EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Miyu Yamashita rebounded from a bogey on the par-3 17th with a birdie on the par-4 18th to take a six-stroke lead Saturday in the CPKC Women’s Open in a bid for a wire-to-wire victory.
Yamashita shot a 5-under 65 in calm conditions to get to 19-under 191 at Royal Mayfair, the tree-lined layout — and mosquito hot spot after record summer rain — tucked in a bend in the North Saskatchewan River.
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Kiara Romero, of the U.S., watches her tee shot on the fourth hole during the third round at the LPGA Women's Open golf tournament, in Edmonton, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Aphrodite Deng, of Canada, reacts to cheers and applause from spectators as she walks up the 15th fairway during the third round at the LPGA Canadian Women's Open golf tournament in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Yuri Yoshida, of Japan, walks from the fourth tee during the third round at the LPGA Canadian Women's Open golf tournament in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Miyu Yamashita, of Japan, watches her tee shot on the fourth hole during the third round at the LPGA Canadian Women's Open golf tournament in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Miyu Yamashita, of Japan, hits her tee shot on the fourth hole during the third round at the LPGA Women's Open golf tournament, in Edmonton, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
“I like this course,” Yamashita said through a translator.
The 25-year-old Japanese player — one of professional golf's shortest players at 4-foot-11 — won the Meijer LPGA Classic in June in Michigan after taking the Women’s British Open and Maybank Championship last season as the rookie of the year.
A stroke ahead Thursday after an opening with a course-record 62, Yamashita had a 64 on Friday afternoon to open a five-shot lead. She has only 79 putts in three rounds.
“My feeling so good,” she said.
Gina Kim (64) and Yuri Yoshida (66) were tied for second at 13 under, a shot ahead of Jennifer Kupcho (64) and two ahead of Somi Lee (65).
“I think this course is tough but it’s fair,” Kim said. “And if you can capitalize on the ones in the fairway, you’re usually in a pretty good spot, which is what I’ve been trying to do.”
Aphrodite Deng, the 16-year-old amateur who won the 2025 U.S. Girls’ Junior, was the top Canadian, shooting 63 to get to 10 under. She was born in Calgary.
“I wasn’t really counting like how low I was shooting,” Deng said. “I was just trying to play as best as I can.”
American Kiara Romero (69) also was 10 under in her first event as an LPGA Tour member. 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.
“Just kind of struggled a little bit on the front nine with my ball-striking,” Romero said. “But I was really proud of myself for being able to fight back towards the end there and kind of just reground my feet out there.”
Canadian star Brooke Henderson, the 2018 and 2025 champion, was 7 under after a 68.
“Honestly I feel like I didn’t get out of my round what I really should have,” Henderson said. “I hit 16 greens and gave myself a lot of good looks, so it’s disappointing to only shoot 2 under.”
Top-ranked Nelly Korda shot a 69 to get to 4 under. Lydia Ko, the 2013 winner at Royal Mayfair as an amateur, was 2 under after a 69.
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Kiara Romero, of the U.S., watches her tee shot on the fourth hole during the third round at the LPGA Women's Open golf tournament, in Edmonton, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Aphrodite Deng, of Canada, reacts to cheers and applause from spectators as she walks up the 15th fairway during the third round at the LPGA Canadian Women's Open golf tournament in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Yuri Yoshida, of Japan, walks from the fourth tee during the third round at the LPGA Canadian Women's Open golf tournament in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Miyu Yamashita, of Japan, watches her tee shot on the fourth hole during the third round at the LPGA Canadian Women's Open golf tournament in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Miyu Yamashita, of Japan, hits her tee shot on the fourth hole during the third round at the LPGA Women's Open golf tournament, in Edmonton, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
