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Sam Looks Comfortable In LPGA Tour Action
She opened with a bogey and closed with a bogey but in between Samantha Richdale played like a veteran at the Safeway Classic in North Plains, Oregon, getting an early taste of what it will be like next season when she joins the LPGA TOUR on a regular basis.
A regular this season on the Duramed FUTURES Tour but playing this week on the big Tour, compliments of an LPGA sponsor's exemption, Richdale shot a one-under par 71 on the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club's 6,546-yard Ghost Creek course, which leaves her seven shots behind the leader, Beth Bader, who has the opening round lead at 8-under par 64.
Born in Calgary, AB, but a resident of Kelowna, BC, the 25-year-old Richdale shares 39th place with Canada's leading LPGA Tour regular, Alena Sharpe of Ontario.
PEI's Lorie Kane shot 77 and is tied for 116th place in the field of 144 vying for a piece of the $1,700,000 purse over 54 holes.
Although Richdale bogeyed the 1st, 7th, 10th and 18th holes she also managed to birdie four holes on the front side and one on the back while hitting 10 fairways and 10 greens in regulation. Her round only required 29 putts.
Her only other LPGA start this season was back in February when she missed the cut in the SBS Open at Turtle Bay.
On the Futures Tour this year Richcdale has recorded two wins---her most recent came last weekend--- and with $54,391 in earnings is the fourth leading money winner on tour.
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