After the opening round of the CPKC Women’s Open on Thursday, Canadian teens found themselves close to leader Miyu Yamashita from Japan.
Yamashita posted a season-best score of 62 on the 6,452-yard, par-70 Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton, leading by one stroke over her compatriot Nasa Hataoka and two strokes ahead of Kiara Romero from the United States.
Seventeen-year-old Anna Huang from Vancouver and 18-year-old amateur Michelle Xing from Richmond Hill, Ontario, were just three shots off the lead, both finishing at 5-under-par 65, tying for fourth with China’s Ruoning Yin and Japan’s Yuri Yoshida.
The 25-year-old Yamashita, who triumphed at June’s Meijer LPGA Classic in Belmont, Michigan, achieved eight birdies during her round.
“It’s nice to finish the first round in a good position after some time,” she remarked. “My putting was really solid, so I felt great.”
Brooke Henderson, the defending champion from Smiths Falls, Ontario, aiming for her third victory in her home LPGA tournament, ended her round with a birdie, finishing at 3 under.
“I think it was really significant and felt wonderful,” Henderson stated. “I really wanted it. I hit it hard, and seeing it go in was really satisfying.”
“The scores are quite low today, especially among the leaders, so I’m just planning to go out tomorrow and make a lot of birdies to catch up.”
World No. 1 Nelly Korda from the United States also finished at 3 under.
Both Huang and Xing are poised to make the cut on Friday for the first time in their careers after two attempts.
“Making the cut is definitely a major goal for me, and hopefully, I can play well over the weekend,” said Huang, who has won four European Tour tournaments in the past 11 months.
“I feel much more confident than in previous years heading into this event, and the support from the crowds really helps.”
Xing was a late entry into the tournament, receiving a sponsor’s exemption.
“As an amateur, making the cut at an LPGA event is one of my biggest aspirations, especially in Canada,” she expressed. “It would mean a great deal to me.”
The opening round took place under predominantly cloudy conditions with a temperature of 24°C and sporadic applications of insect repellent.
With 56 centimeters of rainfall since June 1, Edmonton has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
“I’m getting absolutely destroyed,” commented one caddie while applying spray at the turn.
Most of the women opted for long pants and long sleeves, facing consequences if they chose otherwise.
“It’s bad. Really bad. Look at my arms,” said Xing, who was in short sleeves. “I’ve been bitten on the front but not on the back.”
This reinforces the importance of avoiding rough areas, which not only harbor insects but also can snag club heads, she noted.
“When the rough is against you, it’s tough to make solid contact, so hitting fairways is vital here,” Xing explained.
Huang mentioned that she was bitten even through her pants and long sleeves.
“I would wear shorts here, but with the bugs, that’s not an option,” she remarked.
Henderson started strong with birdies on her first three holes on the back nine after turning at even par. However, her tee shot and second shot on the 16th hole landed in the rough, resulting in a bogey.
“Finding the rough can be very punishing, especially if your shots aren’t great, so sticking to the fairways is key,” she noted. “After making a bogey, I was able to quickly respond with a birdie, which is crucial.”
“Sitting at three under, I’ll definitely need to improve tomorrow, but it’s a solid start.”
Clairey Lin, a 16-year-old amateur from Langley, B.C., recorded a score of 68 in her tournament debut.
Veteran Maude-Aimee Leblanc from Sherbrooke, Quebec, joined her at 2 under. Vancouver’s Leah John finished with a score of 1 under at 69, while Savannah Grewal from Mississauga, Ontario, shot a 70.
Other Canadian amateurs included Lauren Kim from Surrey, B.C., Calgary’s Aphrodite Deng, and Shauna Liu from Maple, Ontario, all finishing at even par. Toronto’s Vanessa Borovilos ended at 2 over, and Eileen Park from Red Deer, Alberta, carded a 78.
Katie Cranston from Oakville, Ontario, shot a 74, while Alena Sharp from Hamilton finished with a 77, and Calgary’s Tillie Claggett recorded a score of 78.
