one, though, who likes to continue to look forward.

“My path is a little different, if you just look at strictly my age (and not starting on the Tour until her early 30s). Other than that, I’m an island girl, I’m a Canadian, and I love golf.

“I pinch myself sometimes, because I knew I wanted to be a professional athlete. Sport is very important to me. My dad told me that God had given me a gift to swing a golf club, but that I had to work at it and to make it better than I found it. That’s what I hope I do.”

And if she can make some more friends along the way — as she undoubtedly will this week — all the better.

“I encourage the people who are in the neighbourhoods that we come to play golf in to come out and watch us,” Kane concluded, “because once you watch us once, you’ll be a fan forever.”

rvanstone@postmedia.com

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