Miyu Yamashita opened the CPKC Women’s Open with a bogey-free 62 on Thursday, setting an LPGA Tour course record at Royal Mayfair Golf Club and taking a one-shot lead over Nasa Hataoka.

The world No. 7 made eight birdies, split evenly between the front and back nine, and completed her 8-under round with a birdie at the par-four 9th. She required only 25 putts, the second-lowest total in the field.

Yamashita’s 62 was also the lowest round of her LPGA Tour career. Her previous best was 64, recorded in the final rounds of the 2026 Meijer LPGA Classic and Kroger Queen City Championship.

“It’s been a while since I finished the first round in good position, so I was able to make some putts as well,” Yamashita said. “I’m pretty happy with how I played.”

The 25-year-old is making her first appearance in Canada’s national championship. Her score lowered the LPGA Tour record at Royal Mayfair by two shots, beating the 64s posted by Kathleen Ekey, Caroline Hedwall and Lydia Ko in 2013. Ko went on to win that year.

Hataoka Stays One Shot Behind

Hataoka made eight birdies of her own but bogeyed the 9th, her final hole, to finish at 7-under. She hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation and matched Yamashita for the most birdies in the opening round.

Her 63 was her lowest score of the 2026 season by two strokes and her best opening round since the 2023 CME Group Tour Championship. Hataoka has never finished outside the top-40 at the CPKC Women’s Open, with a tie for fifth in 2019 her best result.

Conditions were calm, although both Japanese leaders also dealt with mosquitoes on the tree-lined course beside the North Saskatchewan River.

“No wind today and so many mosquitoes,” Hataoka said.

Yamashita offered a similar assessment: “There’s so many bugs on the course.”

Romero Opens Professional Career With 64

Kiara Romero began her LPGA Tour career with a bogey-free 64, leaving the 20-year-old American alone in third place at 6-under.

Romero earned membership last week through the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway, becoming the second player to do so after Lottie Woad. She made six birdies, took 27 putts and averaged 300 yards off the tee, the second-longest driving mark in the field.

Her professional debut followed 10 LPGA Tour starts as an amateur, including a tie for sixth at the 2026 US Women’s Open.

Canadian Teenagers Start With 65s

Anna Huang and amateur Michelle Xing put two Canadians among the early contenders, each shooting 65 to share fourth place with China’s Ruoning Yi.

Huang, a 17-year-old from Vancouver, has won four times on the Ladies European Tour, with two victories this season following another two in 2025.

“I think I’m definitely a lot more confident than I was the past few years coming into this event,” Huang said.

Xing, an 18-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ontario, will begin her freshman year at UCLA. Her approach on Royal Mayfair’s greens was uncomplicated.

“I was just trying to keep it simple,” Xing said. “Like a lot of the time just trying to get the speed with certain putts because I had a lot of long putts.”

Jennifer Kupcho opened with 66, while top-ranked Nelly Korda and Canadian star Brooke Henderson shot 67. Henderson won the championship in 2018 and 2025.

“The scores are very low out here today,” Henderson said. “Just trying to go out tomorrow and make a bunch of birdies and try to catch them.”

Ko, who won at Royal Mayfair as an amateur in 2013, began with an even-par 70.

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