Samantha RichdaleBernard Brault
MIRABEL, Que. - Samantha Richdale needed a back nine rally to stop her fine opening round play from slipping away Friday at the CN Canadian Women's Open.
The Kelowna, B.C., resident bogeyed three of her first nine holes in the second round but bounced back to finish the day with a 73 to remain low Canadian at 5 under 139.
Richdale was alone in third place after an opening round 66, but looked like she was coming apart until she sank a birdie putt on the 10th and birdied the par 3 15th to sit tied for 20th place overall.
"I hit some shots I didn't expect and missed a few putts but I was proud of myself that I was able to battle back and make some birdies on the back nine," said Richdale, who made only her third cut in eight LPGA events this year.
"I just wanted to play well again. It was nice to be at the top and you want to follow that up. I kind of lost it there for a bit but I was happy to get some birdies back."
Lisa Meldrum of Montreal was low Canadian on the day with a 69 and sits at 4 under.
The cut was projected at 1 under, tying a tournament record set in 1998.
Six Canadians made the cut — three more than last year at St.Charles in Winnipeg after none made the cut at Priddis greens in Calgary in 2009. The record is nine in 1977.
Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., was at 3 under after a 71 and Charlottetown's Lorie Kane sat 2 under after a second straight 71. Jessica Shepley of Oakville, Ont., was at 1 under from a 70.
Also making the cut was Jisoo Keel, a 16-year-old amateur from Coquitlam, B.C., who followed an opening round 72 with a 1 under 71.
The 29-year-old Meldrum also will make a third cut in eight top-level tournaments
"I started 2-over on the first two holes (Thursday) and got a little frazzled at the beginning, but today I made a great putt on the first hole and kept the momentum going," said Meldrum, a local favourite who had a large following of family and friends.
"That's one of my better rounds this year."
A year ago in Winnipeg, Kane followed two so-so opening rounds to close 68-67 and finished tied for 11th. The 46-year-old is better placed this year for a strong finish.
"I felt I could have made a few more birdies," said Kane. "I wasn't very pleased with how I hit the ball in the first nine and on the back I started to loosen up and feel better.
"The weekend's ahead of us and I'll probably get an early tee time, which is a good thing. If the weather forecast I've seen for Sunday comes in and big winds come, then this course isn't getting any shorter."
She was pleased to see a third of the 18 Canadians in the field of 155 make the cut.
"It's awesome," she sad. "I'm really proud of Sam Richdale.
"There's nothing like coming home and getting the putter hot. She was 6 under (Thursday) and when you have a low round like that, coming back with a 73 is not so bad. She's learning and I'm glad there's other Canadians who are going to be able to play the weekend because it's our national championship."
Adrienne White of Red Deer, Alta, who opened with a 69, shot 75 and just missed the cut at even par 144.
Sara-Maude Juneau (73) of Fossembault, Que., and Stephanie Sherlock (73) of Barrie, Ont., were at 1 over, Augusta James (72) of Bath, Ont., was 2 over, and Danielle Mills (74) of Pointe-Claire, Que., and Kirby Dreher (74) of Fort St .John, B.C. were at 3 over.
Alena Sharp (71) of Hamilton and Jessica Wallace of Langley, B.C. were 4 over, amateur Anna Kim (72) of Toronto was 5 over, Rebecca Lee Bentham (76) of Toronto and Nicole Vandermade (73) of Brantford, Ont., were 6 over and Isabelle Beisiegel (76) of St-Hilaire, Que., was 7 over.