Canadian teenagers closed in on leader Miyu Yamashita of Japan in the first round of the CPKC Women’s Open on Thursday. Yamashita scored a season-low 62 at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton, leading Nasa Hataoka by one stroke and Kiara Romero by two.
Vancouver’s Anna Huang, 17, and 18-year-old amateur Michelle Xing from Richmond Hill, Ont., were tied for fourth with China’s Ruoning Yin and Japan’s Yuri Yoshida, three shots behind the leader at 5-under-par 65.
Yamashita, 25, who won the Meijer LPGA Classic in Michigan in June, made eight birdies and expressed satisfaction with her putting performance. Defending champion Brooke Henderson from Smiths Falls, Ont., finished at 3 under, aiming for her third win in the home LPGA tournament.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda from the United States also concluded 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 previous attempts.
The tournament’s first day saw mostly cloudy skies and a temperature of 24 C, with occasional clouds of insect repellent due to Edmonton’s high rainfall since June 1. Players, particularly Xing, faced mosquito bites, emphasizing the importance of staying out of the rough.
Henderson, after a rough start, rebounded with birdies on the back nine, acknowledging the challenge of the rough but maintaining a positive outlook for the next day. Other notable performances included Clairey Lin, a 16-year-old amateur from Langley, B.C., and tour veteran Maude-Aimee Leblanc from Sherbrooke, Que., who both finished under par.
Canadian amateurs also had a mixed performance, with some shooting even par and others struggling to stay close to the leaders. The competition remains tight as players prepare for the upcoming rounds.
