Japan, Sweden share top spot at CN Canadian Women's Open

Mirabel, Que. (Golf Canada) – Ai Miyazato of Japan and Pernilla Lindberg of Sweden carded opening-round scores of 7-under-par 65 Thursday to sit tied atop the leaderboard after round one of the 2011 CN Canadian Women’s Open at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que.


Miyazato, a former world No. 1 and an eight-time winner on the LPGA Tour, shot a bogey-free round that included seven birdies, four of which came on the back-nine. “I had a really good feeling with my swing tempo today. That’s why I really had so many birdie opportunities out there,” said Miyazato, who placed T15 at last year’s CN Canadian Women’s Open in Winnipeg. “My iron distance control was really good and I had a really good feeling with my putting as well. So that’s why I think I shot 7-under today.” Lindberg, winner of the 2008 World Amateur Championship, converted eight birdies on the day, including consecutive birdies on No. 10, No. 11, and No. 12. Kelowna, B.C., native Samantha Richdale is the low Canadian through 18 holes of play and sits in sole possession of third place after an impressive opening round 6-under par 66. Defending CN Canadian Women’s Open champion Michelle Wie carded a round of 5-under-par 67 to sit T4 alongside Americans Jenny Shin and Angela Stanford and Koreans Song-Hee Kim and Mi Hyun Kim. Nine of the 18 Canucks competing this week shot even-par or better Thursday including Richdale (-6); Adrienne White (-3); Lorie Kane (-1); Lisa Meldrum (-1); Team Canada graduates Maude-Aimée LeBlanc (-2), Stephanie Sherlock (E) and Sara Maude Juneau (E); and current Team Canada members Jessica Wallace (E) and Jisoo Keel (E
THE FOLLOWING ARE OPENING-ROUND CANADIAN SCORES FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 25TH, 2011:

Samantha Richdale – 66, -6Adrienne White – 69, -3Maude-Aimée Leblanc – 70, -2Lorie Kane – 71, -1Lisa Meldrum – 71, -1Stephanie Sherlock – 72, E(a) Jisoo Keel – 72, ESara Maude Juneau – 72, E(a) Jessica Wallace – 72, EDanielle Mills – 73, +1Kirby Dreher – 73, +1Jessica Shepley – 73, +1(a) Augusta James – 74, +2(a) Rebecca Lee-Bentham – 74, +2Isabelle Beisiegel – 75, +3(a) Nicole Vandermade – 77, +5(a) Anna Kim – 77, +5Alena Sharp – 77, +5

SECOND-ROUND TEE TIMES  Play begins today 7:10 am off the 1st and 10th tees, just click..... http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/Pairings.aspx?TournamentID=27839  .

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles