Miyu Yamashita extended her lead at the CPKC Women’s Open in Edmonton, while Canadian teenager Aphrodite Deng made a significant climb in the rankings on Saturday. Yamashita from Japan carded a 5-under-par 65 in the third round, reaching 19 under for the tournament at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton. With a six-shot advantage heading into Sunday, Yamashita aimed for her fourth LPGA victory and second of the season. She finished the day with a sixth birdie on the 18th hole, bouncing back from a lone bogey on the 17th.
Expressing her liking for the course, Yamashita mentioned her strong putting performance. Setting a new tournament record with a 191 total score after 54 holes, she equaled the record for the largest 54-hole lead. Gina Kim of the U.S. shot a 6-under 64, and Japan’s Yuri Yoshida posted a 66 to trail Yamashita at 13 under.
Sixteen-year-old Deng, hailing from Calgary, delivered an exceptional round of 63, propelling her to 10 under and a tie for sixth place. Deng, who was the top amateur at last year’s event, focused on learning and minimizing mistakes throughout the day.
Notably, four Canadian female golfers aged 18 and under made the cut at the CPKC Women’s Open for the first time. Among them, Vancouver’s Anna Huang, Michelle Xing from Richmond Hill, Ont., and Clairey Lin from Langley, B.C., continued competing over the weekend. Huang, 17, scored an even 70 to stand at 7 under, while Xing, 18, finished at 1 under with a 71. Lin, 16, carded a 72, placing her at 2 over par.
Defending champion Brooke Henderson from Smiths Falls, Ont., rebounded from a challenging start to finish the day at 7 under. Despite missing some crucial putts, Henderson aimed to improve her performance in the final round. Trailing Yamashita by 12 strokes, she focused on finishing strong and regaining her confidence.
Deng, who moved to the U.S. with her family at a young age, acknowledged the support from the crowd as she showcased her skills on the course. Her consistent play and strategic shot-making impressed spectators, with her caddie Benjamin Reed providing valuable guidance.
As the tournament heads into the final round, the weather forecast predicts a temperature of 26°C with some forest fire smoke, transitioning into possible thunderstorms later in the day.