Brooke Henderson enters the decisive stages of the 2026 CPKC Women’s Open with an opportunity to add another historic achievement to her remarkable career.
The Canadian star is attempting to defend the national championship she won in 2025 and capture the tournament for the third time. This year’s event is being contested at Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton, where Saturday’s third round and Sunday’s final round will determine whether Henderson can once again lift the trophy in front of a Canadian crowd.
Henderson opened the tournament with a three-under-par round, finishing with a birdie to remain within reach of the early leaders. Japan’s Miyu Yamashita set the opening pace at eight under, leaving Henderson with ground to make up as the competition moved toward the weekend.
With several of the world’s leading golfers in contention and an exciting group of young Canadians in the field, the final two rounds promise to be among the most compelling events on Canada’s sporting calendar this weekend.
Henderson Pursues Back-to-Back Canadian Open Titles
Henderson arrived in Edmonton as the defending CPKC Women’s Open champion after winning the 2025 tournament at Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Ontario.
She entered the final round of that tournament within striking distance before producing a composed four-under-par 67. Henderson eventually defeated Australia’s Minjee Lee by one stroke, securing the 14th LPGA Tour victory of her career.
That result further established the Smiths Falls, Ontario, native as the most successful Canadian professional golfer in history.
A victory in Edmonton would give Henderson consecutive CPKC Women’s Open titles and make her the first Canadian golfer to successfully defend the championship. It would also move her alongside Lydia Ko as a three-time winner of Canada’s national women’s open.
Henderson already belongs to a very small group of Canadians to win the event. Only Henderson and Canadian golf pioneer Jocelyne Bourassa, who won the tournament then known as La Canadienne in 1973, have claimed the national title.
Remembering Henderson’s Victories in 2018 and 2025
Henderson’s relationship with the CPKC Women’s Open changed dramatically in 2018 when she won the tournament for the first time at Wascana Country Club in Regina.
Her four-stroke victory ended a 45-year wait for a Canadian champion. No golfer from Canada had won the national women’s open since Bourassa’s triumph in 1973.
The victory was one of the defining moments of Henderson’s career. Competing under intense home pressure, she delivered a controlled final round and became the first Canadian to win the event during its modern LPGA Tour era.
Seven years later, Henderson repeated the achievement in Ontario. Her 2025 victory was particularly significant because it ended a personal title drought of more than two years and came against an elite international field.
Winning again in 2026 would give Henderson three Canadian Open titles at three different courses and in three different provinces: Saskatchewan, Ontario and Alberta.
Leading Players Entering the Weekend
Henderson faces strong competition from one of the deepest fields assembled for the CPKC Women’s Open.
Miyu Yamashita emerged as the early player to catch after opening with an eight-under-par performance. The Japanese golfer entered the week ranked among the world’s top players and already had an LPGA Tour victory during the 2026 season.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda is another major threat. Korda arrived in Edmonton with four victories during the season, including wins at the Chevron Championship and U.S. Women’s Open.
Lydia Ko is also pursuing history at Royal Mayfair. The New Zealand star won this tournament in 2012, 2013 and 2015. Her 2013 victory came at Royal Mayfair when she was only 15 years old. A fourth title would give her the outright tournament record.
Other prominent contenders include Hyo Joo Kim, Ruoning Yin, Hannah Green, Jin Young Ko and 2025 runner-up Minjee Lee. Former champions Megan Khang, Paula Reto and Ariya Jutanugarn add further experience to an already competitive field.
With six of the world’s top 10 players and 14 of the top 25 participating, Henderson will likely need two excellent weekend rounds to retain her title.
Canadian Teenagers Highlight the Country’s Golfing Future
Although Henderson remains the main Canadian attraction, the tournament is also providing an important stage for the country’s next generation.
Fifteen Canadian golfers entered the event, including established professionals, leading amateurs and several teenagers with impressive international records.
Aphrodite Deng returned after finishing tied for 20th and earning low-amateur honours at the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open. The Calgary golfer also won the 2025 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship and successfully defended her Mizuho Americas Open title in May.
Anna Huang represents another major prospect. The Vancouver teenager turned professional at 16 and has already collected four victories on the Ladies European Tour. Her rapid progress has made her one of the most closely watched young Canadian golfers.
Clairey Lin made her CPKC Women’s Open debut after becoming the second consecutive Canadian to win the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship. That result followed Deng’s 2025 victory and marked the first time players from the same country had won consecutive editions of any USGA championship.
Lauren Kim, Vanessa Borovilos, Shauna Liu, Tillie Claggett, Katie Cranston and Eileen Park were also among the emerging Canadian players given an opportunity to compete against an elite LPGA field.
Their presence makes the tournament more than a showcase for Henderson. It offers Canadian golf supporters an early look at the players who could eventually follow her onto the LPGA Tour.
What Is at Stake on Saturday and Sunday?
Saturday’s third round will be moving day at Royal Mayfair. Players close to the lead will attempt to position themselves for a Sunday title challenge, while those further back must play aggressively to remain in contention.
For Henderson, the objective will be to reduce the gap to the leaders without making costly mistakes. Royal Mayfair rewards accurate approach shots and disciplined course management, particularly when pressure increases during the closing holes.
Sunday’s final round will decide the champion and the winner’s share of the tournament’s US$2.75 million purse. The champion is set to receive US$412,500, but the historical significance may be even more important for Henderson.
A victory would give her a third national title, a successful championship defence and another landmark moment for Canadian golf. It would also strengthen her position as one of the defining Canadian athletes of her generation.
With Henderson chasing history, international stars competing for the trophy and Canada’s emerging golfers testing themselves on a major stage, the closing rounds of the 2026 CPKC Women’s Open offer plenty for Canadian sports fans to follow.