The CPKC Women's Open took center stage on Friday at Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton, Alberta, where Miyu Yamashita built a commanding five-stroke lead while players battled swarms of mosquitos on the tree-lined course along the North Saskatchewan River.
Yamashita Extends Lead With Bogey-Free 64
Yamashita, who opened the tournament a stroke ahead of the field after an 8-under 62 on Thursday, followed up with an afternoon 64 to reach 14 under overall. The 25-year-old Japanese golfer, standing just 4-foot-11, spoke through a translator about her mindset heading into the weekend.
"I'm really happy. With two rounds to go, I just want to focus on my game and keep playing like this," Yamashita said, adding that she is more focused on making birdies than watching the scoreboard.
Yamashita enters the weekend with strong recent form:
Leaderboard Highlights After Round Two
A group of players sits well within striking distance of the lead, though Yamashita's cushion is significant heading into moving day.
Kiara Romero (USA) tied for second at 9 under after rounds of 64 and 67, in her first event as an official LPGA Tour member
Soo Bin Joo shot a 63 to reach 9 under
Yuri Yoshida carded a 66 to also sit at 9 under
Ruoning Yin slipped to 8 under after a closing double bogey led to a 67
Nasa Hataoka shot 69 to remain at 8 under
Anna Huang, 17, was the top Canadian at 7 under after a 68
Brooke Henderson, the 2018 and 2025 champion, sat at 5 under after a 68
Nelly Korda, the world's top-ranked player, shot 70 to stay at 3 under
Lydia Ko, the 2013 amateur champion at Royal Mayfair, was 1 under after a 69
Romero's Milestone Debut
Kiara Romero, 20, became just the second player to earn LPGA Tour membership through the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway, following Lottie Woad last year. Reflecting on her tied-second finish through two rounds, Romero said she came in simply hoping to enjoy the experience.
"Honestly, I'm just really grateful to be out here. 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," she said.
Mosquitos Add Unusual Challenge
Multiple players noted the persistent mosquito problem at Royal Mayfair despite praising the scenic course. Soo Bin Joo summed up the sentiment shared by several competitors: "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."
Why This Week Matters Beyond the Trophy
This edition of the CPKC Women's Open carries added weight, as it marks the final qualifying week for American players hoping to secure a spot on the U.S. Solheim Cup team ahead of the September 11 to 13 matches in the Netherlands. With a $2,750,000 purse on the line, several players in the field are managing both leaderboard position and qualification standing simultaneously.
Canadian fans also turned out in force to support home favorite Brooke Henderson, who described the atmosphere as a major highlight of her week. "I love this event. 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," Henderson said.
Read More Blogs:
LIV Golf 2.0: Players, Investor Talks & What's Next