Canadian teenagers were in close contention behind leader Miyu Yamashita of Japan after the first round of the CPKC Women’s Open on Thursday. Yamashita shot an impressive 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 with China’s Ruoning Yin and Japan’s Yuri Yoshida, three shots behind the leader at 5-under-par 65.
Yamashita, aged 25, who had previously won the Meijer LPGA Classic in Michigan, scored eight birdies in the round. She expressed satisfaction with her putting performance, stating that she felt really good finishing the first round in a strong position.
Defending champion Brooke Henderson from Smiths Falls, Ont., aiming for her third victory in the home LPGA tournament, ended the day with a birdie to finish at 3 under par. Henderson expressed her excitement about the shot, emphasizing the importance of making more birdies in the upcoming rounds to catch up with the leaders. 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 for the first time in their careers after two attempts each. Huang, who had won four European Tour events in the past 11 months, expressed her confidence and excitement about the opportunity, mentioning the supportive crowd. Xing, who received a sponsor’s exemption to participate, highlighted her goal as an amateur to make the cut in an LPGA event, especially in Canada.
The first round took place under mostly cloudy skies with a temperature of 24°C, with occasional clouds of insect repellent due to Edmonton’s 56 centimeters of rain since June 1, creating a mosquito-infested environment. The players experienced insect bites, emphasizing the importance of staying out of the rough, which harbored insects and affected club performance.
Henderson showcased a strong performance in the back nine, bouncing back from challenges and finishing the day at 3 under par. Other notable performances included amateur Clairey Lin from Langley, B.C., who shot a 68 in her tournament debut, and Maude-Aimee Leblanc from Sherbrooke, Que., who finished at 2 under par. Various Canadian amateurs also showcased their skills, with mixed results in the challenging conditions of the tournament.