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.

EDMONTON —The 2026 CPKC Women’s Open boded well for the future of Canadian women’s golf.

Four Canadians aged 18 and under made the cut, which was a first in the tournament.

Calgary’s Aphrodite Deng finished a stroke behind Huang to tie for seventh. The 16-year-old was low amateur in Canada’s LPGA tournament for a second straight year.

Michelle Xing, who turned 18 in July, was a late addition to the field under a sponsor’s exemption. The golfer from Richmond Hill, Ont., also made the cut after two previous attempts to finish at 3 under.

Amateur Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C., made the cut in her tournament debut at age 16 and finished 3 over.

“The young talent coming out of Canada right now is phenomenal,” said Canada’s women’s head coach Salimah Mussani.

“When you have all these girls under the age of 18 doing these things, they are the future. They are the next Brooke Hendersons. They are the next 15, 20 years of Canadian women’s golf. And they’re going to be inspiring that next pool that starts to pick up the game.”

Henderson, whose 14 career wins includes two CPKC titles, finished tied for 13th in Edmonton and was looking up the leaderboard at a couple of Canadian teenagers.

“It’s amazing to see so many Maple Leafs at the top of the leaderboard,” Henderson said. “Just amazing scores all week by all of them. 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 national team has always had a really strong program, but it seems like they’re really doing a great job right now, which is cool to see. The players, I don’t know any of them that well, but what I have seen is that they work extremely diligently, very hard, and they’re very eager to try to be better.”

The 28-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., may not know the Canadian teenagers personally, but they know her.

“Brooke has been someone I looked up to the most,” Huang said. “Ever since I started playing golf she was definitely my idol. To play alongside her now in these big events is really special.”

Xing was thrilled that Henderson had a locker near hers at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club.

“She’s a role model for all of us,” Xing said.

The last time multiple players under 18 from any country made the LPGA cut in Canada was in 2014 — a 16-year-old Henderson and a 17-year-old Lydia Ko from New Zealand.

Deng was the first Canadian to win the U.S. Girls Junior Championship in 2025 and Lin kept the title in Canada this year.

“Everyone’s motivating each other and we see everyone winning these tournaments and we all want to be better,” Deng said. 

Added Mussani: “Knowing how to win is a thing. How to close a tournament is a thing. These girls are doing it already.”

Deng and Lin have both committed to Stanford, which this year captured a third NCAA women’s golf title in five years.

Xing was schedule to fly to California on Monday to start her freshman year at UCLA. All three are on Golf Canada’s NextGen women’s team.

“They’re some of my best friends, and they’re my teammates, and they are very talented,” said Lin, who will play in the world junior golf championship Sept. 30 to Oct. 3 in Brampton, Ont. 

“When I met them on the team, I just immediately knew that these girls are so hardworking and they have the will to get better. 

“I’m getting pushed to get better by them, and in return I hope that I kind of do the same.”

Huang’s four European Tour wins over the last 11 months made her the youngest since Ko to claim a quad on that tour. 

“I don’t see anything that’s going to stop her from continuing to win,” Mussani said.

“The things she does in the background, her rest, her recovery, her preparation, her ability to reflect after a round, it’s just all very mature.”

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

The 2026 CPKC Women’s Open raised a record $4.95 million to support heart healthcare in Alberta, while on the golf course, Miyu Yamashita concluded a historic performance on Sunday to capture the 2026 CPKC Women’s Open championship and her fourth LPGA Tour victory.

Enthusiastic, record crowds filled the grounds at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club to watch Yamashita finish the week 23 under par, winning by nine strokes over the second place finisher.

Earlier Sunday, CPKC representatives gathered with local officials and guests to present a cheque for $4.4 million to the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation as part of the tournament’s legacy helping to strengthen access to specialized pediatric care for children across the province. CPKC also helped raise $550,000 for this year’s tournament community partner Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation benefiting the CK Hui Heart Centre.

“We were thrilled to bring the CPKC Women’s Open to Edmonton and back to Alberta for an incredible week of golf, giving and community celebration, raising nearly $5 million to support hearts across the province,” said CPKC President and CEO Keith Creel. “These funds will help advance pediatric cardiac care through the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation and support heart health initiatives at the CK Hui Heart Centre, making a life-changing difference for children and families who need it most. Thank you to our partners, volunteers, players and the passionate fans who made this year’s tournament such a tremendous success.

“Congratulations to Miyu Yamashita on her remarkable wire-to-wire victory and first CPKC Women’s Open championship,” Creel added. “It was incredible to see fans across Edmonton and beyond cheering her on. We are grateful to the City of Edmonton and the Alberta community for embracing this event and helping make it a truly special week.”

The total raised for the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation, the largest in the tournament’s history, will help support leading-edge equipment, research, training and programs for cardiac teams caring for some of the most complex pediatric heart patients in Canada.

“The generosity of CPKC and everyone who came together through the CPKC Women’s Open will have an incredible impact on kids and families who rely on the Stollery,” said Karen Faulkner, President and CEO of the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation. “This support will help ensure our world-class cardiac teams have access to the tools and resources they need to continue providing some of the most specialized pediatric cardiac care in Canada. We are grateful to CPKC for investing in kids’ health and creating a lasting legacy for families for years to come.”

At the Royal Alexandra Hospital, the funds raised will support continued innovation and excellence in cardiac care through the CK Hui Heart Centre.

“CPKC is advancing cardiac care at the CK Hui Heart Centre and changing what is possible for patients,” said Sharlene Rutherford, President and CEO, Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation. “We are incredibly grateful to CPKC and everyone involved with the CPKC Women’s Open for their commitment to excellence in cardiac care and for investing in the innovation that continues to move care forward.”

“The remarkable impact of the CPKC Women’s Open on our host communities through CPKC Has Heart continues to be a point of pride for the championship,” said Laurence Applebaum, CEO, Golf Canada. “This generous support of the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation as well as the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation and the CK Hui Heart Centre reflects the power of sport to create meaningful change and leave a legacy in our host communities. We are extremely proud of our partners at CPKC for their unwavering commitment to supporting children, families, and world-class pediatric care across Alberta.”

Since 2014, the CPKC Women’s Open, the company’s flagship fundraiser, has helped raise more than $31 million for children’s cardiac care research, equipment and advanced patient care. Across the network, CPKC Has Heart has contributed more than $78 million to heart health initiatives.

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.

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.

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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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.

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.

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.

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.