Brooke Henderson is in contention at the CPKC Women’s Open in Edmonton, with room to advance after a solid second round. The defending champion from Smiths Falls, Ontario, aiming for her third victory in Canada’s LPGA tournament, carded a 68 on Friday to reach 5-under par. Heading into the final two rounds, Henderson trails leader Soo Bin Joo of South Korea by four strokes, who is at 9 under at Edmonton’s Royal Mayfair Golf Club.
Henderson was cruising at 7 under until she encountered two back-nine bogeys, with her penultimate tee shot veering left and hitting a spectator. She promptly apologized to the woman and presented her with a golf ball as a gesture of goodwill. Meanwhile, Calgary’s Aphrodite Deng, the top amateur in last year’s tournament in Mississauga, Ontario, finished her round strongly with consecutive birdies for a 67, reaching 3 under.
In this $2.75-million US event, the top 65 players and ties will advance after the cut. Canadian teens Anna Huang from Vancouver and Michelle Xing from Richmond Hill, Ontario, who started the day at 5 under, are set for afternoon tee times as they aim to stay in contention.