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w w w .in si d eH A LT O N .c o m O A K V IL LE B E A V E R W ed n es d ay , J u ly 2 7, 2 01 1 1 8 SLIDING IN: Jonah Lazar of the Oakville Whitecaps (left) gets set to apply a tag on sliding Orleans Red Sox baserun- ner Andrew Oliveira during a Little League junior provincial championships contest Monday at River Oaks Park. The Whitecaps fell 12-0 to Orleans and carried an 0-2 mark into last nights (Tuesdays) game against the Pembroke Pirates. The East Nepean Eagles were the only undefeated team remaining as of yesterday afternoon, posting wins in their first two games, while Orleans and the Port Arthur Nationals boasted 2-1 marks through three games. The tournament contin- ues this week at River Oaks Park with semifinals set for Friday and the championship game slated for 2 p.m. Saturday. 1:08.92 in the 100m to prevail by 0.52 seconds, and concluded the 200m event in 2:29.67, 0.24 sec- onds ahead of the next finisher. Since the 50m breaststroke is not an Olympic event, Van Beilens best chances of qualify- ing for next years Games lies in the 100m. She hopes to take at least a second off her time this summer as she competes in the World University Games before starting her first year at the University of British Columbia. Van Beilen will likely need to take at least a second off her time from nationals if she hopes to beat out Canadian teammate Jillian Tyler at next year's Olympic trials. Tyler was sixth at the FINA meet with a time of 1:07.28. As a national champion, Van Beilen qualified for the Pan Am Games in Mexico later this year. But she said she wont be com- peting. Its a big training block that is preparing everyone for the Olympic trials, Van Beilen said, and that would possibly hinder my performance for Olympic tri- als. Ive talked to my coaches and decided its not a good idea to go. After concluding the national championships Sunday (where she also finished fourth in the 4x100m medley relay with OAK teammates Marni Oldershaw, Erin Assman and Mika Spencer), Van Beilen helped Canada win all nine womens races Monday at the four-country Nations Cup in Point-Claire. Van Beilen was the 100m breaststroke champion at the event and was also part of the gold-winning 4x100m medley relay team. By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Jessica Shepley had sunk hundreds, maybe thousands, of putts just like it. And yet, never one quite like this. Of course, you try to treat it like any other (putt) regardless of the situation, she said, but at the end of the day, you know exactly what it was for. And this was the end of the day with a 10-footer standing between Shepley and her first LPGA Futures Tour victory Sunday in Concord, New Hampshire. Shepley, coming off rounds of 67 and 70, arrived at the 18th tee at the Beaver Meadow Golf Course tied for the lead with Lauren Doughtie, who had just finished her round in the group ahead. Just keep it in play, Shepley thought before ripping a drive inside the 100-yard mark on the short par-4. From 88 yards out, Shepley dropped her approach 10 feet from the cup. Now she had a putt for the victory. I had good speed all day on my putts, said Shepley, who needed just 26 and 28 putts during her first and second round, I wanted to at least give it a chance. Shepley was nervous as she lined it up. But as she watched her putt roll toward the hole, she knew she had it. Two feet from the hole, I knew it was in, so you just hold your breath and hope it doesnt hit something, she said. And as the ball dropped into the hole, capping a bogey-free round of 66, Shepley felt a rush of emotion. It was unbelievable. I was so excited, she said. There were a lot of emotions. Its been a lot of years and so many hours, so many highs and lows, disappointments and thrills. Theres a lot that you hold in and theres always a little doubt that its ever going to happen. Shepley began to remove those doubts two years ago when she logged her first pro victory at the Canadian PGA Womens Championship. She has earned victories in each of the last two years on the CN Canadian Womens Tour but a triumph on the Futures Tour the developmental tour for the LPGA had eluded her. Shepley had played in 92 prior Futures events since turning pro in 2005. She fin- ished second twice, once being beaten by a 30-foot birdie putt on the final hole at the tours lone major. This time, she was in control and deliv- ered. This ones very special, the 28-year-old said. Ive competed a lot but havent been able to finish. As nice as it is to win on home soil, its great to win at the next level. This is the step right below the LPGA and thats eventually where I want to be. Shepley has had conditional status on the LPGA for three years but a reduced LPGA schedule has meant fewer openings for players like herself. That limited her to just three late-season LPGA tournaments in each of the last two years. This year, Shepley made the cut in an early season A tournament the RR Donnelley LPG Founders Cup in Phoenix and that helped her gain entry into more tourna- ments. Shes already played in five tourna- ments and is guaranteed a spot in the CN f Canadian Womens Open at the end o August. Because of the increased LPGA schedule, Shepley has played fewer Futures events this year. Her win, in just her fourth tournament on the tour this season, took her from 112th to 20th on the money list. While a top-five placing at the end of the year, would improve her LPGA status, Shepley said she will con- tinue to pursue LPGA tournaments when- ever she can. Theyre the best in the world, she said. You want to measure where you are with them. And Sundays victory will help only help in that regard. (Winning) is always good for your confi- dence, she said, really building yourself up, storing up all those putts you made, the important shots you hit. d Herb Garbutt can be followe on Twitter at @Herbgarbutt h l d fS ep ey car s irst career Futures Tour victory MILESTONE WIN: Jessica Shepley, pictured lining up a putt at a CN Canadian Women's Tour event last year in Burlington, won her first career LPGA Futures Tour event last weekend in New Hampshire. OAKVILLE BEAVER FILE PHOTO Van Beilen choosing not to compete in Pan Ams Continued from page 17 Junior provincials MICHAEL IVANIN / OAKVILLE BEAVER