As Australia sleeps in the small hours of Friday morning, Stacey Keating will walk onto the first tee at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club in Canada and hit one of the most important shots of her career. The 2008 CN Canadian Women’s Open will be Keating s first LPGA event, gaining an exemption after being crowned Canadian Amateur champion a fortnight ago. I m very excited heading into my first LPGA event, Keating said in an interview with Golf Australia. I m aiming to get as much out of the week as possible. Any pre-tournament nerves eased after a practice round with Karrie Webb. It was great to get out on the course on Tuesday with Karrie and I think my nerves started to settle after the front nine, Keating said. The field will put Keating in illustrious company. Defending champion and world number one Lorena Ochoa returns to be challenged by Paula Creamer, Christie Kerr, Suzann Pettersen, Yani Tseng and Annika Sorenstam. It’s a juggling act a bit, Keating said. I want to soak this up and learn as much as I can from the experience but not be overawed and let that affect my performance. The Hunt Club, as it is known to locals, is a challenging 27 hole course set in 225 acres of land 15 minutes from downtown Ottawa. In last year s event, Ochoa carded a blistering 16-under from four rounds to hold off Paula Creamer by three strokes and Shi Huyn Ahn in third. There are lots of fans out and about around the course and it s a big deal so I m excited and can t wait to get started- if I make the cut, that would be even better, Keating said. The CN Canadian Women’s Open runs from 14-17 August. Australians in the field: Karrie Webb Rachael Hetherington Katherine Hull Wendy Doolan Lindsey Wright Sarah Kemp Stacey Keating