Brooke Henderson tees off on Saturday during the third round of the CPKC Women’s Open in Mississauga, Ont. Henderson is Canada's most successful golfer, with 13 LPGA titles.Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press
Canada’s Brooke Henderson holds a share of the lead heading into Sunday’s final round at the CPKC Women’s Open, sitting in prime position to chase down her second victory at the national tournament.
The native of Smiths Falls Ont., winner of 13 titles on the LPGA Tour, fired a stunning 6-under 65 in Saturday’s third round to improve to 11-under, thrusting herself atop the leaderboard, sharing the lead with Australia’s Minjee Lee.
It’s been a bright weekend during a mediocre year for Henderson. The 27-year-old in her 11th LPGA season is seeking her first title since January, 2023. The country’s most successful golfer ever looks to repeat the glory she authored on home soil in 2018, when she became the first Canadian since 1973 to win the national women’s open.
“Winning in 2018 was a huge career highlight, it meant so much to me, it was so special,” said Henderson. “To be in a position to possibly have that opportunity again is really cool, but I’m still a long way from that. There are so many top players near the top of the leaderboard, still 18 holes to play.”
Earlier: Brooke Henderson makes her mark on Day 2 of Canadian Women’s Open
Henderson was a big draw on Saturday with the galleries mostly following her around the course, many of the fans kids wearing red Brooke’s Brigade t-shirts. She scored back-to-back birdies on holes No. 15 and 16 before her most thrilling shot of the day on No.17 – holing out for eagle from the bunker.
It was a second straight hot round for Henderson who carded a bounce-back 66 on Friday to take a big step up the leaderboard, into a fifth-place tie. She had shot an even-par 71 on the first day and found herself in 38th, just desperate at the time to make sure she didn’t miss the cut. Now she’s about to tee off in the final group on Sunday to chase down the trophy for a second time.
“It has not been a good year so far, up to how I’ve played previous years, so this definitely is a step in the right position, three solid rounds of golf,” said Henderson. “I’m just happy to be playing in the final groups and playing good golf in front of good crowds.”
A pair of top golfers sit three shots back, in third place, World No.1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand and Akie Iwai, the No. 14 from Japan who won last week’s Portland Open and held the lead in Mississauga after the first two rounds.
Another Canadian is not far off the pace, 15-year-old Aphrodite Deng. The promising amateur sits five shots back of the lead, tied with a pack of golfers in seventh place.
Aphrodite Deng is the talk of the tournament at the LPGA Canadian Women’s Open
The youngster originally from Calgary who mostly trains in Florida is making her first start on the LPGA Tour. She kept herself in the mix on Saturday by shooting a 3-under 68. She is playing beyond her years, evidenced by so many moments these three days, including a confident long birdie putt on 17 in her third round.
Deng’s impressive play at her debut LPGA event isn’t surprising to those who have followed the promising junior. She’s had some notable amateur titles this summer, including a win at the prestigious U.S. Girls Junior Championship.
Asked how it would feel to have a solid finish at this event, alongside the world’s best women, Deng said: “Yeah, it would be so fun to add on to my summer.”