Canadian teenagers closed in on the lead at the CPKC Women’s Open following the first round on Thursday. Japan’s Miyu Yamashita shot a season-best 62 at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton, putting her one stroke ahead of Nasa Hataoka and two strokes ahead of Kiara Romero from the United States. Vancouver’s Anna Huang and amateur Michelle Xing from Richmond Hill, Ont., were tied for fourth place, three shots off the lead at 5-under-par 65, alongside Ruoning Yin from China and Yuri Yoshida from Japan.
Yamashita, 25, who previously won the Meijer LPGA Classic in Michigan, expressed satisfaction with her performance, crediting her excellent putting for her good start. Defending champion Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., finished the day 3 under, emphasizing the importance of her final birdie. World No. 1 Nelly Korda from the United States also finished at 3 under.
Both Huang and Xing were poised to qualify for the cut on Friday for the first time in their careers after two attempts each. Huang expressed confidence and excitement about her performance, while Xing, a late addition to the field, emphasized her goal of making the cut at an LPGA event in Canada.
The first round took place under mostly cloudy skies with a temperature of 24°C, and players had to contend with clouds of insect repellent due to Edmonton’s 56 centimetres of rain since June 1, creating a mosquito-infested environment. Players who wore long pants and sleeves fared better against the insects, as Xing lamented getting bitten due to wearing short sleeves.
In terms of gameplay, Henderson navigated challenges on the course, emphasizing the importance of staying in the fairways to avoid penalties. Other notable performances included amateur Clairey Lin from Langley, B.C., who shot a 68 in her tournament debut, and veteran Maude-Aimee Leblanc from Sherbrooke, Que., who finished at 2 under. The round saw a mix of scores from Canadian amateurs, with some managing to stay even par while others faced challenges.
