Canadian teenagers closed the gap on leader Miyu Yamashita of Japan in the first round of the CPKC Women’s Open on Thursday. Yamashita carded a season-low 62 at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton, putting her one stroke ahead of Nasa Hataoka and two strokes ahead of Kiara Romero of the United States. Vancouver’s Anna Huang and 18-year-old amateur Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont., were tied for fourth at 5-under-par 65, three shots behind the leader, along with China’s Ruoning Yin and Japan’s Yuri Yoshida.
Yamashita, 25, who had won the Meijer LPGA Classic in June, recorded eight birdies and expressed satisfaction with her putting performance. Defending champion Brooke Henderson from Smiths Falls, Ont., ended the day at 3 under par, with a birdie on the final hole. World No. 1 Nelly Korda of the United States also finished at 3 under par.
Both Huang and Xing were in a good position to make the cut for the first time in their careers after two previous attempts. Huang, a four-time European Tour winner, expressed confidence and credited the supportive crowd. Xing, who received a sponsor’s exemption, highlighted her goal of making the cut at an LPGA event, especially in her home country.
The tournament’s first round took place under mostly cloudy skies and with a temperature of 24°C, leading to some challenges with mosquitoes due to the heavy rainfall in Edmonton since June. Players had to deal with insect bites, emphasizing the importance of staying out of the rough, which was thick due to the rain.
Henderson had a strong start on the back nine but faced challenges with rough conditions. She acknowledged the penalizing nature of the rough but remained focused on staying in the fairway. The round also saw strong performances from other players, including amateur Clairey Lin and tour veteran Maude-Aimee Leblanc.
Canadian amateurs also showcased their skills, with various players delivering solid performances. The first round set the stage for an exciting competition in the upcoming days, with players aiming to improve their positions on the leaderboard.
