MISSISASUGA, Ontario — Canadian star Brooke Henderson shot a 6-under 65 on Saturday, earning the lead with Minjee Lee at CPKC Women’s Open, punching a hole in the Eagle from a short par-4 greenside bunker.
“Before I went into the bunker, I thought, ‘I can make this, it’s very mastery,'” Henderson said. “I was really pleased where the tee shot was finished and there was a really good line in the bunker, and I knew I had to hit it softly because it was really fast.
The 2018 champion, held in Wascana, Saskatchewan, was a refreshing and cloudy state with Henderson, Eagle, six birdies and two bogeys at Mississaugua Golf and Country Club. She won the final of 13 LPGA Tour titles in January 2023.
“It’s always been a really special week,” Henderson said. “I feel like I learned a lot every year. When I had so many successes here, I was trying to go back and try to go back to what I did and the mentality that was in it.”
Lee shot 65 to match Henderson at 202 under. The Australian player tipped a birdie on the par 4th 8th and made a long eagle putt on the par 5th 12th. She ran in 8 footer for another eagle on the 17th, then tipped again to save the par 4 18 days.
“These two (Eagle) are my highlights and I think it’s obviously the last tip-in,” Lee said. “There are no photos on the scorecard.”
Lee won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in June in Texas, winning her third major title and 11th LPGA Tour title. She is number 4 in the world.
“I think it’s very exciting to be part of the final group with Brooke,” Lee said.
Henderson said: “I love playing with Minsy. She has a great presence on the course. She is very calm and relaxed and feels like a great pairing for the final round.”
Henderson of Smith Falls, Ontario, overcame a late start on Thursday. She played her first 11 holes in a tree-lined layout with 3, then fought back for an equal 71, shooting 66 on Friday.
“It’s very exciting to play here this week,” Henderson said. “The crowd was incredible. I was so happy to be able to play at home, hopefully just one more day.”
Last week’s Portland Classic winner Akie Iwai took a three-stroke lead over the weekend, bogeying his first three holes at 72, and third in the top-ranked Jeeno Thitikul.
Thitikul shot 69. She has made her first start since she reached number one in the world from Nelly Korda.
Aphrodite Deng, a 15-year-old Canadian amateur who was tied up second after opening 66, was six years old, 68 years old.
“It was incredible that all the people here were supporting me,” Den said.
After age 72, Korda finished 24th in 3.