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

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.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 21, 2026.

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

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

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