Miyu Yamashita extended her lead significantly, while Aphrodite Deng, a young Canadian golfer, made a remarkable climb up the standings on the third day of the CPKC Women’s Open in Edmonton. Yamashita, from Japan, delivered an impressive performance with a 5-under-par 65 in the third round, reaching a total of 19 under for the tournament at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton. She headed into the final day with a commanding six-stroke lead in the $2.75 million US event, aiming for her fourth LPGA victory and second win of the season.
Yamashita, aged 25, showcased her prowess by bouncing back from a lone bogey on the 17th hole with a final birdie on the 18th, expressing her satisfaction with the course conditions and her putting form. Her 54-hole score of 191 set a new tournament record, and her six-shot lead matched the record for the largest 54-hole lead in the tournament’s history.
Meanwhile, Gina Kim of the United States carded a 6-under 64, and Japan’s Yuri Yoshida posted a 66, trailing Yamashita at 13 under. Notably, 16-year-old Canadian golfer Aphrodite Deng, who impressed as the low amateur in the previous year’s event, surged up the leaderboard by shooting the lowest round of the day with a remarkable 63, reaching 10 under and tying for sixth place.
Deng’s exceptional performance was part of a significant achievement for Canadian golf, as she was one of four Canadian women aged 18 and under to make the cut at the CPKC Women’s Open, a first in the tournament’s history. Alongside Deng, Vancouver’s Anna Huang, Michelle Xing from Richmond Hill, Ontario, and Clairey Lin from Langley, British Columbia, continued their strong play into the weekend rounds.
Defending champion Brooke Henderson from Smiths Falls, Ontario, showcased resilience by recovering from early setbacks to finish at 7 under. Despite trailing Yamashita by a notable margin, Henderson remained focused on delivering a strong finish and improving her performance in the final round.
As the tournament heads into the last day, the weather forecast predicts a temperature of 26°C with possible forest fire smoke before the arrival of thunderstorms in the late afternoon.