Canadian women well back after 1st round of home event

Kelowna’s Richdale opens at 6 over; leader at 5 under

OTTAWA — Playing professional golf isn’t that much different from having a standard 9-5 job. There’s a similar litany of problems. In the first round of the CP Women’s Open, it was a traffic jam.

Marina Alex had four birdies on the back nine and finished 5-under 66 to take the clubhouse lead at the Women’s Open on Thursday and held on to a one-stroke lead by the end of the round in part thanks to high winds. Those gusts forced golfers to take more time on their drives and approach shots which slowed down the pace of play at the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club.

Holly Clyburn eagled on her final hole to enter into a tie with In Gee Chun, who fired a bogey-free 4-under 67 to sit second in the morning group.

Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., and Augusta James of Bath, Ont., were the low Canadians on Thursday at 2-over 73.

Calgary’s Jennifer Ha and Brooke Henderson of nearby Smiths Falls, Ont., finished their rounds at 3-over par.

Amateur Jaclyn Lee of Calgary was 4 over, Quebec City’s Anne-Catherine Tanguay was 5 over, Samantha Richdale of Kelowna was 6 over, Hamilton’s Alena Sharp and Hannah Hellyer of Sterling, Ont., tied at 7 over. Amateur Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., was 8 over.

Charlottetown’s Lorie Kane tied with amateur Grace St. Germain of Ottawa at 9 over, while Victoria amateur Naomi Ko finished at 12 over.

Johnson finding groove, trails Henley by 1 at Northern Trust

OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. — Dustin Johnson overcame a shaky start with a switch to his old putter to post a 5-under 65, leaving him one shot behind Russell Henley after the opening round of The Northern Trust.

The 65 was his lowest round since he won at Riviera in February, which began his rise to No. 1 in the world. That was the start of three straight victories going into the Masters, where Johnson injured his back and had to withdraw.

The Northern Trust is the first of four FedEx Cup playoff events that lead to the Tour Championship and the $10-million payoff.

The Canadian Press Canada’s Lorie Kane celebrates after sinking a birdie putt on the 15th hole during first-round action at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open in Ottawa on Thursday.