Canadian teenagers were in close pursuit of leader Miyu Yamashita from Japan after the first round of the CPKC Women’s Open on Thursday. Yamashita delivered an impressive performance with a season-low 62 at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton, holding a one-stroke lead over Nasa Hataoka from Japan and a two-stroke advantage over Kiara Romero from the United States.
Seventeen-year-old Anna Huang from Vancouver and 18-year-old amateur Michelle Xing from Richmond Hill, Ont., were both three shots behind the leader, tied for fourth place with Ruoning Yin from China and Yuri Yoshida from Japan at 5-under-par 65.
Yamashita, aged 25, who triumphed at the Meijer LPGA Classic in Michigan in June, showcased her prowess with eight birdies. Expressing her satisfaction, she mentioned, “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 from Smiths Falls, Ont., finished the day at 3 under, closing with a birdie. She 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.”
World No. 1 Nelly Korda from the United States also finished the round at 3 under. Both Huang and Xing were on track to make the cut on Friday for the first time in their careers after two attempts each.
Huang expressed her goal, stating, “Definitely making the cut would be a really big goal for me, and then hopefully some good weekend golf.” Xing, who received a sponsor’s exemption as an amateur, shared her excitement, saying, “As an amateur, like that’s one of my biggest goals, is to make the cut at an LPGA event, especially when it’s in Canada. It would mean a whole lot.”
The first round took place under mostly cloudy skies with a temperature of 24 C and occasional clouds of insect repellent. Edmonton’s heavy rainfall since June 1 created a mosquito-infested environment, causing discomfort to players and caddies. The players, mostly in long pants and sleeves, were cautious of insect bites and rough terrain that could affect their game.
The tournament saw notable performances from various players, with young amateur Clairey Lin from Langley, B.C., shooting a solid 68 on her debut. Tour veteran Maude-Aimee Leblanc from Sherbrooke, Que., also impressed with a 2-under score. Several other Canadian amateurs showcased their skills, contributing to an exciting start to the CPKC Women’s Open.