Yamashita opens 5-stroke lead in CPKC Women’s Open as players fight mosquitoes

Canada's Brooke Henderson, of Smiths Falls, Ont., gives a signed golf ball to a spectator that was struck by her tee shot on the eighth hole during the second round at the LPGA CPKC Canadian Women's Open golf tournament, in Edmonton, on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Miyu Yamashita opened a five-stroke lead Friday in the CPKC Women’s Open as players again fought mosquitoes 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, except for the mosquitoes. Gosh, it’s so bad.”

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.

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The Associated Press