A blazing first round set the table for Samantha Richdale to capture the season-opening event on the 2013 CN Canadian Women's Tour at the Beach Grove Golf Club.
Playing from the back tees, the 29-year-old from Kelowna posted eight birdies en route to a women's course record 7-underpar 65 to open up a comfortable lead she never would relinquish.
Richdale followed with a 1-over 73 Wednesday to finish four shots ahead of 15-year-old Ontario amateur standout Brooke Henderson.
It was Richdale's first CN Canadians Women's Tour victory and earns her $10,000 and an exemption into the 2013 CN Women's Canadian Open at Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton, August 19-25.
"This is pretty awesome, that was my main reason to come out and play at these CN Events was to get that exemption," said Richdale. "I'm really excited to be able to go play in Edmonton because I used to live in St. Albert so it will be fun to go back there."
Her record opening round saw her sink a birdie putt on her final hole to post a 4-under 31 on the back nine.
"I hit 14 greens and I putted really well," she added. "I think I only had 26 putts but I hit some really good shots that ended up really close to the pin and I had a couple of tap in birdies, so that really helped."
Richdale now heads to play on the LPGA Symetra Tour this week and will use this win to carry momentum into the rest of her season. "Hopefully this fuels me to win out there," she continued. "My goal is to finish in the top five out on that tour so hopefully I'll have a good year and get my LPGA card back."
