On a media podium, they cast a healthy profile for Canada's future wave of women's golfers.

National team members and B.C. products Jisoo Keel and Christine Wong had much to bask in as they joined fellow Team Canada members on the day before the CN Canadian Women's Open began in earnest.

They talked about what it means to be behind the ropes at the Vancouver Golf Club for the LPGA event, and how they are eager to measure their best work with the top pros while still being teenage fans of the game's best.

"I think our game is really close to being on par with the tour girls," said Keel, a Coquitlam native who is playing in her second Canadian Open. "The biggest difference I think is their experience with pro tournaments and the media and how they handle the pressure. Hopefully, I'll get better at that."

The pair, who were joined by fellow national team members Brooke Henderson, Augusta James and Brittany Marchand, all of Ontario, each earned a spot as amateurs in the tournament and entered Thursday's first round eager to impress.

Wong, 20, said standing next to and playing against the likes of Cristie Kerr, Brittany Lincicome and Morgan Pressel isn't going to change her focus.

"There's always going to be a little pressure," the Richmond native said. "But every week will be different. Just try to play your game and enjoy every moment of it. It's an experience for all of us. We're so happy to be here."

The quintet of players agreed that being amongst the world's best players - with 48 of the top-50 LPGA money-makers in attendance - was a treat.

"I'm so excited," gushed 14-year-old Brooke Henderson, who will be the youngest-ever competitor in the tournament's history. "I'm looking forward to the week. Morgan Pressel, I've always looked up to and she's been a great role model for me.

"I was hitting balls on the range next to her (Tuesday) and she introduced herself. I was very excited to get to meet her."

Keel, who days earlier turned 17, said getting a shot to compete in her hometown was a great opportunity but seemed strange, all the same.

"It's kind of weird, actually because my friends never actually watch me play golf because I'm all over the country or all over the States playing golf," she said. "But they're really excited to come out and [I'm] really excited for them to come watch me. My parents are [also] here, so I'm really excited."

Last year's showing at the Canadian Open, which saw her post the top-amateur score and place 66 th overall, is another level of experience that she brings.

Fresh off of competing in the U.S. Women's Open, the Gleneagle Secondary student was still soaking the past month in.

"The U.S. Open, you can't really describe it. It was exciting to be at the course (in Wisconsin) and be along with the greats. I was really happy to get the opportunity to be there," said Keel. "I did lose a little bit of that awe. It's still really exciting once I see the big name stars - and I'm 17 and three days now."

All though teammates on the national program, Wong admitted that the Ontario-B.C. divide has created an interesting dynamic for Keel and Wong against the Ontario trio. A friendly rivalry for sure, she said.

"I think there is. But it's always going to be between Ontario and B.C.," said Wong, who is entering her fourth year at San Diego State. "But I think our camaraderie on the team is unreal. I don't think you'll ever find a closer team than us- It's not always just about golf. We have fun doing other things, too."

Keel concurred, but added that whenever Team Canada gets together to train, there's a lot of work involved, too.

"During the winter we go down south to either Florida or Arizona for one week training camps per month. Those are very intense training days," she said. "We usually wake up at 5 a.m. for workout, which is 2 a.m. [B.C.] time. We go on to maybe 7 or 8 p.m. and then we have meetings after. Then there's time to clean up. It's really hard days but it really did help improve my game."

While the CN Canadian Women's Open signals the final tour event of the season before they return to their individual schools, for Keel the biggest achievement was picking Stanford University over a host of others for her postsecondary commitment.

"I made that choice and the weight of that decision was finally off my shoulders. I can just play golf and concentrate on my (high school) studies and not just about universities."

Keel began the Open on Thursday playing in a threesome with Minea Blomqvist and Maria Henderson.

The CN Canadian Women's Open continues Friday and Saturday, with the closing round slated for Sunday.

Tickets are available online at www.cncanadianwomensopen.com, or by calling 1866571-5742.

Fans planning on attending the event are encouraged to use the complimentary shuttle service, with pick-up at both the Lougheed Skytrain station and Simon Fraser University's Burnaby campus, from lots B and G (where parking is $10).