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 the 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. Vancouver’s Anna Huang, aged 17, and 18-year-old amateur Michelle Xing from Richmond Hill, Ont., were tied for fourth place at 5-under-par 65, three shots behind the leader, alongside China’s Ruoning Yin and Japan’s Yuri Yoshida.
Yamashita, 25, who triumphed at the Meijer LPGA Classic in Belmont, Mich., in June, recorded eight birdies and expressed satisfaction with her putting performance. Defending champion Brooke Henderson from Smiths Falls, Ont., aiming for her third victory in the LPGA tournament, finished at 3 under par, ending with a birdie.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda from the United States also finished at 3 under par. Both Huang and Xing were in a good position to make the cut for the first time in their careers after two attempts each. Huang, who won four European Tour events in the past 11 months, expressed confidence and gratitude for the crowd’s support. Xing, granted a sponsor’s exemption as an amateur, highlighted her goal of making the cut at an LPGA event, especially on Canadian soil.
The first round took place under mostly cloudy skies with a temperature of 24°C, accompanied by occasional clouds of insect repellent. Edmonton’s significant rainfall since June 1 created a mosquito-infested environment. Players, predominantly wearing long pants and sleeves, faced insect bites as a consequence of not wearing adequate protection. Henderson and Xing shared their experiences of being bitten by mosquitoes, emphasizing the challenge of playing from the rain-soaked rough.
Henderson reflected on her performance, emphasizing the importance of staying in the fairways to avoid penalties. Clairey Lin, a 16-year-old amateur from Langley, B.C., debuted with a score of 68, while tour veteran Maude-Aimee Leblanc from Sherbrooke, Que., finished at 2 under. Other Canadian amateurs also showcased their skills, with a mix of results across the leaderboard.