Nicole VandermadeAbelimages
Nicole Vandermade of Brantford, Ont., sits four strokes behind the leader after the first round of the first stage of the LPGA Qualifying tournament in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Vandermade, a member of Golf Canada's national team, opened with a 3-under 69 on the Champions Course on Tueseday.
UCLA's Stephanie Kono leads the way after shooting a bogey-free round of 7-under 65. Kono, who attended the same high school as fellow Hawaiian Michelle Wie, leads Lexi Thompson and Sweden's Camilla Lennarth by a single stroke.
Thompson is skipping this week's Women's British Open in order to compete at this week's qualifier in which the top 50 and ties will advance to the second stage, to be played in September.
Rebecca Lee-Bentham of Toronto, fresh off her win at the Canadian Women's Amateur Championship, sits in a tie for 33rd after opening with a 1-under 71.
Christina Proteau of Port Alberni, B.C., is tied for 45th after shooting even par.
Tiarra Honce of Kelowna, B.C., is tied for 105th following a 6-over 78.
The field will be cut to the top 70 and ties after Wednesday's second round.