Edmonton: Yamashita holds six-shot lead at CPKC Women’s Open, Deng climbs leaderboard

By Liam Tremblay — 23 August 2026 — 3 min read

Miyu Yamashita of Japan is positioned to win the CPKC Women’s Open at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton. Yamashita, who recently turned 25, enters the final round with a six-shot advantage. Her performance includes three consecutive rounds in the 60s, highlighted by a 5-under 65 on Saturday.

Yamashita’s three-round total of 191 established a tournament record. This score also tied a tournament record for the largest lead after 54 holes. She achieved a 5-under-par 65 in the third round, bringing her to 19 under for the tournament. She rebounded from a bogey on the 17th hole with a sixth birdie on the 18th.

Challengers and Canadian Performances

American Gina Kim and Japan’s Yuri Yoshida are tied for second place at 13 under par. Kim posted a 6-under 64, while Yoshida carded a 66 on Saturday. American Jennifer Kupcho is in fourth position at 12 under.

Canadian teenager Aphrodite Deng from Calgary made a significant move up the leaderboard, tying for sixth place at 10 under. Deng, who is 16 years old, recorded the day’s lowest round with a 63, matching a personal best score. She was the tournament’s low amateur last year in Mississauga, Ont. Deng’s round on Saturday was bogey-free, and she expressed gratitude for the support from the crowd.

Deng was one of four Canadian women aged 18 and under to make the cut, a first for the tournament. Among these young Canadian amateurs were Anna Huang, 17, of Vancouver, Michelle Xing, 18, of Richmond Hill, Ont., and Clairey Lin, 16, of Langley, B.C. Huang shot an even 70 on Saturday, placing her at 7-under par. Xing posted a 71, finishing at 1 under, while Lin carded a 72 to be 2 over.

Defending champion Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., is in an eight-way tie for 15th at 7 under. Henderson, 28, shot a second straight 68 on Saturday. She recovered from a three-putt on the ninth hole with three consecutive birdies on her back nine. Henderson noted that she felt she didn’t get the most out of her round due to missed putts, particularly inside six feet.

Tournament Details and Player Insights

The CPKC Women’s Open is a US$2.75-million event. Yamashita is seeking her fourth LPGA win and her second of the current season. She expressed her enjoyment of the course, particularly her putting. Henderson, who won the tournament last year in Mississauga and in 2018 in Regina, trailed Yamashita by 12 strokes after Saturday’s round. She acknowledged Yamashita’s strong play and aimed for a good finish for herself.

Deng, who was born in Calgary and moved to the United States at four years old, is part of Canada’s NextGen team. She managed to save pars even when missing shots, including hitting out from under a tree on the 18th hole. Her caddie, 19-year-old Benjamin Reed, was also on her bag when she won the 2025 U.S. Girls Junior Championship.

Other Canadian players who made the cut include Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., who shot 72 to sit at 1 over, and Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, who was 3 over after a 74. The forecast for Sunday’s final round includes temperatures of 26 C with some forest fire smoke, potentially giving way to thunderstorms later in the afternoon.

Source: golfcanada.ca