Ten Canadians fly Canadian flag in Symetra Tour opener

Augusta James (Harry How/ Getty Images)

BEAUMONT, Calif. – Ten Canadians are set to kick-off the Symetra Tour’s 2016 season this Friday with the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort and Spa.

Headlining the Canucks is Young Pro Squad member Augusta James of Bath, Ont., who was the top-ranked Canadian on last year’s Volvik Race to the Card money list at No. 12 ($53,077). Fellow Young Pro Squad member Sue Kim of Langley, B.C. will be chasing her third Symetra Tour title—she won last year’s Florida’s Natural Charity Classic by three strokes.

The 54-hole event consists of 106 professionals and two amateurs competing for a purse of $100,000. At the end of the 23-event season, the Top-10 athletes on the final money list will earn LPGA Tour membership for 2017.

Many Team Canada graduates will look to make their mark on the new season, including: Sara-Maude Juneau (Fossambault, Que.), Jennifer Kirby (Paris, Ont.), Rebecca Lee-Bentham (Richmond Hill, Ont.), Brittany Marchand (Orangeville, Ont.), Anne-Catherine Tanguay (Québec, Que.) and Jessica Wallace (Langley, B.C.).

The action will begin at 7:15 a.m. (PST) on Friday and will return to the Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon. In the 2015 event, American Katie Kempter rallied with birdies on her final three holes to capture her first professional victory.

Friday’s tee-times of all Canadians in the field are listed below:

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