Epson Tour

Canada’s Kirby T4 and Richdale T6 after round one of the Island Resort Championship

((Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

Canadian Jennifer Kirby posted a 4-under-par 68 and is T4 after 18 holes of the Symetra Tour’s Island Resort Championship at Sweetgrass Golf Club in Harris, Mich.

The Paris, Ont., product recorded six birdies and one double-bogey Friday to sit three shots back of the leader China’s Ruixin Liu who’s 7-under-par after an opening round 65.

A graduate of the Team Canada Amateur Squad Kirby’s play has been trending upwards. She’s made the cut in her last two Symetra Tour events after missing the cut in three of her previous four starts.

Kirby’s best result of the season came in her first event of the year, Florida’s Natural Charity Classic where she finished T34.

Kelowna, B.C., native Samantha Richdale is T6 after an opening round 3-under-par 69. She fired a 35 (-1) on the front nine and closed with a 34 (-2) on her second nine, to sit four shots back of Liu.

The Illinois State alumnus is looking to get back on track after missing the cut in two of her last four events and failing to finish inside the top-40.

Brogan McKinnon (Mississauga, Ont.) is T12 after an opening round 70 (-2), alongside Anna Kim (Toronto, Ont.)

Quebec City native and Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Anne-Catherine Tanguay, is T36 after an opening round 72 (E). Her teammate Augusta James (Bath, Ont.) is T92 (+3).

For the full Resort Island Championship click here.