Kelowna’s Samantha Richdale fired an opening round 7-under-par 65 to lead the CN Canadian Women’s Tour season-opening event by five shots at Beach Grove Golf Club in Tsawwassen B.C.
Richdale, 29, posted eight birdies on the opening day Tuesday to break the course record at Beach Grove Golf Club. She sank a birdie putt on her final hole to post a 4-under-par 31 on her closing nine.
“I hit 14 greens today and I putted really well,” said Richdale. “I think I only had 26 putts but I hit some really good shots today that ended up really close to the pin and I had a couple of tap in birdies, so that really helped.”
Heading into tomorrow’s final round, Richdale, who competes primarily on the Symetra Tour this season, acknowledged how nice it is to play in her home province as she vies for an exemption into the 2013 CN Canadian Women’s Open and the $10,000 winners’ cheque.
“These CN Canadian Women’s Tour events are amazing and CN is amazing,” she said. “I always try to make an effort to come up to these and it’s nice to be able to come back and play in my home province and have my parents come out, it’s the best part.”
Richdale is currently 16th on the Symetra Tour money list. A top-10 finish at season’s end would earn Richdale playing status on the LPGA Tour for 2014.
Richdale played on the LPGA Tour from 2010 to 2012.
Kelowna’s Kyla Inaba shot 77 on Tuesday and is tied for 28th.
