Canadian teenagers closed in on leader Miyu Yamashita of Japan after the first round of the CPKC Women’s Open on Thursday. Yamashita carded a season-low 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, along with Ruoning Yin from China and Yuri Yoshida from Japan.
Yamashita, a 25-year-old who previously won the Meijer LPGA Classic, expressed satisfaction with her performance, particularly highlighting her putting skills. Defending champion Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., finished the day with a birdie, ending at 3 under par. Henderson emphasized the importance of her birdie and expressed determination to catch up to the leaders by making more birdies in the upcoming rounds.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda from the United States also finished at 3 under par. Both Huang and Xing were on track to qualify for the cut on Friday, aiming for their first successful cuts in LPGA events after two previous attempts each. Huang, who has won four European Tour events in the past 11 months, expressed confidence and acknowledged the supportive crowds.
Xing, who received a sponsor’s exemption to enter the tournament, shared her excitement about potentially making the cut as an amateur. The first round was played under mostly cloudy skies and mild temperatures, with participants facing challenges from mosquitoes due to heavy rainfall in Edmonton. Players took precautions against insect bites, emphasizing the importance of hitting fairways to avoid rough that could be infested with insects.
Henderson showcased resilience by bouncing back with birdies after making bogeys, finishing the day at 3 under par. Other notable performances included Clairey Lin, a 16-year-old amateur from Langley, B.C., who shot a 68 in her tournament debut, and Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., who finished at 2 under par. The tournament saw a mix of results from various Canadian amateurs and professionals, with some players facing challenges due to the rough conditions.
