Brooke Henderson is gearing up for the challenge at the CPKC Women’s Open in Edmonton. The defending champion hailing from Smiths Falls, Ontario, is aiming for her third victory at Canada’s LPGA tournament and currently stands at 5-under par after a solid second-round score of 68 on Friday.
Heading into the final two rounds, Henderson trails the clubhouse leader, Soo Bin Joo of South Korea, by four strokes, with Joo sitting at 9 under at Edmonton’s Royal Mayfair Golf Club. Henderson was cruising at 7 under until she encountered some trouble with two back-nine bogeys, one of which saw her tee shot veering left and hitting a spectator. Henderson promptly apologized to the woman and offered her a golf ball as a gesture of goodwill.
Meanwhile, Calgary’s Aphrodite Deng, who impressed as the tournament’s low amateur last year in Mississauga, Ontario, finished her round strongly with consecutive birdies, carding a 67 to reach 3 under.
In this $2.75-million US event, the top 65 players and ties will advance to the next stage. Among them are Canadian teenagers Anna Huang from Vancouver and Michelle Xing from Richmond Hill, Ontario, who started the day just three shots off the lead at 5 under and had afternoon tee times scheduled.