Brooke Henderson knew she had something when she stepped into a greenside bunker on the 17th hole of Mississaugua Golf and Country Club.

Henderson lined up her shot and made the perfect out, softly bouncing it a few feet away from the hole and then watching it roll into the cup for eagle, another clip for her highlight reel, and the lead at the CPKC Women’s Open.

“Before I got into the bunker I was thinking, ‘I can make this. It’s very makable,'” said Henderson after her round. “I was really happy with where the tee shot ended up and had a really good line in the bunker.

“I knew I had to hit it soft because it was really fast. It was nice to land it right where I wanted to and see it go in.”

Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ont., and Australia’s Minjee Lee finished Saturday’s third round as the new co-leaders at the Women’s Open, the Canadian women’s golf championship. Henderson fired a 6-under 65 and Lee caught up to her with a 5-under 66 for them to sit at 11-under overall, three shots clear of the field.

That creates a top-tier final pairing on Sunday, with a total of 24 LPGA Tour titles between Henderson and Lee.

“I love playing with Minjee,” said Henderson. “She has an amazing presence on course, she is like very calm and relaxed and I feel like it’s a great pairing for the final round.”

Lee said she was prepared for the experience of playing alongside Henderson in Canada, as the winningest pro golfer in Canadian history has thousands of fans trail her around the course.

“Oh, my God, countless times. I’ve played with her a lot. I know what to expect,” laughed Lee.

Japan’s Akie Iwai led the only LPGA Tour event in Canada for two rounds but stumbled to a 1-over 72 on Saturday to drop into a tie for third with world No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand. Thitikul had a 2-under 69 day to sit at 8-under overall.

Henderson has 13 wins on the LPGA Tour, including the 2018 Women’s Open, where she emerged victorious at the Wascana Country Club in Regina. That made her the first Canadian in 45 years — since Jocelyne Bourassa of Shawinigan, Que., in 1973 — to win the national championship.

“Winning in 2018 was a huge career highlight. It meant so much to me, it was so special,” said Henderson. “To be in a position to possibly have that opportunity again is really, really cool.

“I’m still a really long way from that. There are so many top players near the top of the leaderboard and still 18 holes to play.”

Fifteen-year-old amateur Aphrodite Deng of Calgary moved up to the top 10, shooting a 3-under 68 to sit in a group tied for seventh at 6-under overall.

“Today was pretty solid,” said Deng. “Just like whenever I hit it out of position I tried to get it back into position. My putting was pretty good.”

The CPKC Women’s Open — a women’s golf major until 2001 — regularly draws some of the largest crowds on the LPGA Tour. Although Henderson always has the largest gallery in Canada, the fans also respect and support some of the bigger names in the field like Lee.

“It’s really nice to see the lovely crowds,” said Lee, noting she drew loud cheers when she made a difficult par on No. 18. “I think we always get really great support from the Canadian people, and they just love the LPGA and love to support Brooke and the women’s game.”

Henderson, however, hopes to draw energy from the spectators as she makes the final push for her 14th title.

“The crowds have been so phenomenal all week, and today starting out on the first tee because I was near the final groups, it was really exciting and a lot of energy,” said Henderson, who has not won since the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in January 2023. “I feel like I was playing pretty well today, so the crowd continued to grow and grow.

“It was fun to give them some things to cheer about. That’s always one of the goals.”

Even Brooke Henderson, the winningest professional golfer in Canadian history, can still learn on the job.

Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ont., climbed 33 spots up the leaderboard on Friday at the CPKC Women’s Open, shooting a 5-under 66 to sit in a tie for fifth at 5 under after two rounds.

It’s not the first time Henderson has put together a solid second round at the Canadian national women’s golf championship and she’s beginning to see a pattern.

“Getting used to the crowd and the fans and the energy and learning the golf course a little bit more, just getting a little bit more comfortable with myself,” said Henderson on what was working for her at Mississaugua Golf and Country Club. “I also think I had to go low today to get away from the cut line, so that was a big goal of mine was to shoot minus-5 and I was able to do that, which is cool.

“I just wanted to get away from the cut line as fast as I could and I’m in a good spot.”

Japan’s Akie Iwai was the second-round leader, building a three-stroke lead over the pack after she had a solid 2-under 69 round to improve to 9 under.

Despite her sizable lead, Iwai felt she let some scoring chances slip between her fingers.

“I had many birdie chances, but I just didn’t get any,” said Iwai. “I left many short putts, no distance, short. That’s why tomorrow I need more.”

Australia’s Minjee Lee (66), Ireland’s Leona Maguire (70) and world No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul (70) shared second at 6-under overall.

Henderson and her group at 5-under was next on the leaderboard.

“Any time you can see your name near the top of the leaderboard it’s always a great feeling,” said Henderson. “I’m so excited to be playing the weekend in front of these amazing fans, and just hopefully I can give them some more to cheer about tomorrow.”

Lee said that having to chase a player like Iwai — who won her first-ever LPGA Tour title on Sunday at the Standard Portland Classic — changes her mindset.

“When you have the lead, I’m sure you’ll be in like a really good condition and you’ll be hitting it well. But I do think you feel like you need to keep the lead more than when you’re chasing,” said Lee, an 11-time LPGA Tour champion. “You can kind of be a little more aggressive and you’re trying to chase and make as many birdies as possible.”

Calgary’s Aphrodite Deng, a 15-year-old amateur, was the low Canadian after Thursday’s first round. She shot a 2-over 73 on Friday to drop into a tie for 15th at 3 under.

“She’s been playing amazing. I don’t know if she needs any advice from me,” said Henderson, who won her first LPGA Tour event when she was 17. “It’s cool she’s playing so well and just to see her name up there yesterday it was like, ‘oh, I need to get playing better here.’

“I am looking forward to seeing what she does the next couple days.”

Austin Krahn and Leonie Tavares each claimed the top spot of the podium in the two concurrent individual competitions; Team Quebec and Team Ontario nab silver and bronze medals in St. John’s. 

ST. JOHN’S, Nfld. – Team British Columbia (B.C.) returned to their familiar place atop the Canada Summer Games podium on Friday through the low round of Austin Krahn of Christina Lakes, B.C., securing the province their fourth team gold medal in five attempts and capping off a memorable week at Bally Haly Country Club in St. John’s, Nfld.  

Krahn, a member of the Team Canada – NextGen program and fresh off a three-win stretch in July, powered B.C. across the finish line on Friday with a 7-under 65 to add to his list of accomplishments in 2025. His eagle on the opening hole on Friday helped separate the 54-hole leader, with birdies on Nos. 2, 4 and 6 vaulting Krahn into a sizeable lead atop the Individual Male leaderboard and on course to claim a second gold medal at the Canada Summer Games. 

“It means so much more because I’m not playing for myself, I’m playing for my team as well. I’m winning for British Columbia as a team and I’m bringing up the medal count for all of British Columbia,” said Krahn, who finished just three strokes shy of tying the course record after rolling birdies in on five of his closing seven holes. It is the lowest single-round score ever recorded by a male at the Canada Summer Games.  

He pulled into the lead by the end of third round after 36-hole leader Alex Zhang of Richmond, B.C. was disqualified from competing in the Individual Male competition for signing an incorrect scorecard on Thursday. Zhang held a one-stroke edge over his Team B.C. teammate prior to the disqualification after rounds of 69 and 73.  

Leonie Tavares of Saint-Jerome, Que. claimed the top spot on the podium in the Individual Female competition with rounds of 74-76-72-77-299 to become the first female from Quebec to medal in the competition since former Team Canada member Celeste Dao of Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, Que. accomplished the feat at the 2017 Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg.  

Following her final round, Tavares expressed her elation for being part of a successful list of female golfers hailing from La Belle Province to win the tournament.  

“I’m really shocked, really excited because I’ve worked so hard… seeing Celeste Dao win this tournament and myself winning today, it feels amazing and I’m really proud of myself,” praised Tavares. “It took a lot of dedication; I had to wake up early and I’m not used to that so I’m really proud of myself just being there, just being myself and playing my game,” she added.  

Tavares played the back nine of her round on Friday 4-over and was able to capitalize on her even-par 72 on Thursday to pace the Female Individual competition and win by eight strokes. Evelyn Ma of Markham, Ont. and Yeeun (Jenny) Kwon of Vancouver, B.C. rounded out the podium in the Individual Female competition, with Ma claiming her honours in a playoff over Kwon following regulation.  

Golf debuted at the Canada Summer Games in 2009 and has featured in every summer program since, fostering a growing list of alumni over the years that currently boasts the likes of five-time RBC Canadian Open participant Eugene Wong and current Team Canada members Myles Creighton, Étienne Papineau, Brigitte Thibault and Monet Chun.  

This week, the tournament descended on Bally Haly Country Club in St. John’s, Nfld., and featured 44 players from all ten provinces and one territory competing over 72 holes of competition.  

Numerous stories emerged throughout the week including a pair of girls becoming the first female participants to represent Yukon at a Canada Summer Games golf event. Alayna May Mortimer and Sloane Tarapaski of Whitehorse, Y.K., were the two members that made history for the territory this week, with Mortimer commending the accomplishment of herself and her teammate following play on Tuesday.  

“It’s very empowering and really happy to feel like wow, I’m the first person to do this from where I live. It’s just an awesome experience,” said Mortimer. “There’s a lot of people that haven’t been to Canada Games from our territory, so it’s cool to send this many people out and have this many people doing different sports,” added Tarapaski. The two play golf together at Mountain View Golf Course in Whitehorse, Yukon, and spend most of their cooler months using a golf simulator in Tarapaski’s garage.  

History was also made in the Individual Male division as well, with Kooper MacKay of Wolfville, N.S. firing a 1-under 71 on Friday to nab a runner-up finish and become the first male from Nova Scotia to ever medal in golf at the Canada Summer Games.  

“It means a lot,” commented MacKay. “My whole goal coming here was to get a medal whether it was individual or team, so it really feels nice to actually get my goal done. I’ve seen a lot of history made from other Nova Scotians, so to be able to set my own history in that category feels really nice.” 

Birdies on Nos. 12, 15 and 16 catapulted MacKay towards the second step of the podium and helped whisk away a pair of bogeys on his front nine. MacKay finished with scores of 75-76-77-71- 299.  

“I’ve proved that I can compete with the best players in the nation, so it really feels nice to actually be able to shoot scores on tough conditions, tough courses and beat some of the better players in Canada,” he added.  

Ethan Hunter of Casa Rio, Sask. also pieced together a memorable Friday, shooting a 2-over 74 to place third and become the first-ever player from Saskatchewan to medal at the Canada Summer Games golf event.  

“It means a lot to me to be the first ever is huge,” said Hunter. “It’s a big thing for my career and moving forward, it’s just a little bit of a confidence booster.”  

Bothteam and individual competitions took place this past week at the Canada Summer Games, the former grouping a pair of male and female players from the same province together to battle for medals in a mixed-gender team competition. The lowest score from a player of each gender represented the team’s total score following the conclusion of each round.   

To view the full leaderboard from the 2025 Canada Summer Games at Bally Haly Country Club, please click here.  

Fitzsimmons becomes fourth three-time winner of the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur; Derek Dalziel wins Mid-Master division while Team Ontario retaining Inter-Provincial Team title

NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C. – Charles Fitzsimmons is a national champion for a third time after holding on to win the 2025 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship by one shot at Seymour Golf and Country Club in North Vancouver, B.C.

Fitzsimmons of King, Ont. shot a 3-over 74 to finish the tournament at 1-over to edge Dustin Franko of Delta, B.C. by one shot. Fitzsimmons posted rounds of 71-72-68-74-285 to become the fourth three-time winner of the national championship.

“Still processing the win, it feels great,” said Fitzsimmons following his win on Friday. “Today was a real challenge, Dustin played solid and he and I were going back and forth, it was just pressure filled for every moment and a really good challenge. My games been close all summer and to be able to get the win here is really special.”

Fitzsimmons got into some early trouble opening with three bogeys from his first four holes but rebounded to grab two birdies on holes 7 and 9 to finish his front nine on a positive stretch. Fitzsimmons opened his back nine with six consecutive pars before a pair of bogeys on Nos. 16 and 17 tightened the leaderboard.

“Ultimately, I’m always trying to come back and hit a golf shot that is what is the most important thing to focusing on the shot you’re trying to hit and letting everything else slide aside. I had lots of thoughts of what could happen, lots of nerves and all kinds of different emotions popping up but really just trying to use my abilities and my skills to re-focus on trying to hit a good golf shot,” he said.

Fitzsimmons grabbed a par on 18 to hold off Franko and win the title. The win marks three Men’s Mid-Am titles for Fitzsimmons tying him with Dave Bunker (2008, 2009, 2010), Garrett Rank (2014, 2015, 2016) and Joseph Deraney (2018, 2019, 2023). The four trail only seven-time winner, Graham Cooke and four-time winner Stu Hamilton on the all-time winners list.

“It’s pretty special to be named amongst that group of players that have won this tournament three times. I probably would have never dreamt I could have done that as a kid so to be here now still kind of feels like a dream. It’s really cool to be part of Golf Canada history that way,” added Fitzsimmons.

Taylor Durham of North Vancouver, B.C. finished third at 3-over while Kyle Gordon of Whitby, Ont. and Wyatt Brook of Heffley Creek, B.C. finished tied for fourth at 4-over.

Derek Dalziel of London, Ont. won the Mid-Master title after finishing 7-over to win by one shot over Mike Landry of Hanwell, N.B. and Mike Aizawa of Richmond, B.C.

Team Ontario was represented by Derek Dalziel, Kyle Gordon of Whitby, Ont. and Stephen Brown of Corunna, Ont. On Wednesday, Dalziel led the team with a 1-under 70 that included a hole-in-one on the par-3 fifth hole, while Gordon’s 1-over 72, highlighted by a hole out for eagle on the par-4 17th, counted towards the team’s total. Each of Ontario’s past three wins have come with new team members each season. Team Nova Scotia finished as runner-up at 5-over while Team Alberta was third at 6-over. Team Quebec (10-over) and Team New Brunswick (12-over) rounded out the top 5.

The 155-player field, comprised of players aged 25 and over, was cut to the low 70 players and ties at 10-over or better following Wednesday’s second round. Players aged 40 and older also competed in the Mid-Master division as well as the Mid-Amateur division as both divisions ran concurrently over 72-holes.

In addition to the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title, Fitzsimmons will receive direct exemptions into the 2025 U.S Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Troon Country Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. from September 13 -18, the 2026 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship along with a 10-year exemption into the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship.

For the final leaderboards following the 2025 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.

Derek Dalziel leads Mid-Master division heading into Friday

NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C. – There is a familiar name atop the leaderboard at the 2025 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO. Charles Fitzsimmons, who won the 2021 and 2022 tournaments, has grabbed the lead heading into the final round at Seymour Golf and Country Club in North Vancouver, B.C.

Fitzsimmons of King, Ont. tied for the low round of the day with a 3-under 68 to jump into the lead by two. Fitzsimmons quickly answered two front nine blips to stay even on his round through nine. The two-time champion opened the back nine with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 10 and 11 and closed strong on with another on No. 18 to put himself in the lead.

Second round co-leader, Dustin Franko of Delta, B.C. is currently solo second following a 2-over 73 to drop to even par for the tournament. Derek Dalziel of London, Ont. and Taylor Durham of North Vancouver, B.C. are tied for third at 2-over, while Wyatt Brook of Heffley Creek, B.C. and Mike Aizawa of Richmond, B.C. at tied for fifth at 3-over. In the Mid-Master division, Dalziel holds a one-shot lead over Aizawa.

The 155-player field, comprised of players aged 25 and over, was cut to the low 70 players and ties at 10-over or better following Wednesday’s second round. In addition to competing for the Mid-Amateur title, players aged 40 and older also will compete for the Mid-Master title as both divisions are running concurrently over 72-holes. In addition to the individual titles, the Inter-Provincial Team Championship is taking place over the first two rounds of play. The lowest two scores out of three team members, over 36-holes will determine the winner of the Inter-Provincial Team Championship. The Mid-Amateur division will run concurrently with the Mid-Master division for players 40 and older.

In addition to the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title, the champion will receive direct exemptions into the 2025 U.S Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Troon Country Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. from September 13 -18, the 2026 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship along with a 10-year exemption into the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship.

For the leaderboards following the second round of the 2025 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.

Akie Iwai was right back on top of the leaderboard in the CPKC Women’s Open on Thursday, four days after her breakthrough victory in the Portland Classic.

Iwai closed her afternoon round at Mississaugua Golf and Country Club with birdies on the par-4 eighth and ninth holes for a 7-under 64 and a two-stroke lead.

“Last week I won, but already it’s in the past, already past,” Iwai said.

Fifteen-year-old Canadian amateur Aphrodite Deng was tied for second with top-ranked Jeeno Thitikul, Leona Maguire, Gaby Lopez and 2023 winner Megan Khang.

On Sunday in Oregon, Iwai joined twin sister Chisato as a rookie LPGA Tour winner. The 23-year-old Japanese player had second-place finishes in Thailand in February and Los Angeles in April, then watched her sister win at Mayakoba in May in Mexico.

She’s playing in Canada for first time.

“Really beautiful course,” said Akie Iwai, a six-time winner on the JLPGA Tour. “Looks like something similar in Japan course.”

Chisato Iwai bogeyed Nos. 8 and 9 to shoot 75.

Deng was born in Calgary, Alberta, and her family lived in Montreal before moving to New Jersey for her father’s work. She mostly lives now in Orlando, Florida, but remains a Canadian citizen and plays for Golf Canada’s junior program.

“Just trying to hit each shot and play in the fairway,” Deng said.

Thitikul played her first round since taking the top spot in the world from Nelly Korda.

“I think just like another day at work for me,” Thitikul said.

Korda opened with a 69.

Slumping Canadian star Brooke Henderson had four birdies and four bogeys in a 71. The 2018 champion won the last of her 13 LPGA Tour titles in January 2023.

“Just grateful we were able to get it back to even,” Henderson said.

She played alongside Thitikul and Women’s Scottish Open winner Lottie Woad, who shot 75.

Defending champion Lauren Coughlin had a 74. She won last year in Calgary.

Aphrodite Deng leaned on a club, cooly crossing a leg at the ankle as she stood on the 18th fairway of Mississaugua Golf and Country Club, waiting her turn to shoot with all the confidence of a seasoned LPGA Tour pro.

As soon as Deng was up, she strode directly to the ball, set her feet, and connected on her approach shot, seemingly with no doubt about her club selection or her target.

It’s hard to believe that the Canadian amateur is just 15 years old.

Her score in the first round of the CPKC Women’s Open was also hard to believe, as she finished her round tied for the clubhouse lead with Mexico’s Gaby Lopez and Megan Khang of the United States at 5-under 66. Japan’s Akie Iwai took over the lead with a mistake-free 7-under round in the afternoon, with world No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand and Ireland’s Leona Maguire tying Deng, Lopez and Khang two shots back.

Even Deng’s answers when asked about her demeanour on the course give off a sense of effortless cool.

“I’m trying to hit each shot and play in the fairway,” she said after submitting her scorecard. “I don’t really like playing slow because then I think too much.”

Deng was born in Calgary and her family lived in Montreal before moving to New Jersey for her dad’s work. She mostly lives in Orlando now but remains a Canadian citizen and plays for Golf Canada’s junior program.

For most of her first round at the Canadian national women’s championship Deng was alone atop the leaderboard until Khang and Lopez caught up to her in their final holes. Although a little nervous about doing media on live TV, Deng was nonchalant about leading a professional golf tournament.

“I did look at the leaderboard a few times, yeah,” she said. “I thought it was pretty cool, but I just knew I had to keep the same game plan.”

Jeff MacDonald, head coach of Golf Canada’s NextGen team, said that Deng’s quick pace and unperturbed style of play is typical for her.

“No matter how big the event is, she just handles herself the same way over and over again,” he said. “Doesn’t change anything, doesn’t make too too much of the moment.

“And with the quickness, she just gets that decision her head, and she knows what she wants to do, and she’s committed to the shots. I think it’s an asset to her.”

Deng’s strong showing in Thursday’s opening round put her in the spotlight but she’s actually just a part of Golf Canada’s youth movement. There are 16 Canadians in the field at the Women’s Open, 10 of them are amateurs and six of those amateurs are juniors.

Lauren Kim, a 20-year-old junior at the University of Texas, was the second lowest Canadian on Thursday. The Surrey, B.C., native shot a 1-under 70 to sit in a tie for 21st.

“It’s quite inspiring, honestly. Just looking at it from an outsider’s perspective, I think it’s amazing that we have so many young amateurs coming out,” said Kim who said she felt old compared to some of the amateurs competing at Mississauga. “I think that the future is looking really bright for Canada.”

Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., is the highest ranked Canadian golfer on the LPGA Tour, sitting 53rd on the points list and 58th in the world heading into this week’s women’s national championship. She had an even-par 71 to sit in a tie for 39th with, among others, amateur Katie Cranston of Oakville, Ont.

A golfing prodigy who won her first LPGA Tour event as a 17-year-old, Henderson’s 13 victories are the most for any Canadian professional golfer. She was also impressed by Deng’s performance.

“She’s been playing well all summer, so it’s pretty cool to see, especially on a big stage like this,” said Henderson after her round. “Just keep it going and ride the momentum.”

Amateurs Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont., and Calgary’s Tillie Claggett as well as 16-year-old Anna Huang of Vancouver, who turned pro in January, were tied for 65th at 1 over.

Monet Chun of Richmond Hill, Ont., and amateur Clara Ding of White Rock, B.C., were tied for 87th at 2 over.

Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., as well as amateurs Vanessa Borovilos of Toronto and Ruihan Wang of Markham, Ont., were tied for 110th at 3 over.

Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont., as well as amateurs Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill and Joline Truong of Mississauga were tied for 131st at 4 over.

Hamilton’s Alena Sharp was 156th at 11 over.

Ryan Tsang and Dustin Franko co-lead in Mid-Amateur division;
Mike Aizawa leads Mid-Master division heading into Thursday

NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C. – The R. Bruce Forbes Trophy will remain with Team Ontario for a third consecutive year following a come from behind win at the 2025 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO at Seymour Golf and Country Club in North Vancouver, B.C.

Team Ontario entered play four back of Team Nova Scotia in the Inter-Provincial Team Championship on Wednesday but fired a combined score of even par to finish at 2-over and reclaimed the team title, three shots clear of the opening round leaders.

Team Ontario was represented by Derek Dalziel of London, Ont., Kyle Gordon of Whitby, Ont. and Stephen Brown of Corunna, Ont. On Wednesday, Dalziel led the team with a 1-under 70 that included a hole-in-one on the par-3 fifth hole, while Gordon’s 1-over 72, highlighted by a hole out for eagle on the par-4 17th, counted towards the team’s total. Each of Ontario’s past three wins have come with new team members each season.

Team Nova Scotia finished as runner-up at 5-over while Team Alberta was third at 6-over. Team Quebec (10-over) and Team New Brunswick (12-over) rounded out the top 5.

In the Mid-Amateur division, Ryan Tsang of Thornhill, Ont. has grabbed a piece of the lead following a 2-under 69 on Wednesday. Tsang carded four birdies in his round, including two back-to-back on holes No. 16 and 17 to finish in red figures. Tsang opened the day tied for fourth with seven others at even par and three back of first round leader Glenn Robinson of Middle Sackville, N.S. Co-leading is Dustin Franko of Delta, B.C. who shot an even par 71 to remain at 2-under for the championship. Franko entered play one shot back of Robinson and now finds himself tied for the lead by two shots.

Mike Aizawa of Richmond, B.C. trails the co-leaders at even par and sits solo third in the Mid-Amateur title race. In addition to being in contention for the Mid-Amateur title, Aizawa has jumped ahead in the Mid-Master division after shooting a 2-under 69 to take a one-shot lead over Dalziel.

Two-time Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion, Charles Fitzsimmons of King, Ont. is in a four-way tied for fourth in the Mid-Amateur division, sitting three back at 1-over for the championship.

The 155-player field, comprised of players aged 25 and over, was cut to the low 70 players and ties at 10-over or better following Wednesday’s second round. In addition to competing for the Mid-Amateur title, players aged 40 and older also will compete for the Mid-Master title as both divisions are running concurrently over 72-holes. In addition to the individual titles, the Inter-Provincial Team Championship is taking place over the first two rounds of play. The lowest two scores out of three team members, over 36-holes will determine the winner of the Inter-Provincial Team Championship. The Mid-Amateur division will run concurrently with the Mid-Master division for players 40 and older.

In addition to the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title, the champion will receive direct exemptions into the 2025 U.S Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Troon Country Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. from September 13 -18, the 2026 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship along with a 10-year exemption into the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship.

For the leaderboards following the second round of the 2025 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.

MISSISSAUGA – Brooke Henderson has played in more than a dozen CPKC Women’s Open tournaments, winning the national women’s golf championship in 2018. And she’s loved every moment. 

But as Henderson has struggled on the LPGA Tour this season, she’s gone back to old video of herself playing in previous national championships to recapture her mojo.

“Just trying to get some motivation and try to lean back on some things that I’ve learned over the years just to see the progress that I’ve made, and it’s pretty cool,” said Henderson in the media centre at Mississaugua Golf and Country Club. “I played in this event a lot and I’ve had a lot of success, winning in 2018 and multiple Top 10s, even when I was young to make the cut was super cool.

“Just trying to think back to what was going through my mind when I was answering those questions back then or out there playing. (…) There are so many cool things that have happened at this event, so just trying to take positive energy from that and use it this week.”

Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ont., is the winningest player in Canadian golf history, taking 13 titles on the LPGA Tour including two majors. She peaked at No. 6 on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. 

As the biggest name in Canadian golf and a returning champion, Henderson is the face of the CPKC Women’s Open.

But she’s also in the midst of her most frustrating season as a professional golfer, where she has made 12 of 17 cuts but only reached the top 10 of a leaderboard once. Although still the top-ranked Canadian on the women’s rankings, she’s sunk down to 58th.

“I think just getting four solid rounds of golf together in a row is really key. Just being a little bit more consistent, said Henderson, who tied for 23rd at last week’s Standard Portland Classic. “For a while the ball striking was a bit of an issue. I feel like we worked diligently on that and it’s back to a better spot.

“So just piecing everything together. Golf is hard and I found that out more recently than I ever have. Just trying to take it day by day, figuring it out.”

The level of competition on the LPGA Tour hasn’t made it easy for Henderson, either.

“The golf has just gotten so much better. Everyone is getting so good,” said world No. 2 Nelly Korda of the United States. “If you just look at the teams that the girls have around themselves, they’re investing so much into themselves, their game, everything, so they can compete week in, week out at their best ability.”

Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul leapfrogged Korda in the rankings on Aug. 4 to become the world’s top golfer. She agreed that the LPGA Tour has never been more competitive.

“I would say it’s so hard, especially this year,” said Thitikul. “All the winners are different faces. I don’t think any players have got multiple wins yet this year.

“I think the group of people that have the talent and potential to win is bigger and bigger.”

Although no longer a major — the Women’s Open lost that honour in 2001 — the Canadian women’s championship remains one of toughest fields on tour. Six of the current top 10 and 19 of the top 25 players on the world rankings are in the field.

Defending champion Lauren Coughlin is among eight past winners in Canada, along with Megan Khang (2023), Paula Reto (2022), Jin Young Ko (2019), Henderson (2018), Sung Hyun Park (2017), Ariya Jutanugarn (2016) and Lydia Ko (2015, 2013, 2012).

Last year’s two-stroke victory at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary was the first LPGA Tour win of Coughlin’s career and she said on Wednesday it continues to shape her as a player.

“I think it gave me the confidence that I could get it done when I needed to, that I could hit shots, make putts when I needed to coming down the stretch,” said Coughlin, who followed that up with a win at the Scottish Open last season. “I think I just learned I don’t need to do anything other than being myself out there and have a lot of fun and be really relaxed. 

“If I can do that, I can contend.”

Team Nova Scotia leads Inter-Provincial Team Championship

NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C. – Glenn Robinson fired a 3-under 68 on Tuesday to take the lead following the opening round of the 2025 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO at Seymour Golf and Country Club in North Vancouver, B.C.

Robinson of Middle Sackville, N.S. carded five birdies in his round on Tuesday to hold a one-shot lead over Dustin Franko of Delta, B.C. who sits solo second following a 2-under 69. Patrick Perrin of Winnipeg, Man. is alone in third following a 1-under 70, while eight players including 2021 and 2022 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur winner, Charles Fitzsimmons (King, Ont.) are tied for fourth at even par (71).

Robinson also holds a three-shot lead in the Mid-Master division over John Drewery of Amherstburg, Ont. and Patrick Weeks of Vancouver, B.C.

Nova Scotia leads the Inter-Provincial Team Championship by three shots over Team Alberta heading into the final round of the team component on Wednesday. Nova Scotia is represented by Robinson, along with Matt Gallupe of Lake Loon, N.S., and Brett McKinnon of Truro, N.S. Robinson’s 3-under and McKinnon’s 1-over 72 counted towards the team’s combined total of 2-under on Tuesday. Team Alberta is at 1-over while Team Ontario sits third at 2-over, Team New Brunswick is 3-over and Team Manitoba and Team Quebec are tied for fifth at 4-over.

The 155-player field, comprised of players aged 25 and over, will be cut to the low 70 players and ties following Wednesday’s second round. In addition to competing for the Mid-Amateur title, players aged 40 and older also will compete for the Mid-Master title as both divisions are running concurrently over 72-holes. In addition to the individual titles, the Inter-Provincial Team Championship is taking place over the first two rounds of play. The lowest two scores out of three team members, over 36-holes will determine the winner of the Inter-Provincial Team Championship. The Mid-Amateur division will run concurrently with the Mid-Master division for players 40 and older.

In addition to the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title, the champion will receive direct exemptions into the 2025 U.S Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Troon Country Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. from September 13 -18, the 2026 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship along with a 10-year exemption into the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship.

For the leaderboards following the opening round of the 2025 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.