Miyu Yamashita delivered a phenomenal round with an incredible 62 at the CPKC Women's Open, immediately seizing the lead. At Royal Mayfair in Edmonton, the Japanese player got off to a dream start, making the competition take notice with an 8-under score. She thus made a strong statement right away and is one shot ahead of her compatriot Nasa Hataoka after the first round.
The round was not just a statement, but made history: Yamashita tied the LPGA Tour course record at Royal Mayfair – according to a report, she even set a new best mark. Eight birdies without a single bogey speak volumes. She needed only 25 putts for this, playing the lowest LPGA round of her career.
The Japanese Duel at the Top
Hataoka naturally wanted to keep pace and also delivered a really strong performance. She carded a 63, putting her just one shot behind, even though a bogey on the last hole prevented a tie. Hataoka also had eight birdies on her scorecard, really making things happen on the green. The early leaderboard also showcased promising young talents: 17-year-old Anna Huang and 18-year-old amateur Michelle Xing from Canada were in the mix, along with American Kiara Romero and Ruoning Yi from China.
The World No. 7 Marches On
Yamashita is no longer an unknown quantity. She already claimed victory at the Meijer LPGA Classic in June and triumphed last year at the Women's British Open and the Maybank Championship 2025. As the current World No. 7, she once again proved why she belongs to the absolute elite. This is, by the way, her first appearance at Canada's national championship.
Conditions were generally set for low scores, with many players well under par. But that's precisely what makes Yamashita's 62 an even more impressive achievement – she immediately set an absurdly high bar and shows where things might be headed.
