Miyu Yamashita extended her substantial lead, while Aphrodite Deng, a rising Canadian teen, significantly climbed the rankings on Saturday at the CPKC Women’s Open held in Edmonton. Yamashita from Japan delivered an impressive 5-under-par 65 in the third round, bringing her total score to 19 under for the tournament at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton. With a commanding six-stroke lead heading into Sunday’s finale, Yamashita aimed for her fourth career LPGA victory, marking her second win this season.
Despite a lone bogey on the 17th hole, the 25-year-old bounced back with a final birdie on the 18th hole. Expressing her fondness for the course, Yamashita credited her exceptional putting performance for her success. Her 54-hole score of 191 set a new tournament record, with her six-shot lead equalling the record for the largest 54-hole lead at the event.
In pursuit of Yamashita, Gina Kim of the U.S. carded a 6-under 64, while Japan’s Yuri Yoshida posted a 66, both trailing at 13 under. Notably, 16-year-old Calgary native Aphrodite Deng, who was last year’s low amateur in Mississauga, Ontario, showcased her skills by scoring the lowest round of the day with a remarkable 63, reaching 10 under and sharing the sixth position.
Deng was among four Canadian female golfers aged 18 and under who made the cut at the CPKC Women’s Open, a first in the tournament’s history. Vancouver’s Anna Huang, along with fellow amateurs Michelle Xing from Richmond Hill, Ontario, and Clairey Lin from Langley, British Columbia, continued their strong performance into the weekend rounds.
Defending champion Brooke Henderson from Smiths Falls, Ontario, managed to recover from a setback on the ninth hole to finish 1-over at the turn, ultimately recording three consecutive birdies on the back nine. Henderson, who won the tournament in Mississauga last year and in Regina in 2018, trailed Yamashita by 12 strokes.
The weather forecast for the final round on Sunday predicts a temperature of 26 degrees Celsius with some forest fire smoke in the morning, possibly leading to thunderstorms in the late afternoon.