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PGA TOUR

Jacob Bridgeman rallied from a five-shot deficit, shooting the lowest round of his PGA Tour career for a two-shot victory at the Biltmore Championship Asheville. It is his second PGA Title in just his 85th career start. He joins Wyndham Clark, Matt Fitzpatrick, Scottie Scheffler, Chris Gotterup and Cameron Young as the only multiple winners this year. His final round 61 bettered his previous personal best by two strokes and equalled the second-lowest final round score by a winner on the PGA Tour in the last 10 years. Bridgeman played the weekend in 17-under par. Ben James also carded a career-low round of 61 to post his best finish in 18 tour starts. It is his third top-10 result in his last five starts. J.T. Poston carded a career-low round of 60 to finish in tie for fifth. He narrowly missed a 29-foot birdie putt on the final hole for 59. This was the first of seven events of the FedEx Cup Fall schedule. …Mackenzie Hughes posted his fifth top-25 finish of the season. …Corey Conners and Nick Taylor played for the first time in a month ahead of next week’s Presidents Cup

POSColumn 1SCORESTOTAL
T24Mackenzie Hughes65-70-64-70-15
T39Adam Svensson72-66-66-67-13
T39Adam Hadwin68-70-64-69-13
T43Ben Silverman68-67-68-69-12
T43Corey Conners70-69-69-64-12
T57Nick Taylor67-70-70-67-10
MCTaylor Pendrith68-73 
MCA.J. Ewart73-69 

NEXT EVENT: Presidents Cup (Sep 24)

CANADIANS ENTERED: Corey Conners, Nick Taylor

KORN FERRY TOUR

Sandy Scott rallied from a four-stroke deficit to win the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship by one shot for his first career win and in the process, secured his PGA Tour card for next season. The victory moved Scott up to No. 2 on the season-long points list with just two tournaments remaining in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals Event. Scott’s 18-under 266 winning total broke the 72-hole tournament record, which was previously held by three players, including Adam Svensson. John Marshall Butler finished runner-up for his best career result and his third top-10 result of the season. Barend Botha finished third after carding a bogey-free 10-under 61 to set the 18-hole tournament scoring record. …Drew Nesbitt, Roger Sloan, Adam Hadwin, Matthew Anderson, and Stuart Macdonald all qualified for the third Finals event and secured conditional status for next season. The top 60 players after the next event will move on to the Tour Championship.

POSColumn 1SCORESTOTAL
67Stuart Macdonald72-67-71-73-1
T68Matthew Anderson71-69-74-70E
MCRoger Sloan70-73 
MCDrew Nesbitt76-72 

NEXT EVENT: Compliance Solutions Championship (Oct. 1)

CANADIANS ENTERED: Matthew Anderson, Stuart Macdonald, Drew Nesbitt, Roger Sloan

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

Zach Johnson took the lead with a birdie on the 13th hole and made a three-footer for good measure on the final hole to win the Pure Insurance Championship by two strokes. It is the sixth win in 15 starts of his rookie season on the Champions Tour, moving past Stewart Cink for most wins this season. Johnson has 12 wins in 530 starts on the PGA Tour. Between them, Cink and Johnson have accounted for 11 wins this season. Steven Alker, who had won his last three starts including one on the Legends Tour in Europe, finished in a three-way tie for second with Henrik Stenson and Rory Sabbatini, who both recorded their best results of the season. …Gordon Burns open qualified for his third Champions Tour event this season, posting his best result to date.

POSColumn 1SCORESTOTAL
T42Gordon Burns69-73-74E
MDFStephen Ames71-76+3
MDFMike Weir77-75 

NEXT EVENT: Jefferson Lehigh Valley Classic (Oct 2)

PGA TOUR AMERICAS

Charlie Crockett made three consecutive birdies on the front nine to convert his 54-hole lead into a two stroke victory at the ATB Classic. It is his first win in his 29th career tour start and it moves him up to No. 6 on the season-long points list. Justin Biwer bogeyed the final hole to create a three-way tie for second with Matthew Kress and Charlie Nikitas. The result for Kress saw him move up into the top 60 on the points list which earned him a spot in next month’s season-ending Tour Championship. Despite missing the cut, Thomas Ponder remains No. 1 on the points list and in position to earn one of 10 Korn Ferry Tour cards after next month’s tournament. …Etienne Papineau (3), Joey Savoie (12) and Brady McKinlay (28) all qualified for the season-ending tournament. …Piercen Hunt missed qualifying for the Tour Championship by just over 12 points.

POSColumn 1SCORESTOTAL
T14Noah Steele65-66-71-67-11
T27Max Sekulic66-68-74-65-7
T27Johnny Travale69-66-72-66-7
T41Joey Savoie68-68-71-69-4
T41Wil Bateman64-67-75-70-4
T41Piercen Hunt68-66-69-73-4
T52Josh Nagy74-62-71-71-2
63Brady McKinlay64-69-77-73+3
T65Thomas Giroux68-67-75-75+5
MCBrendan MacDougall71-67 
MCÉtienne Papineau74-65 
MCHunter Thomson72-68 
MCAshton McCulloch72-69 
MCJakob Chicoyne70-72 
MCAlex Swinnerton74-68 
MCBlair Bursey72-73 
MCPeyton Callens71-75 
MCWilliam Holan73-73 
MCRyan Garbutt (a)78-76 
MCLaurent Desmarchais75-80 

NEXT EVENT: Dominican Republic Tour Championship (Oct 15)

CANADIANS ENTERED: Brady McKinlay, Étienne Papineau, Joey Savoie

EPSON TOUR

Kary Hollenbaugh made an eagle on the second playoff hole to defeat Kate Smith-Stroh and win the Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout. It is the first career win for Hollenbaugh, who earned her way onto the Epson Tour via the LPGA Collegiate Advancement Pathway. Hollenbaugh made four birdies over her last five holes to be part of the playoff with Smith-Stroh, who had a chance to win it all with a 20-foot eagle putt on the final hole in regulation. Juniper Jang made a 40-footer on 18 to make it a three-way playoff. She was eliminated after making par on the first extra hole while both Hollenbaugh and Smith-Stroh made two-putt birdies. The win enabled Hollenbaugh to move up 51 places inside the top 20 in the Race for the Card, where the top 15 will earn LPGA membership after the Tour Championship next month. …Monet Chun picked up her third top-30 finish of the season.

POSColumn 1SCORESTOTAL
T27Monet Chun70-77-71+2
MCMegan Osland74-77 
MCMaddie Szeryk-DiBello80-76 

NEXT EVENT: Epson Tour Championship (Oct 1)

CANADIANS ENTERED:  Maddie Szeryk-DiBello, Megan Osland

Brooke Henderson CPKC Women's Open LPGA Tour

Vote for Brooke Henderson in the 2026 Dow Impact Award

Brooke Henderson

Brooke Henderson has been named a nominee for the 2026 Dow Impact Award, and Canadian golf fans have an opportunity to support her through the award’s public voting process.

The award recognizes LPGA Tour athletes who demonstrate exceptional leadership, community involvement and a commitment to creating positive change. Henderson is nominated alongside Danielle Kang, Jeeno Thitikul and Angel Yin.

The 28-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., has consistently used her platform to support causes that matter to Canadians. Her community work includes raising funds for CHEO, the pediatric health and research centre serving children and families in eastern Ontario and western Quebec.

As a CPKC ambassador, Henderson has helped champion CPKC Has Heart, supporting children’s heart health in communities across North America.

Henderson has also supported junior golf, wildlife conservation and local community organizations. Her nomination reflects a sustained commitment to making a meaningful contribution away from competition.

That commitment has accompanied a historic career on the course.

A two-time major champion, Henderson has earned 14 LPGA Tour victories — the most by a Canadian golfer on a major professional tour. Her accomplishments include two CPKC Women’s Open titles and victories at tournaments around the world.

The Dow Impact Award honours athletes whose influence extends beyond their competitive achievements. Nominees are evaluated for their contributions in areas connected to innovation, inclusion and sustainability.

The recipient will receive a US$25,000 award and an equal contribution to a charity of her choice, providing an opportunity to further the work already underway in communities across Canada.

Henderson has represented Canadian golf with distinction throughout her career. This award offers fans an opportunity to recognize both her accomplishments and the positive impact she continues to make beyond the course.

How to vote

  1. Visit LPGA.com/Impact.
  2. Scroll to the 2026 Dow Impact Award voting section.
  3. Select Brooke Henderson from the list of nominees.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions and submit your vote.

Voting closes Sept. 16. Cast your vote today and help recognize one of Canadian golf’s most accomplished and influential athletes.

CPKC Women's Open LPGA Tour

Japan’s Miyu Yamashita wins CPKC Women’s Open in Edmonton

Miyu Yamashita
EDMONTON, ALBERTA - AUGUST 23: Miyu Yamashita of Japan celebrates with the trophy after winning the CPKC Women's Open 2026 at Royal Mayfair Golf Club on August 23, 2026 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

EDMONTON — Miyu Yamashita’s first trip to Canada was a successful one.

The 25-year-old from Japan won the CPKC Women’s Open in Edmonton on Sunday.

Yamashita claimed her fourth LPGA Tour victory and second this year with a dominating performance at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club.

She shot a 4-under-par 66 in Sunday’s fourth round to finish 23 under in the US$2.75-million tournament.

Leading by six strokes after three rounds, Yamashita won by nine over her countrywoman and runner-up Yuri Yoshida at 14 under.

“I’m really happy to win in Canada,” Yamashita said through an interpreter. “A lot of people came out to support me and I was able to enjoy playing today and then throughout the week.”

The four-foot-11 Yamashita took the Meijer LPGA Classic in June in Michigan after winning the Women’s British Open and Maybank Championship in 2025 to earn rookie of the year.

Yamashita became the fastest Japanese player to reach four LPGA wins and her four-day score of 257 in Edmonton tied the lowest all time on the LPGA Tour.

Vancouver’s Anna Huang posted a 5-under 65 to finish at 12-under par as the top Canadian in a tie for fourth.

Calgary’s Aphrodite Deng finished with a 69 to get to 11 under and tied for seventh. She was the low amateur in the tournament for a second straight year.

Two-time winner Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., turned in an even par 70 in the final round to finish at 7 under in a tie for 13th.

It’s amazing to see so many Maple Leafs at the top of the leaderboard,” Henderson said. “It’s really cool to see that and to be a part of it, and I feel like the future is really bright for the next few years.”

The 17-year-old Huang claimed her fourth European Tour win in 11 months in early August, and became the youngest to win four. She made the cut at the CPKC Women’s Open after two previous tries.

“It just means so much to me to be back home, play in front of home crowds,” Huang said. “I had a lot of fun this week and I gained a lot of valuable experience.

“To make a cut at any LPGA event is really special and then to play so well as I did this week at the Canadian Open is just really, really awesome. I’m really happy that I played well in front of the best in the world and hopefully I can continue doing that.”

Top-10 results for Huang and Deng give both entry into the LPGA’s FM Championship starting Thursday at TPC Boston in Norton, Mass.

“The most important thing is that simple golf is the best golf,” Huang said. “Even if you think you’re playing some really boring golf, it’s always a good day just because you’re hitting fairways and greens.”

World No. 1 Nelly Korda of the United States shot 69 on Sunday to finish 1 under for the tourney.

Yamashita set an early cracking pace in the tournament that neither Henderson nor the rest of the field could match.

The 28-year-old Henderson, who owns 14 tour wins, hit into the unforgiving rough a few too many times and needed more birdie putts to fall for her over the four days to mount a challenge.

“It was a great week overall,” Henderson said. “I’ll hang on to the top 15, so hopefully that’ll be the case and move onto next week.

“I hit the ball really well this week. I feel like I didn’t get everything out of it that maybe I should have. But that’s really exciting going forward knowing that my ball striking is in a good spot and in four days I get to try again and tee it up again in Boston and hopefully make some putts and go low there.”

Michelle Xing, an 18-year-old amateur from Richmond Hill, Ont., was 6 under after her front nine Sunday and went 3 under in the tournament.

Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont., and 16-year-old amateur Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C., both finished 3-over par. Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., was 4 over.

The 2027 CPKC Women’s Open will be at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club in Gatineau, Que.

CPKC Women's Open LPGA Tour

Yamashita takes 6-shot lead into today’s final round at CPKC Women’s Open

Yamashita
EDMONTON, CANADA - AUGUST 22: Miyu Yamashita of Japan hits from the 4th fairway during the third round of the CPKC Women's Open 2026 at Royal Mayfair Golf Club on August 22, 2026 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

EDMONTON – Barring a collapse, or an amazing final round by a challenger, Miyu Yamashita of Japan is poised to win the CPKC Women’s Open at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club later today.

Yamashita, who turned 25 earlier this month, takes a six-shot lead into the final round. American Gina Kim and Yuri Yoshida of Japan are tied for second at 13 under, with American Jennifer Kupcho in fourth at 12 under.

Yamashita set a tournament record with her three-round total of 191, and tied a tournament record for the largest lead after 54 holes. She has had three consecutive rounds in the 60s, including yesterday’s 5-under 65.

Teenager Aphrodite Deng of Calgary tied a personal best score of 63 and is tied for sixth at 10 under.

Defending champion Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., is in an eight-way tie for 15th at 7 under. Anna Huang of Vancouver is also at 7 under.

CPKC Women's Open LPGA Tour

Yamashita increases lead, Canada’s Deng climbs CPKC Women’s Open leaderboard

Aphrodite Deng
Aphrodite Deng (a) (Bernard Brault, Golf Canada)

EDMONTON – Miyu Yamashita increased her already healthy lead and Canadian teenager Aphrodite Deng vaulted up the leaderboard Saturday at the CPKC Women’s Open.

Japan’s Yamashita turned in a 5-under-par 65 in the third round to get to 19 under for the tournament at Edmonton’s Royal Mayfair Golf Club.

Her 14-under 126 in her first 36 holes was a tournament record. The 25-year-old gave nothing back Saturday. 

Yamashita took a six-stroke lead into Sunday at the US$2.75-million event seeking the fourth LPGA win of her career and her second this season.

Gina Kim of the U.S. posted a 6-under 64 and Japan’s Yuri Yoshida carded a 66 on Saturday to trail Yamashita at 13 under.

The 16-year-old Deng from Calgary, who was the tournament’s low amateur last year in Mississauga, Ont., shot the day’s lowest round of 63 to get to 10 under and tied for sixth.

“It felt really great, but I wasn’t really counting how low I was shooting,” Deng said. “I was just trying to learn from my first two days and make the least mistakes as possible.”

Deng was among four Canadian women aged 18 and under to make the cut in the CPKC Women’s Open, which was a tournament first.

 
 
 
 
 
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Vancouver’s Anna Huang and Deng’s fellow-amateurs Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont., and Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C., continued playing into the weekend.

Huang, 17, shot an even 70 on Saturday to be 7-under par. The 18-year-old Xing posted a 71 at 1 under. Lin, 16, carded a 72 to be 2 over.

Defending champion Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., recovered from three-putting the ninth to be 1-over at the turn with three straight birdies on her back nine. She shot a second straight 68 to be 7 under.

“I feel like I didn’t get out of my round what I really should have,” said Henderson, who hit 16 greens in regulation. “It just came down to a few putts I missed. I missed quite a few inside six feet today actually, which I haven’t been doing, so it was a little bit unusual.

“I might hit a few putts here after the round just to get a feel for it again. I feel like I gave myself a lot of good looks. That’s all you can ask for. Hopefully I’ll do the same tomorrow, but make the putts.”

The 28-year-old, who won the tournament both last year in Mississauga and in 2018 in Regina, trailed Yamashita by 12 strokes.

“She’s playing really well and she has a substantial lead on most everybody,” Henderson said. “At this point I’m just trying to get a really good finish for myself, so seeing if I can go low tomorrow just so I can feel really good about how I played the last four days.”

‘Deng was born in Calgary and was four years old when her family moved to the United States.

The teen, who is on Canada’s NextGen team, appreciated the cheers that increased in frequency and volume Saturday as she rattled off a bogey-free round. 

“I’m so grateful for all the support,” she said. “Every time I play this event, there’s so many people out here supporting me.”

Deng’s tee shot on the 18th was under a tree, but she calmly hit out of trouble to put her second shot on the green for a par.

“When I was missing today, I ended up saving it,” she said. “The only putt I missed was on 18, so yeah, it was pretty good.” 

Her caddie is 19-year-old University of Florida student Benjamin Reed, who was on her bag when she won the 2025 U.S. Girls Junior Championship.

“That’s where I won, so I just kept him for most of the tournaments,” said Deng, who went even par at this year’s U.S. Open to tie for 17th.

Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., shot 72 to sit 1 over. Savannah Grewal of Mississauga was 3 over after a 74.

The forecast for Sunday’s final round is 26 C with some forest fire smoke before giving way to thunderstorms in the late afternoon.

CPKC Women's Open LPGA Tour

Miyu Yamashita opens 6-shot lead in CPKC Women’s Open in bid for wire-to-wire victory

Miyu Yamashita
EDMONTON, CANADA - AUGUST 22: Miyu Yamashita of Japan hits her tee shot on the 4th hole during the third round of the CPKC Women's Open 2026 at Royal Mayfair Golf Club on August 22, 2026 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

EDMONTON — Miyu Yamashita rebounded from a bogey on the par-3 17th with a birdie on the par-4 18th to take a six-stroke lead Saturday in the CPKC Women’s Open in a bid for a wire-to-wire victory.

Yamashita shot a 5-under 65 in calm conditions to get to 19-under 191 at Royal Mayfair, the tree-lined layout — and mosquito hot spot after record summer rain — tucked in a bend in the North Saskatchewan River.

The 25-year-old Japanese player — one of professional golf’s shortest players at 4-foot-11 — won the Meijer LPGA Classic in June in Michigan after taking the Women’s British Open and Maybank Championship last season as the rookie of the year.

A stroke ahead Thursday after an opening with a course-record 62, Yamashita had a 64 on Friday afternoon to open a five-shot lead.

Gina Kim (64) and Yuri Yoshida (66) were tied for second at 13 under, a shot ahead of Jennifer Kupcho (64) and two ahead of Somi Lee (65).

Aphrodite Deng, the 16-year-old amateur who won the 2025 U.S. Girls’ Junior, was the top Canadian, shooting 63 to get to 10 under. She was born in Calgary.

American Kiara Romero (69) also was 10 under in her first event as an LPGA Tour member. The 20-year-old Romero is the second player to earn LPGA Tour membership through the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway, following Lottie Woad last year.

Canadian star Brooke Henderson, the 2018 and 2025 champion, was 7 under after a 68.

Top-ranked Nelly Korda shot a 69 to get to 4 under. Lydia Ko, the 2013 winner at Royal Mayfair as an amateur, was 2 under after a 69.

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CPKC Women's Open LPGA Tour

Huang, Henderson chase big finale at LPGA’s CPKC Women’s Open in Edmonton

Anna Huang

EDMONTON – Anna Huang did more than make the cut at the CPKC Women’s Open for the first time in her career.

The 17-year-old from Vancouver was the top Canadian heading into Saturday’s third round of the LPGA tournament in Edmonton.

Huang posted a second-round 68 on Friday to get to 7-under par and into a tie for seventh.

“Going into this week, making the cut was my biggest goal,” Huang said. “So now that I’ve got that down, I’m just going to try to chase up the leaderboard this weekend.”

Japanese leader Miyu Yamashita followed up her course-record 62 opener with Friday’s 64 to top the leaderboard at 14 under.

“I’m really happy about this result, and with two rounds to go (I) just want to focus on my game and keep playing like this,” Yamashita said.

She held a five-stroke lead on Kiara Romero of the United States, South Korea’s Soo Bin Joo and Japan’s Yuri Yoshida, who were all at 9 under.

Meanwhile, defending champion Brooke Henderson had a lot of work to do, and limited runway to do it.

The 28-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., seeking a third career win in Canada’s LPGA tournament, also shot 68 on Friday to sit nine strokes off the lead at 5 under.

“We’ll see what the damage is after today, but it’s only half over at this point, so I just have to go low myself,” Henderson said.

Romero was contending in her LPGA debut as a pro.

“I feel like this course really fits my eye, so when I’m out there I’m playing pretty aggressively with my iron shots and just trying to make as many birdies as possible,” the 20-year-old said.

Joo, 22, and Yoshida, 26, both sought their first LPGA Tour wins.

“I was a little bit nervous before starting this tournament because I couldn’t make the cut six tournaments in a row, first time in my career,” Yoshida said. “I’m happy to play on this weekend.”

Huang, who became the youngest player to win four European Tour tournaments after claiming the London Championship in early August, missed the cut in Canada in 2024 and 2025.

Huang was working on a bogey-free round Friday until the 18th when she put her tee shot behind a tree and three-putted for the double.

“Everyone makes mistakes and I think just the last hole is just a bad hole and a bad drive,” Huang said. “I’m just going to move on from that and try to work on my putting today and see how things go.”

Starting on No. 10, Henderson was 7 under before a pair of back-nine bogeys. Her second-last tee shot drifted left and struck a spectator.

Henderson apologized to the woman and gave her a signed golf ball.

“Through about 14 holes, I was feeling really nice,” Henderson said. “I was unfortunate to drop a couple shots coming in, but happy to save par on nine. I feel like that was really clutch to kind of save some momentum going into tomorrow.”

“I feel like my game is in a pretty good spot. Maybe try to be a bit more aggressive and see if we can climb.”

Sun and an afternoon breeze Friday hardened the 6,452-yard, par-70 Royal Mayfair Golf Club for later starters. The mosquitoes remained out in full force.

“I like this golf course. I love Canada. It’s so pretty. All the trees are so pretty and I’m enjoying it, except for the mosquitoes. Gosh, it’s so bad,” Joo said.

Henderson proved earlier this summer she’s capable of a late surge.

She within a shot of her third major win with five eagles, including an ace, over her final two rounds at the Amundi Evian Championship in France. 

Henderson started the final round there seven shots off the lead.

“That was really fun a few weeks ago in France,” Henderson said. “It gives me some confidence to know that I can come back from behind.”

Calgary’s Aphrodite Deng, who was the Canadian tournament’s low amateur last year in Mississauga, Ont., shot 67 to get to 3 under. 

The 16-year-old undid the damage of a triple bogey on her 14th hole by finishing with back-to-back birdies.

“I knew that I was playing good the whole day, and it was just that one hole, so it’s not really like skill. It was just course management,” Deng said. “It was too bad it happened, but I’m able to make the birdies coming in.”

The top 65 players and ties made the cut at the US$2.75-million event. 

Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., and amateurs Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont., and Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C., made the cut.

Xing was 2 under, Grewal and Leblanc both 1 under and Lin was even par heading into Saturday.

CPKC Women's Open LPGA Tour

Yamashita opens 5-stroke lead in CPKC Women’s Open

Miyu Yamashita

EDMONTON — Miyu Yamashita opened a five-stroke lead Friday in the CPKC Women’s Open on the tree-lined course tucked in a bend in the North Saskatchewan River.

A stroke ahead Thursday after an opening 8-under 62, the 4-foot-11 Yamashita shot 64 in the afternoon to get to 14 under at Royal Mayfair.

“I’m really happy,” Yamashita said through a translator. “With two rounds to go, I just want to focus on my game and keep playing like this.”

The 25-year-old Japanese player won the Meijer LPGA Classic in June after taking the Women’s British Open and Maybank Championship last year.

“Rather than focus on the score, I’m thinking about how I can make birdies,” the 2025 LPGA rookie of the year said.

American Kiara Romero was tied for second in her first event as an LPGA Tour member. She followed an opening 64 with a 67.

The 20-year-old Romero is the second player to earn LPGA Tour membership through the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway, following Lottie Woad last year.

“Honestly, I’m just really grateful to be out here,” Romero said. “I just came out here with the mindset to just go out and have fun and just enjoy it and just remember that it’s just golf at the end of the day.”

Soo Bin Joo (63) and Yuri Yoshida (66) joined Romero at 9 under.

“I like this golf course. I love Canada. It’s so pretty,” Joo said. “All the trees are so pretty and I’m enjoying it.”

Ruoning Yin closed with a double bogey for a 67, leaving her 8 under with Nasa Hataoka (69).

Seventeen-year-old Anna Huang was the top Canadian. She was 7 under after a 68.

Canadian star Brooke Henderson, the 2018 and 2025 champion, was 5 under after a 68.

“I love this event,” Henderson said. It’s so amazing and such a cool opportunity to be able to play in front of all the Canadian fans. They just show me so much love and support year after year. Even early this morning the fairways were lined with people coming out to watch.”

Top-ranked Nelly Korda shot 70 to remain 3 under. Lydia Ko, the 2013 winner at Royal Mayfair as an amateur, was 1 under after a 69.

This is the final week of qualifying for Americans to make the Solheim Cup team for the Sept. 11-13 matches in the Netherlands.

CPKC Women's Open LPGA Tour

Japan’s Miyu Yamashita early leader at CPKC Women’s Open, Canadian teens chasing

Anna Huang
Anna Huang (Bernard Brault, Golf Canada)

EDMONTON – Yamashita shot a season-low 62 on the 6,452-yard, par-70 Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton to sit one stroke ahead of her countrywoman Nasa Hataoka and two up on Kiara Romero of the United States.

Vancouver’s Anna Huang, 17, and 18-year-old amateur Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont., were three shots off the lead at 5-under-par 65 in a tie for fourth with China’s Ruoning Yin and Japan’s Yuri Yoshida.

The 25-year-old Yamashita, who won June’s Meijer LPGA Classic in Belmont, Mich., recorded eight birdies.

“It’s been a while since I finished the first round in good position,” she said. “My putting was really nice, so I felt really good.”

Defending champion Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., seeking a third win in her home LPGA tournament, finished with a birdie to go 3 under.

“I feel it was very important and it felt great,” Henderson said. “I really wanted it. I hit it really hard. I’m glad I hit the hole, but to see it go in was really nice.

“The scores are very low out here today, the leaders especially, so just trying to go out tomorrow and make a bunch of birdies and try to catch them.”

World No. 1 Nelly Korda of the United States was also 3 under.

Both Huang and Xing were positioned to make the cut Friday for the first time in their careers after two tries apiece.

“Definitely making the cut would be a really big goal for me, and then hopefully some good weekend golf,” said Huang, who won four European Tour tournaments in the last 11 months.

“I’m definitely a lot more confident than I was the past few years coming into this event, and then also just all the crowds out there really helped.”

Xing was a late addition to the field with a sponsor’s exemption.

“As an amateur, like that’s one of my biggest goals, is to make the cut at an LPGA event, especially when it’s in Canada,” she said. “It would mean a whole lot.”

The first round was played under mostly cloudy skies, a temperature of 24 C and in occasional clouds of insect repellent.

Edmonton’s 56 centimetres of rain since June 1 made the city a breeding ground for mosquitoes. 

“I’m getting annihilated,” said one caddie as she sprayed herself down at the turn.

The majority of women wore long pants and long sleeves, and paid a price if they didn’t.

“Bad. Bad. Look at my arms,” said Xing, wearing short sleeves. “I have gotten bit all on the front side but none on the back.”

All the more reason to stay out of rain-thickened rough that both houses insects and grabs club heads, she added.

“Especially like when it’s going against you, it’s really hard to get a solid club on it, so hitting fairways is crucial here,” Xing said.

Huang said she was bitten through her pants and long sleeves.

“I would wear shorts out here but because of the bugs, can’t do that,” she said.

Henderson birdied her first three holes of the back nine after making the turn at even par. Her tee shot and second shot found rough on the 16th hole, which she bogeyed.

“If you find the rough or you’re not hitting it so well, it can really be penalizing as well, so you’re just trying to stick to the short stuff,” she said. “Every time I made a bogey, I was able to bounce back with a birdie pretty quickly, which is important.

“Three under, definitely going to need a little bit more tomorrow, but a good start.”

Clairey Lin, a 16-year-old amateur from Langley, B.C., shot a 68 in her tournament debut. 

Tour veteran Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., joined her at 2 under. Vancouver’s Leah John turned in a 1-under 69 and Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont., shot 70.

Lin’s fellow Canadian amateurs Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C., Calgary’s Aphrodite Deng and Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont., shot even par, Toronto’s Vanessa Borovilos was 2 over and Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta., carded a 78.

Katie Cranston of Oakville, Ont., shot a 74, Alena Sharp of Hamilton a 77 and Calgary’s Tillie Claggett shot a 78.

CPKC Women's Open LPGA Tour

Defending champion Henderson headlines field as CPKC Women’s Open gets underway

Brooke Henderson
Brooke Henderson (Bernard Brault, Golf Canada)

Defending champion Brooke Henderson headlines the field as the LPGA Tour’s CPKC Women’s Open gets underway at Edmonton’s Royal Mayfair Golf Club.

Henderson won her second Canadian Open title last year in Mississauga, Ont.

The 28-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., enters the tournament ranked 11th in the world.

Her game has been rounding into form of late, and she finished runner-up at last month’s Evian Championship, losing the major to Haeran Ryu in a playoff hole.

Henderson has 14 career LPGA Tour wins, a Canadian record for victories on a major circuit.

The US$2.75 million tournament includes six of the world’s top 10 golfers, including world No. 1 Nelly Korda of the United States.