Shaughnessy Bares Its Teeth In First Round Of CPKC Women’s Open
The CPKC Women's Open 1st Round Leader Is Yuka Saso - Image Credit Golf Canada
By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf
Just like it did back in 2005 and 2011 for the PGA TOUR, Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club is presenting a stern test for some of the best female golfers on the planet.
There were lots more bogeys than birdies in the first round of the CPKC Canadian Women’s Open. Only 18 of the 156 players in the field of the LPGA Tour event managed to break par.
Everyone is chasing 2021 U.S. Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso, who rattled off four straight birdies on her back nine and shot a six-under 66, a new tournament course record at Shaughnessy.
The Philippine-born Saso, who now plays for Japan, had eight birdies in her round. Six of them came on her back nine. “First nine was pretty stable” Saso said. “Hit it okay. Putted okay. I don’t know what happened on the back nine. I started hitting some good second shots and having short putts for birdies, giving myself a lot of chances.”
Sweden’s Linn Grant is just one shot back after a hot back nine. She birdied four straight holes starting at the par 3 12th en route to her 67. “I think it was a mix of some lucky birdies and some really good ones,” said Grant, who was pleased with her round. She didn’t think five-under was out there.
“Looking at the course yesterday and this morning I said to myself, it is going to be difficult,” Grant said. “I was not expecting a minus score today. In my mind level par was a good score out here. It’s tough.”
Shaughnessy’s narrow fairways, thick rough and its small, slopey and fast greens are giving much of the field fits. Throw in some wind, like there was for a good part of the day, and it’s really hard. “Shaughnessy is a tough course,” said Australian Hannah Green. “I played with Yuka today and she shot six-under on our back nine (Shaughnessy’s front side). That was a really great round.”
Green settled for a two-under 70 and was happy with it. “It’s not like it is the narrowest course we have ever played, but the greens are pretty small and obviously you’ve got to hit fairways and have to hit the greens to start with to have a chance at birdie,” Green said.
“But doing that for 18 holes here is quite difficult. And the par 3s here are quite hard. I had a 5-wood into one of them today. It’s just a tough golf course and it will be interesting to see how the scores hold up during the week.”
Canadian star Brooke Henderson was one of the many who struggled Thursday. She opened with a three-over 75 and tournament organizers will have their fingers crossed that she can rebound in the second round and play the weekend. Henderson has never missed the cut at this tournament as a pro.
Fellow Canadian Alena Sharp, playing on a sponsor’s exemption, shot a three-under 69 that was good for a six-way share of third place. The Hamilton native has been playing the Epson Tour and trying to regain her full LPGA Tour status. She wasn’t happy with her first couple of swings Thursday, but delighted with the way she settled into her round. “The start was a little shaky,” Sharp said.
“I was a little nervous. You’ve got to kind of put your blinders on out here. Fairways are narrow.” After nailing a solid drive on No. 13 —her fourth hole of the day — Sharp felt like she was in control of her ball. “I haven’t been in the zone like that in a while,” she said. “I was not questioning myself and really decisive on what I was trying to do out there.”
American rookie sensation Rose Zhang also shot a three-under 69. “I’m feeling really good,” Zhang said of her round. “From the start I had some errant tee shots, and it’s something that you can’t really afford on this golf course since it’s so narrow. I was able to get some lucky bounces, lucky outs, and I capitalized on that. So I’m really glad how the day went. I just want to keep it going the next couple days.”
Brooke Rivers, an 18-year-old from Brampton, Ont., shot a one-under 71 and is the low amateur through the first round.
Click HERE for complete scoring from the CPKC Women's Open.