Canuck thrilled to play in ‘Peg

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This article was published 17/08/2010 (5828 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NORTH PLAINS, Ore. — The LPGA Tour has been on hiatus for two weeks since the Women’s British Open but returns to action this week with the Safeway Classic at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club’s Ghost Creek course.

It also marks the beginning of two intense weeks of LPGA Tour coverage by the Free Press. We’re on-site this week at Pumpkin Ridge to help get readers up to speed for next week’s CN Canadian Women’s Open at St. Charles Country Club.

Monday was the fifth sizzling day in a row in the Portland area, with another windless, cloudless day easily sending the thermometer to at least 35 C.

It was just another workday for Kelowna, B.C.’s Samantha Richdale, who played the hard and fast Ghost Creek layout in a morning pro-am, then spent the heat of the afternoon on the practice range.

Richdale is clearly one of those eager LPGA Tour rookies. She earned her card via three Duramed Futures Tour wins and a top-five standing on that development tour last year. She’s one of 11 confirmed Canadians entered in next week’s Open in Winnipeg.

"My expectations for next week?" Richdale asked Monday. "I don’t think there are any, except that I’m really excited about playing a tournament in Canada. I haven’t played a (Canadian) Open since Hunt (London Hunt, 2006) and it’s such a great thing, so awesome to have all those people. And they cheer for all the Canadians.

"It’ll be like the one tournament I have more than three fans."

Richdale said that with a broad grin, adding she hopes her father and brother make it to Winnipeg next week. Her mom is a scratch, coming off foot surgery, leaving her not mobile enough to get around even flat St. Charles.

During the Tour’s dark weeks, Richdale played the CN Canadian Women’s Tour event in Gatineau, Que., then went to Taiwan for a professional event.

"Then I went home and spent some time with my family," she said.

Beginning this week at Pumpkin Ridge, she hopes to start moving up on the LPGA money list. With three cuts made in nine events, she’s earned US$18,851, good for 104th. The top 80 on the money list keep cards for 2011.

Not qualified for the British Open or the Evian Masters in France, her most recent LPGA event was the U.S. Women’s Open in early July at Oakmont, where she finished 80-83 and missed the cut.

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"Fun? Of course it was fun," Richdale said. "Absolutely. Why? Because it’s Oakmont. Seeing those church pews (bunkers), wow, and the whole setting.

"It was so cool, so strategic. You don’t just hit into greens there; you have to go for spots in a lot of places. Sure it was really tough, but it was a lot of fun."

NOTES: Richdale is one of five Canadian LPGA members competing here this week… The Safeway purse is US$1.5 million for the 54-hole event that starts Friday… It’s a stellar field, with 34 of the top 35 LPGA money-winners here. The only player missing from that crew is No. 25, Se Ri Pak. Natalie Gulbis is also skipping this week but is believed to be a likely starter in Winnipeg.

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca