DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – In a year that saw 10 Rolex First-Time Winners added to the roster of LPGA victors, the 2018 LPGA Tour season produced 26 winners from 10 countries across 32 official tournaments. Powered by determination, athleticism and a drive for greatness, the 2019 season promises to continue the upward growth of the world’s best female golfers.

The 2019 LPGA Tour schedule will include 33 official events, plus the biennial Solheim Cup, which pits the 12 best players from the United States against their European counterparts. The Tour will visit 15 states and 12 countries (including the United States), with a record $70.55 million in official prize money.

“We are in one of the most exciting periods of time in LPGA history,” said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan. “One look at our 2018 season shows the breadth of global talent on our Tour, and I have no doubt that 2019 will continue this upward trend. We are not only proud of our Tour growth, but also the growth of our LPGA Teachers, LPGA Amateurs and LPGA-USGA Girls-Golf efforts.”

CONTINUED GROWTH IN PRIZE MONEY
In a sign of the continued strength of the women’s game, the 2019 season will see $70.55 million in prize money, up from $65.35 million in 2018. The season’s largest purses come at the U.S. Women’s Open Championship, conducted by the USGA, and the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, both with $5 million at stake. While the USGA will not confirm their 2019 purse until April 2019, they have confirmed the purse will be $5 million at a minimum. The CME purse will double from $2.5 million to $5 million, with the winner earning $1.5 million, the largest single prize in the history of women’s golf.

“LPGA purses have steadily increased over the last decade, a sign of the growing support from our corporate partners and sponsors for the game of women’s golf,” said Whan. “Across the board, our title sponsors understand the value that working with LPGA players brings to their businesses and we look forward to continuing to develop larger purses for the generations of players to come.”

Other purses to increase include three of the Tour’s five majors in the ANA Inspiration ($3 million, up $200,000 from 2018), the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship ($3.85 million, up $200,000 from 2018) and The Evian Championship ($4.1 million, up $250,000 from 2018). The AIG Women’s British Open purse is still being finalized but will be at least $3.25 million. The purse at the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship will increase to $1.8 million, up $300,000 from its inaugural year in 2018, while the purse at the Marathon Classic presented by Dana will increase to $1,750,000, up $150,000 from 2018.

NEW TOURNAMENTS KICK OFF LPGA SEASON
The 2019 season features four new tournaments, including consecutive inaugural stops to begin the year’s travel around the world. The Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions presented by Insurance Office of America, to be held Jan. 17-20 at Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club Orlando in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., promises to be a week of world-class competition and entertainment. LPGA Tour winners from the last two seasons will play alongside celebrities from the sports and entertainment worlds.

From there, the Tour heads Down Under, joining the European Tour at the Vic Open on Feb. 7-10 at 13th Beach Golf Links in Barwon Heads, Australia. The event marks the only professional golf tournament where men and women compete concurrently on the same course and for the same prize money. The Vic Open makes the ideal partner to the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open, which the following week returns to the Grange Golf Club in a three-year rotation of Adelaide’s golf courses.

As announced earlier in 2018, the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational and the BMW Ladies Championship are also new to the 2019 LPGA schedule. The Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, which will be held at Michigan’s Midland Country Club in July, marks the first official team competition in Tour history. The LPGA’s newest stop in the Republic of Korea, the BMW Ladies Championship, takes the Tour to Busan and LPGA International Busan, the LPGA’s first golf facility outside the United States. It is the second stop on the LPGA’s annual Fall Asian Swing, which also takes the Tour through the People’s Republic of China, Chinese Taipei and Japan.

“I’m truly excited that three of our new tournaments for 2019 will feature formats that are new to the LPGA,” said Whan. “We’ve long wanted to get a Tournament of Champions back on the LPGA schedule, and this partnership with Diamond Resorts will definitely make the Four Seasons Orlando the place to be in January. Plus, our friends at Dow, long known for their scientific innovation, have brought that trait to the LPGA by bringing together this great team event. I can’t wait to see how the players will partner up over the coming months. Additionally, the Vic Open will showcase a joint men’s and women’s event that is interesting to players and fans, not to mention timely in the world of equal opportunity and pay.”

Three season-long races will also build anticipation and excitement for players and fans alike. The Aon Risk Reward Challenge, a new competition on both the PGA and LPGA Tours, will feature the world’s best golfers as they navigate risk across the season’s most strategically challenging holes. The player from each Tour on top of the Aon leaderboard at the end of the regular season will each receive $1 million.

The Race to the CME Globe is evolving in 2019, with the top 60 players following the Blue Bay LPGA heading to the CME Group Tour Championship with the opportunity to win the $1.5 million winner’s check. In its second year, the LEADERS Top-10s competition will award $100,000 to the player with the most top-10 finishes, with Ariya Jutanugarn taking the inaugural title in 2018.

The LPGA Tour will see 450 hours of domestic broadcast coverage on Golf Channel and network TV in 2019, with more than 475 hours available in 175 countries around the world.

One stop on the 2019 schedule is still to be announced, as the contractual agreement for that event is not yet completed. That is expected to be finalized early in 2019, so players and fans should reserve one more week for an additional exciting Tour stop.

MAJOR GLORY ON THE LINE
Five players from five countries took home major championships in 2018, and 2019 will surely add even more history to the LPGA record books.

In its traditional spot on the calendar, the ANA Inspiration kicks off the major season for professional golf. From April 4-7, the Dinah Shore Course at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., will play host to major drama for the 37th consecutive year. The Country Club of Charleston, where World Golf Hall of Fame member and LPGA legend Beth Daniel learned the game of golf, will host the 74th U.S. Women’s Open Championship, conducted by the USGA, from May 30 to June 2.

The fifth year of partnership between the LPGA and the PGA of America takes the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship to Hazeltine National Golf Club, to be held June 20-23. Hazeltine National has hosted some of the game’s most major moments, including U.S. Women’s Open wins for Sandra Spuzich (1966) and Hollis Stacy (1977), and in 2016, the USA’s largest come-from-behind victory in Ryder Cup history.

The season’s final two majors take the LPGA Tour to Europe for consecutive weeks. The Evian Championship will move to July 25-28, reclaiming its place in the beautiful French summer. Along the shores of Lake Geneva and at the base of the Alps, the week in Evian-les-Bains, France, promises to be one of world-class glamour and competition.

The LPGA’s major season will culminate Aug. 1-4 at the newly named AIG Women’s British Open, held at Woburn Golf Club, 50 miles northwest of London. AIG recently signed a long-term deal to be the title sponsor of the Women’s British Open, which has been a major on the LPGA Tour schedule since 2001.

With major drama comes major competition. The season’s five majors build to the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award, which will be awarded at the Rolex LPGA Awards during the week of the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. Named for 10-time major champion Annika Sorenstam, the honor is bestowed on the player who, during the current LPGA season, has the most outstanding major championship record. Ariya Jutanugarn captured the 2018 award, joining Michelle Wie (2014), Inbee Park (2015), Lydia Ko (2016) and So Yeon Ryu (2017) as award recipients.

SOLHEIM CUP RETURNS TO SCOTLAND
The PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles will host the 16th Solheim Cup, marking the Cup’s return to Scotland for the first time since 2000. Gleneagles was the site of the 2014 Ryder Cup, which saw the European Team earn a 16½-11½ victory over the United States. The European Solheim Cup Team, captained by Scotland’s own Catriona Matthew, hopes to take inspiration from that victory as they face off against the Americans, with three-time Captain Juli Inkster at the helm, who took their own 16½-11½ victory at the 2017 Solheim Cup. The Americans will head to Gleneagles as the two-time defending champions, having mounted a furious Singles comeback in Germany in 2015 to take a one-point win.

FROM TOMORROW’S STARS TO FAN-FAVORITE PIONEERS
While the 2019 Symetra Tour schedule is still being finalized, the LPGA Tour’s official qualifying tour will have at least 20 events for the next generation of LPGA talent. The season will kick off in North Port, Fla., with the inaugural SKYiGOLF Championship hosted by Charlotte Harbor National Golf Club at Bobcat Trail from March 7-10. Since Symetra’s inaugural sponsorship year in 2012, the Symetra Tour has grown from 16 tournaments and $1.7 million in prize money to $3 million awarded over the course of 21 tournaments in 2018.

2019 will see the North Carolina return of LPGA Q-Series presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, the two-week qualifying tournament that debuted in 2018 as a replacement for Stage 3 of Q School. Forty-eight players earned their 2019 LPGA Tour cards, led by KLPGA star Jeongeun Lee6, who claimed medalist honors and earned $15,000.

North Carolina will also again host the LPGA T&CP National Championship, with the nation’s top teaching and club professionals returning to Pinehurst No. 8 on Aug. 26-28. Stephanie Eiswerth, University of North Florida women’s golf assistant coach and a Class A LPGA teaching professional, captured the 2017 title in her championship debut.

In October, the third Senior LPGA Championship presented by Old National Bank will return to the Pete Dye Course at scenic French Lick (Ind.) Resort. Some of the greatest names in the history of the game hope to join Trish Johnson (2017) and Dame Laura Davies (2018) as Senior LPGA winners.

2019 LPGA Schedule (bold = majors; italics = new event)

AURORA, Ont.  (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada, in partnership with title sponsor Canadian Pacific (CP), are pleased to announce that tickets are now available for the 2019 CPKC Women’s Open, taking place August 19-25 at the prestigious Magna Golf Club.

One of Canada’s premier annual sporting events, the CPKC Women’s Open features miles of front row seating for golf fans to experience Canada’s lone stop on the LPGA Tour and cheer on Canadian sensation and CP Ambassador Brooke Henderson as she defends her national title on home soil.

CLICK HERE to get your tickets for the
2019 CPKC Women’s Open

General admission tickets, starting at just $20 for early week access, provide access to the grounds to get an up-close look at the stars of the LPGA Tour.

Tournament rounds for Thursday, Friday and Saturday are just $50; a Sunday final-round ticket is $60; and a weeklong, fully-transferable badge is $120.

A specially-priced youth ticket (13-17 years old) is also available while juniors aged 12-and-under gain FREE grounds admission all week long.

In addition to general admission tickets and corporate hospitality products, the CPKC Women’s Open also offers a premium ticket product in The Heritage Club.

The Heritage Club is a covered venue with a partially covered outdoor patio located nearby the clubhouse of Magna Golf Club. It offers upgraded food and beverage for purchase, ample televisions with a live feed of the broadcast, private washrooms and views of practice putting green, 10^th tee, 11^th tee and others. The Heritage Club tickets cost $100 for one day or $250 for a fully transferable weekly pass.

Volunteer opportunities to be a part of the 2019 CPKC Women’s Open are also available with a full listing of committee positions here.

The CPKC Women’s Open is so much more than a sporting event. Enjoy world-class golf and a premium hospitality platform at a signature Canadian event that will leave a substantial charitable legacy in support of children’s heart health.

Get your tickets today and join us at the picturesque Magna Golf Club – www.cpkcwomensopen.com/tickets.

• Prices reflect pre-event ticket prices. Ticket prices may differ at the gate. 

Brittany Henderson, the older sister of Brooke Henderson, is one of nine people who was recently inducted into Coastal Carolina University’s Buddy F. Sasser Athletics Hall of Fame.

Prior to putting her successful playing career behind her to caddy full-time for her sister on the LPGA Tour, Brittany Henderson was a member of Team Canada’s Development (2006-2008) Team.

Collegiality, Henderson finished her Coastal career ranked third in program history in career scoring average (75.94). .She led Coastal to a pair of Big South championships in 2011 and 2013 and she was the back-to-back Individual Medalist at the 2012-13 Big South Championships. Henderson is one of two Coastal women’s golfers to compete in an NCAA Regional in each of her four years, and she also advanced to the 2011 NCAA Championship. She was voted the 2013 Big South Golfer and Scholar-Athlete of the Year and was a four-time All-Big South selection. In 2012, Henderson set the Coastal record for the lowest individual score at a Big South Championship (214) and she tied the conference record for lowest individual round at a Big South Championship (68).

Henderson was officially inducted as the Hall’s 28th class on the evening of Nov. 9. The Class of 2018 was also publicly honored at halftime of Coastal Carolina’s football game versus Arkansas State on Nov. 10.

Big Congratulations to my sister!! Inducted into Coastal Carolina University’s Athletic Hall of Fame last night! So proud of her ? pic.twitter.com/sj0cPB7C9s

— Brooke Henderson (@BrookeHenderson) November 10, 2018

Seven of the nine inductees are former Chanticleer student-athletes, including Henderson (women’s golf), Jose Iglesias (baseball), Chelsy Kimes (volleyball), Erica Peake (women’s track and field), Sebastian Soderberg (men’s golf), Mike Tolbert (football) and Cody Wheeler (baseball). Also being inducted as honorary members are retired women’s basketball coach, Alan LeForce, and retired University photographer, Bill Edmonds.

Brooke Henderson earned another accolade Thursday night, taking the female summer athlete of the year honour at the Canadian Sports Awards, while short-track speedskating star Kim Boutin earned the winter distinction.

Henderson became the first Canadian woman in 45 years to win an LPGA title on home soil with her victory at the CPKC Women’s Open in Regina last month.

The 21-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., has seven LPGA victories, one shy of the Canadian record held by Sandra Post.

Very proud to receive the #CDNSportAward for Summer Female Athlete of the Year!! ?????

— Brooke Henderson (@BrookeHenderson) September 21, 2018

This was the 41st edition of the Canadian Sports Awards, but first since 2012. The awards honour the top Canadian athletic performances over the past 12 months.

Stars from the LPGA Tour took to their favourite social media platforms following the 2018 CPKC Women’s Open to thank tournament organizers, sponsors and hosts.

REGINA, Sask. (Golf Canada) – For the first time since 1973, a Canadian has won her country’s national golf championship. In front of hordes of fans screaming her name and singing O Canada, Brooke Henderson shot a final-round 65 and earned a decisive four-stroke win over Angel Yin at Regina’s Wascana Country Club.

Lifted all week by the adoring Canadian fans, Henderson carded birdies at five of her closing eight holes. While the win was at hand, Henderson didn’t feel it was truly hers until she put her approach at No. 18 to just 3 feet, ultimately sealing the victory.

“I know that might sound a little silly because I did have a few-shot lead, but anything can happen down the stretch,” said Henderson, who became the first Canadian since Jocelyne Bourassa in 1973 to win the CPKC Women’s Open. “I was pretty nervous. This was a big deal for me. To be able to hit that shot in and finally know that it was basically over was incredible, and I feel like that was the first time all day that I could really smile and really enjoy everything to its fullest.”

HENDERSON LOOKS ABOVE FOR WINNING SUPPORT
It’s certainly been a long summer for Brooke Henderson and her family. In early June, Henderson’s maternal grandfather, Robert Moir, passed away after a battle with cancer, causing the Canadian star to withdraw from the U.S. Women’s Open after 18 holes to rush to his side. Then her paternal grandfather, Clem Henderson, died in early August while she was in England for the Ricoh Women’s British Open.

Henderson is normally reserved on the golf course and her on-course victory festivities tend toward quiet celebrations. But the win in Canada, and all the weight lifted off her petite shoulders, brought tears to her bright blue eyes.

“I think just all the hard work that my family has put into this, my dad and my coach, my mom, my best supporter, and my sister, who’s also my caddie,” said Henderson. “This was a big dream and a big goal for all of us, and I think it’s just a cumulative effort of all of us that gave me the chance to be able to lift that. I mentioned I thank God for this, for this win and just the many opportunities that I’ve been given. My grandfathers have passed away this summer, and I really think they were helping me today.”

IN HER WORDS – HENDERSON ON WHAT IT MEANS TO WIN IN CANADA
“I definitely feel like it was meant to be this week. I knew it wasn’t over until basically 18, but I just had that good feeling. It’s just amazing and a dream come true.”

BOURASSA HAPPY TO SHARE TITLE WITH HENDERSON
With her win today at Wascana, Brooke Henderson joined her countrywoman Jocelyne Bourassa as the only Canadians to win the CPKC Women’s Open. Bourassa took the title at the inaugural event in 1973, then called the La Canadienne, for her only LPGA Tour victory. Bourassa served as LPGA treasurer in 1974-75 and from 1980-2000. She worked as the executive director of the Du Maurier Classic, the name under which the CPKC Women’s Open was played as a major from 1979-2000.

Now 71, Bourassa shared the following statement with Golf Canada in celebration of Henderson’s win:

“Together with golf fans and Canadians from coast to coast, I want to pass along my most sincere congratulations to Brooke Henderson on her historic win at the 2018 CPKC Women’s Open. It’s been 45 years since Canada celebrated a homegrown champion Women’s Open Championship and I couldn’t be prouder today to pass that incredible honor to Brooke Henderson. My win in 1973 in front of so many Canadian golf fans was the most special moment of my golfing career and I can image how satisfying this accomplishment must feel for Brooke and her family today. She is an incredible talent and her commitment to be the very best has brought her amazing success on the global golf stage and has inspired so many others in the game. Félicitations, congratulations to Brooke!”

HENDERSON CLOSING IN ON ALL-TIME CANADIAN GOLF HISTORY
With her seventh win, Brooke Henderson is just a win shy of tying Sandra Post for the most victories by a Canadian player in LPGA Tour history. With one more one, she would also join Post, Mike Weir and George Knudson as all-time Canadian golfers with eight PGA TOUR or LPGA Tour victories.

CANADIAN SCORES
1 – Brooke Henderson – 66-66-70-65 (-21)
T36 – Alena Sharp – 71-70-70-71 (-6)
T46 – Anne-Catherine Tanguay – 70-71-70-73 (-4)
— DID NOT ADVANCE —
MC – Brittany Marchand – 74-73 (+3)
MC – Maude-Aimee Leblanc – 70-77 (+3)
MC – Naomi Ko (a) – 68-79 (+3)
MC – Tiffany Kong (a) – 76-72 (+4)
MC – Ellie Szeryk – 72-79 (+7)
MC – Céleste Dao (a) – 71-81 (+8)
MC – Augusta James – 74-78 (+8)
MC – Anna Young – 78-75 (+9)
MC – Elizabeth Tong – 73-80 (+9)
MC – Jennifer Ha – 75-79 (+10)
MC – Megan Osland – 75-82 (+10)
MC – Lorie Kane – 83-77 (+16)
MC – Bobbi Brandon – 83-90 (+29)

REGINA, SK – After an incredible performance, CP Ambassador Brooke Henderson has won the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open (CPWO) and helped future patients of the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital (JPCH) in the process.

Henderson shot 21 under par to become just the second Canadian to win this national championship, and the first since 1973.

The CP Has Heart program helped raise $2 million for brand new facilities in the pediatric cardiology unit at the JPCH. The total donation is the result of several fundraising efforts of the CP Has Heart campaign. Through CP Birdies for Heart, CP contributed $5,000 for each birdie made by a player on the 17th hole during tournament play. A total of 95 birdies represents a $475,000 donation. CP also matched all donations made online at www.pattisonchildrens.ca from February 14 to the end of the tournament.

“On behalf of our CP family of railroaders, congratulations to Brooke on her historic victory – it was a performance that gripped the entire country,” said Keith Creel, CP President and Chief Executive Officer. “This world-class tournament will also leave a lasting charitable legacy in Regina and the province of Saskatchewan, which has been an integral part of our CP network for over 100 years. We look forward to seeing the results of our collective efforts in supporting the important work of the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital.”

“The CPKC Women’s Open coming to Saskatchewan is very exciting for our province, and all of us at the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital are incredibly thankful that CP chose the brand new JPCH as the beneficiary of the CPKC Women’s Open,” said Brynn Boback-Lane, President and CEO of Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation. “The funds raised will help build a state of the art cardiac facility that will allow children to receive the care they need right here at home. CP, the LPGA, Golf Canada, the Wascana Country Club, and the community have come together to support the little hearts of Saskatchewan, and we cannot thank them enough.”

Since becoming the title sponsor, CP has raised $8.5 million for pediatric cardiac care across Canada at the CPWO. At this year’s tournament, fans were invited to the CP Has Heart Activity Zone where they could take part in fun activations to help raise funds for the JPCH. For a donation, fans could take a swing in the golf simulator to attempt their closest shot to the pin, or putt on a miniature replica of Wascana Country Club’s 18^th hole in the long putt challenge. All funds raised in the CP Has Heart Activity Zone were matched by CP.

The 2019 CPKC Women’s Open will be played at the Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ontario. For more details, visit www.cpkcwomensopen.com.

REGINA (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada in partnership with title sponsor CP, the LPGA Tour and broadcast partner Golf Channel, are pleased to announce that Bell Media’s TSN will broadcast the final round of the 2018 CPKC Women’s Open at the Wascana Country Club on Sunday, August 26 live to Canadian audiences from coast to coast.

With possible inclement weather forecasted for Sunday in Regina and final round play adjusted to begin earlier, Golf Channel, the exclusive television rights holders for the 2018 CPKC Women’s Open, agreed to extend the Canadian broadcast television rights to TSN to bring live coverage of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship directly to Canadian households.

Canadian Brooke Henderson, currently the 54-hole leader, looks to become the first Canadian golfer since Jocelyne Bourassa in 1973 to win Canada’s National Women’s Open Golf Championship.

The final round of the CPKC Women’s Open will be broadcast live on TSN1 and TSN3 from 1-4pm ET (11am to 2pm CT), and on TSN.ca and the TSN App for TSN and TSN Direct subscribers.

“Together with CP and the LPGA Tour, Golf Canada is so proud to work with our great partners at Golf Channel to ensure Canadians can experience this incredible moment in Canadian golf history,” said CPKC Women’s Open Tournament Director Ryan Paul. “We are also extremely thankful to Bell Media and TSN for coming together with Golf Channel to deliver Sunday’s final round live so that Canadians from coast to coast can experience the incredible finish to the CPKC Women’s Open.”

Golf Channel will broadcast the final round of the CPKC Women’s Open tape-delayed from 2-5pm CT and will also live-stream to US audiences on www.golfchannel.com.

With the forecast of rain and possible afternoon thunderstorms, the final round of the CPKC Women’s Open will start earlier than previously scheduled off the 1st and 10th tee beginning at 7:00 am CT in groups of three.

The final group of Canadian Brooke Henderson playing alongside Nasa Hataoka and Angel Yin will tee off at 9:01 am CT.

REGINA (Golf Canada) – Canadian phenom Brooke Henderson heads to Sunday’s final round of the CPKC Women’s Open with history on the line. Henderson carded a 2-under 70 on Saturday and holds a one-stroke lead over teenagers Nasa Hataoka and Angel Yin.

“I’m definitely in a good position heading into the final round, which is very exciting,” said Henderson, whose quiet smile was magnified by the hordes of Canadian golf fans lining Wascana Country Club on Saturday. “I feel like these crowds this week have been totally amazing, and I’ve been playing well for them, so I’m happy about that.”

Three weeks ago, Georgia Hall became the first British player in since 2009 to win the Ricoh Women’s British Open. Fast forward to Sunday and another long winning drought could end. If Brooke Henderson holds onto her lead and wins the CPKC Women’s Open, she would be the first Canadian to win her country’s national championship since Jocelyne Bourassa won the inaugural tournament in 1973.

The pressure was certainly not lost on Henderson, who refused to think too far ahead.

“That would be pretty sweet,” said Henderson. “It’s definitely a long way from that. There’s like a million players within like five shots, so I definitely have to play my best and hopefully go low.”

FINAL ROUND TEE-TIME SCHEDULE CHANGE
With the forecast of rain and possible thunderstorms for afternoon, the final round will start earlier than previously stated, starting on 1 & 10 tees at 7 am in groups of three. The last groups will tee off at 9:01 am. The leaders will tee off #1 tee last, the highest scores will go off #10 last, and the median scores will go off first from each side.

REGINA, Sask. (Golf Canada) – Amy Yang, gunning for her first victory of 2018, shot a second-round 65 at the CPKC Women’s Open to hold the 36-hole lead at 13-under 131. The three-time LPGA Tour winner, who last visited the winner’s circle in February 2017 at the Honda LPGA Thailand, took advantage of the prime early scoring conditions, carding nine birdies to just two bogeys.

“My putting was really good today,” said Yang, who needed just 26 putts Friday. “I was hitting it pretty solid out there, but I gave myself a lot of good chances, and I think I made most of them out there.”

Yang holds a one-stroke lead over young guns Brooke Henderson and Angel Yin. Henderson again had partisan Canadian crowds following her every move, thrilling the fans with a closing birdie at No. 9, while Yin carded three consecutive birdies to finish her round.

“To be close to the top of the leaderboard heading into the weekend is awesome, especially when you’re here in Canada.”

Those words from Brooke Henderson highlight what could be a classic fairytale for Canada’s beloved star. Henderson started the day with a 55-yard birdie putt from off the green that set the pace for a crowd-pleasing round of 6-under 66 and a tie for second, one stroke behind the lead.

“To see that many people there to watch me finish was incredible. I was happy I was able to birdie for them and get to 12-under. It was a great day,” said Henderson, who carded seven birdies and one bogey on Friday. “I think starting on the back nine kind of gave me a lot of momentum, making a lot of birdies, and then was able to finish really strong here.”

If her hot streak continues over the weekend, Henderson would become the first Canadian to win Canada’s national championship since Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Jocelyne Bourassa accomplished the feat in 1973. She’s already set her best CPKC Women’s Open 36-hole score by eight strokes (she shot 140 in 2016) and heads into the weekend in the top five – the highest position she’s ever held in her home tournament.

While any hometown hero would feel the pressure of winning, Henderson felt comfortable and enjoyed Friday’s round.

“It’s definitely a lot easier to play in front of the fans when you’re playing really well,” Henderson added. “So, hopefully I keep it up.”

WEATHER COMES INTO PLAY AT WASCANA
Weather was a major factor on Friday afternoon, with winds gusting to 35 mph and temperatures quickly dropping. Winds picked up significantly starting at 11 a.m., giving players in the morning wave a marked advantage on those who played in the afternoon. The scoring average for the morning wave was 71.5, while it was 74.6 for the afternoon wave.

“I kind of was a little flustered in the middle when the wind picked up,” said Angel Yin, who carded both of her bogeys as she adjusted to the changing conditions. “I didn’t adjust quickly enough and I wasn’t hitting it well.”

Of the players in the top 10, only Ariya Jutanugarn (T4, three strokes behind Yang) played in the afternoon and she started the day tied for the lead.

Round 3 of the 2018 CPKC Women’s Open gets underway at 8:48 a.m. CT, with players playing in threesomes off the 1^st and 10^th tees.

CANADIAN SCORES
T2 – Brooke Henderson – 66-66 (-12)
T43 – Alena Sharp – 71-70 (-3)
T43 – Anne-Catherine Tanguay – 70-71 (-3)
— DID NOT ADVANCE —
MC – Brittany Marchand – 74-73 (+3)
MC – Maude-Aimee Leblanc – 70-77 (+3)
MC – Naomi Ko (a) – 68-79 (+3)
MC – Tiffany Kong (a) – 76-72 (+4)
MC – Ellie Szeryk – 72-79 (+7)
MC – Céleste Dao (a) – 71-81 (+8)
MC – Augusta James – 74-78 (+8)
MC – Anna Young – 78-75 (+9)
MC – Elizabeth Tong – 73-80 (+9)
MC – Jennifer Ha – 75-79 (+10)
MC – Megan Osland – 75-82 (+10)
MC – Lorie Kane – 83-77 (+16)
MC – Bobbi Brandon – 83-90 (+29)

CP BIRDIES FOR HEART
The second round saw 27 sub-par scores (all birdies) at No. 17, which amounts to $135,000 raised on Friday and $300,000 overall for the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital via the CP Birdies for Heart program, which donates $5,000 per sub-par score

SCORING AND START TIMES
Scoring and Pairings for the 2018 CPKC Women’s Open are available here.

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS, AUDIO FILES AND VIDEO…
Interview transcripts, audio MP3 files, as well as downloadable royalty-free images and broadcast quality videos for all media interviews and scrums are available online here.

LPGA TOUR MEDIA NOTES
For daily LPGA Tour notes, statistics, hole locations and yardages, visit www.media.lpga.com and select CPKC Women’s Open from the LPGA Tournament Information menu.

MEDIA GUIDE
Download the 2018 CPKC Women’s Open Media Guide by clicking here.

CP HAS HEART IN SUPPORT OF JIM PATTISON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
Canadian Pacific will continue its history of making a substantial donation to the host community through its CP Has Heart community investment program. In the four years of CP’s title sponsorship of the CPKC Women’s Open, $6.5 million has been raised to support children’s heart health in communities across Canada.

This year, the campaign is supporting pediatric cardiology at Saskatchewan’s new Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon. Funds raised through the CPKC Women’s Open will help assist a dedicated cardiology space and specialized equipment in the new hospital, currently under construction and scheduled to open in 2019. To find out more or donate click here.

KIDS 17-AND-UNDER GET IN FREE…
Golf Canada and CP are committed to offering a fan friendly, family event with the CPKC Women’s Open. To introduce more juniors to the sport, children aged 17-and-under get FREE admission to the CPKC Women’s Open for the entire week.

TICKETS…
Anyday Grounds (Sat-Sun) –          Tournament week $55
Full week entry (Grounds) –         Tournament week $105
Full week entry (Clubhouse) –     Tournament week $200

TELEVISION COVERAGE…
Saturday, August 25 –                     Golf Channel – 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday, August 26 –                        Golf Channel – 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.

• All times local.