Canadian teenagers closed in on leader Miyu Yamashita of Japan following the first round of the CPKC Women’s Open on Thursday. Yamashita shot a season-best 62 at Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton, putting her one stroke ahead of Nasa Hataoka from Japan and two strokes ahead of Kiara Romero from the United States. Anna Huang from Vancouver and Michelle Xing from Richmond Hill, Ont., were tied for fourth place, three shots behind the leader at 5-under-par 65, alongside Ruoning Yin from China and Japan’s Yuri Yoshida.
Yamashita, 25, who won the Meijer LPGA Classic in Michigan in June, scored eight birdies and expressed satisfaction with her putting performance. Defending champion Brooke Henderson from Smiths Falls, Ont., finished with a birdie to reach 3 under, aiming for her third victory in the home LPGA tournament.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda from the United States also finished at 3 under. Huang and Xing were in a good position to make the cut on Friday for the first time in their careers after previous attempts. Huang, who won four European Tour events in the past 11 months, expressed confidence and appreciation for the supportive crowds. Xing, a late addition to the field with a sponsor’s exemption, highlighted her goal of making the cut as an amateur in a Canadian LPGA event.
The first round was played in mostly cloudy conditions with a temperature of 24 C, and players had to contend with mosquitoes due to the heavy rainfall in Edmonton since June. Henderson and others mentioned the challenges posed by the rough and insects on the course. Despite facing these obstacles, players like Xing and Huang remained focused on their game and the upcoming rounds.
The tournament also saw notable performances from other Canadian players, including amateur Clairey Lin, Maude-Aimee Leblanc, Leah John, and Savannah Grewal. Canadian amateurs Lauren Kim, Aphrodite Deng, Shauna Liu, and others also showcased their skills on the course. As the competition progresses, players are gearing up for more challenges and aiming to improve their standings in the tournament.