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Rebecca Lee-BenthamThe Associated Press

Rebecca Lee-Bentham carded a 2-under 70 on the opening day of LPGA Q-School to sit in a tie for 15th, four shots behind first round leader Casey Grice.

The Toronto golfer, a medalist at the 2012 qualifying tournament, had six birdies but two bogeys and a double-bogey five on the par-3 sixth hole on the Jones Course at LPGA International on Wednesday to lead the Canadian contingent of 11 golfers. SooBin Kim of Coquitlam, B.C., Sara-Maude Juneau of Fossambault, Que., Sue Kim of Langley, B.C. and Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C. were all a further stroke back. Only SooBin Kim played the Hills Course, the second of two courses being used for the five-day tournament which will determine playing status for the 2015 LPGA season.

Juneau, who is looking to get back on the LPGA Tour after spending last season on the developmental Symetra Tour, had an eventful round. After playing the front nine of the Jones Course in a bogey-free 34, the roller-coaster ride began on the back side, starting with bogey on No. 11. Then three straight birdies followed by bogey, double-bogey before closing out with back-to-back pars.

Brogan McKinnon of Mississauga, Ont. had three bogeys over a five hole stretch on the back nine of the Hills Course to open with a 75 which leaves her tied for 105th. A further stroke back was a trio of Canadians - Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., Augusta James of Bath, Ont., one of 12 amateurs in the field, and Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont., who just completed her rookie campaign on the LPGA Tour this past year.

Brittany Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. struggled to an opening round 77. Younger sister and current world number one ranked amateur Brooke Henderson is her caddie this week in Florida.

Nicole Vandermade of Brantford, Ont., who just missed out on earning her LPGA card after finishing 17th on the Symetra Tour money list, shot 78 as did veteran Lorie Kane of Charlottetown, which left them tied for 145th out of 154 golfers. Kane, a four time winner on the LPGA Tour, is back at the qualifying tournament some two decades after she first earned her LPGA card at q-school. The 49-year-old, who turns 50 on December 19, is looking to improve her playing status for next year in the hopes of getting into more tournaments in 2015. This past season, she finished 133rd on the money list after playing in just 14 events.

Other notables on day one included Cheyenne Woods, who had five birdies and a lone bogey to put her in a tie for fifth after the opening round. Tiger Woods' niece spent the past year playing on the LPGA, Symetra and Ladies European Tour, where she picked up her first career win.

Charley Hull, the 18-year-old out of England ranked 37th in the world, struggled to an opening round 75 while Minjee Lee, a former world number one ranked amateur, opened with an even par round of 72.

The top 70 and ties after Saturday's fourth round will go on to play for one of 20 full-time Tour cards in Sunday's final round. Players finishing 21st through 45th will earn conditional status for 2015.

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