Canadian teenagers closed in on the lead at the CPKC Women’s Open following the first round in Edmonton. Japan’s Miyu Yamashita set the pace with a remarkable 62 on the 6,452-yard Royal Mayfair Golf Club. She was one stroke ahead of Nasa Hataoka and two strokes ahead of Kiara Romero from the United States. Vancouver’s Anna Huang and amateur Michelle Xing from Richmond Hill, Ont., were tied for fourth at 5-under-par with China’s Ruoning Yin and Japan’s Yuri Yoshida, three shots behind the leader.
Yamashita, aged 25 and the winner of the Meijer LPGA Classic in June, achieved eight birdies in the round. She expressed satisfaction with her putting performance and her overall position after the first round.
Defending champion Brooke Henderson closed the day with a birdie, finishing at 3 under. Henderson emphasized the importance of her performance and her eagerness to continue strong play in the coming rounds. World No. 1 Nelly Korda also finished at 3 under.
Both Huang and Xing were on track to make the cut for the first time in their careers after two previous attempts each. Huang, a four-time winner of European Tour events in the last year, expressed confidence and appreciation for the supportive crowds. Xing, who received a sponsor’s exemption, highlighted her goal of making the cut at an LPGA event, especially in Canada.
The first round took place under cloudy skies with a temperature of 24°C, and players had to contend with mosquitoes due to significant rainfall in Edmonton. Players wearing long sleeves and pants were less affected by insect bites compared to those in short sleeves. Staying out of the rough, which harbored insects and affected club performance, was emphasized by the players.
Henderson displayed resilience during the round, bouncing back from bogeys with quick birdies. The young amateur Clairey Lin from Langley, B.C., had a solid debut with a score of 68. Other Canadian players like Maude-Aimee Leblanc, Leah John, and Savannah Grewal also had respectable performances in the first round.
