Canadian teenagers were in close pursuit of leader Miyu Yamashita of Japan following the first round of the CPKC Women’s Open on Thursday. Yamashita delivered an impressive performance with a season-low score of 62 at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton, positioning her one stroke ahead of Nasa Hataoka from Japan and two strokes ahead of Kiara Romero from the United States.
Anna Huang from Vancouver and Michelle Xing, an 18-year-old amateur from Richmond Hill, Ont., both put up strong showings, trailing the leader by three shots at 5-under-par 65. They were tied for fourth place alongside Ruoning Yin from China and Yuri Yoshida from Japan.
Yamashita, aged 25 and winner of the Meijer LPGA Classic in Michigan in June, showcased exceptional putting skills with eight birdies in her round. Expressing her satisfaction with her performance, she stated, “It’s been a while since I finished the first round in good position. My putting was really nice, so I felt really good.”
Defending champion Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., who is aiming for her third victory in the LPGA tournament, closed the round at 3 under par, finishing with a birdie. Henderson expressed the importance of her performance, saying, “I feel it was very important and it felt great. I really wanted it. I hit it really hard. I’m glad I hit the hole, but to see it go in was really nice.”
Among the contenders, World No. 1 Nelly Korda from the United States also finished the round at 3 under par. Both Huang and Xing were optimistic about making the cut for the first time in their careers after two attempts each.
The tournament’s first round took place under mostly cloudy skies with a temperature of 24°C, and players had to contend with occasional clouds of insect repellent due to the city’s significant rainfall since June, creating a mosquito-infested environment. The challenging conditions prompted players to wear long pants and sleeves to avoid insect bites and rough hazards on the course.
Huang and Xing shared their experiences with insect bites, emphasizing the importance of hitting fairways to avoid the thick rough. Henderson, despite facing challenges with rough patches, managed to bounce back swiftly from bogeys with birdies, finishing the day at 3 under par.
Additionally, Clairey Lin, a 16-year-old amateur from Langley, B.C., impressed with a score of 68 in her tournament debut, while seasoned player Maude-Aimee Leblanc from Sherbrooke, Que., joined her at 2 under par. Various other Canadian amateurs showcased their talent on the course, highlighting the competitive field at the CPKC Women’s Open.