Canadian teenage golfers were in close competition with Japan’s Miyu Yamashita during the initial round of the CPKC Women’s Open on Thursday. Yamashita delivered an impressive performance with a season-low score of 62 at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton, leading by one stroke over Nasa Hataoka from Japan and two strokes over Kiara Romero from the United States. Anna Huang from Vancouver and Michelle Xing, an 18-year-old amateur from Richmond Hill, Ont., were tied for fourth place at 5-under-par 65, three shots behind the leader.
Yamashita, aged 25 and the winner of the Meijer LPGA Classic in Michigan in June, achieved eight birdies during the round. Expressing her satisfaction, she mentioned, “It’s been a while since I finished the first round in a good position. My putting was really nice, so I felt really good.”
Defending champion Brooke Henderson from Smiths Falls, Ont., who is aiming for her third victory in the home LPGA tournament, closed the round with a birdie to finish at 3 under par. Henderson expressed her delight, stating, “I feel it was very important and it felt great. I really wanted it. I hit it really hard. I’m glad I hit the hole, but to see it go in was really nice.”
World No. 1 Nelly Korda from the United States also finished at 3 under par. Both Huang and Xing are on track to qualify for the cut on Friday for the first time in their careers after two attempts each. Huang expressed her confidence and stated, “Definitely making the cut would be a really big goal for me, and then hopefully some good weekend golf.”
The first round was played under mostly cloudy skies with a temperature of 24°C, and occasional clouds of insect repellent due to Edmonton receiving 56 centimeters of rain since June 1, making the city a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
The tournament saw various players navigating challenging conditions, with many opting for long sleeves and pants to fend off insects. Henderson, Huang, and Xing shared their experiences with the rough and insect bites, emphasizing the importance of hitting fairways.
Overall, the first round of the CPKC Women’s Open showcased impressive performances and challenges for the players, with the leaderboard reflecting a mix of seasoned professionals and talented amateurs from Canada and around the world.