CALGARY, Alberta - Former Oklahoma City University golfer Ashley Sholer will become the first former Star to play in an LPGA event when she tees off in the CN Canadian Open on Thursday.

Sholer, the 2006 NAIA women's individual champion, will be the first former OCU player in the LPGA since OCU started women's golf in 2000-01 and the first since Susie Maxwell Berning, who competed for the OCU men's team.

The CN Canadian Open tees off at 8:20 a.m. Central time. CBC will provide a live Internet video stream, which is available by clicking here.

Sholer, from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, captured her exemption by finishing in a tie for ninth in the CN Canadian Women's Tour event at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club on July 13-15.

Tuesday, Sholer played 27 holes on the Priddis Greens in preparation for her LPGA debut. She played the first nine holes with longtime Canadian pro Lori Kane, then played her next nine with Cristie Kerr.

"I get to play with the big players," Sholer said. "It's a different experience. I'm trying to soak it up. I signed about 40 autographs."

Kane invited her niece to walk a few holes of the practice round. Coincidentally, Sholer had done the same with Kane when she was younger.

"She was my favorite growing up," Sholer said of Kane. "Today she asked if it was okay if her niece walked a few holes with us. I had watched her at a tournament when I was younger and walked a few holes with her. I had watched her ever since.

"Ever since I picked up a club it's been my dream to play professionally. I never imagined I would play in the LPGA my first year out. The greens are super quick, and the rough is really rough. They are exaggerated. I thought I'd struggle with the par 4s, but it's not playing as long as I thought."

In 2008-09, Sholer had a 77.31 stroke average. Sholer had the two lowest single-season stroke averages and became one of five four-time all-Americans in OCU program history. She posted a career average of 77.03 shots per 18 holes.

"I am so glad that our program and university will be represented at the Canadian Open," OCU coach M.J. Desbiens said. "I am so excited for Ashley to be playing in this prestigious event. She has worked really hard for this moment, and she deserves it."

Sholer also tied for third in the NAIA Championships as a sophomore and finished as the NAIA individual runner-up as a senior. Sholer captured the Sooner Athletic Conference individual crown as a junior. She helped the Stars win four NAIA championships before finishing her eligibility in May - OCU has won the past five national titles.

Also in 2006, Sholer won the Ontario Women's Amateur, advanced to the Round of 16 in the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship and represented Ontario in the Royale Cup.

Berning became the first woman to compete on a golf scholarship at OCU. She turned pro in 1964 and won four major championships on the LPGA - the 1965 Western Open and the U.S. Women's Open in 1968, 1972 and 1973.