Akie Iwai leads, Canadian teen Deng in hunt at LPGA Canadian Open / Photo: Vaughn Ridley - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
Akie Iwai leads, Canadian teen Deng in hunt at LPGA Canadian Open
Japan's Akie Iwai, riding high after winning her first LPGA title in Portland, fired seven birdies in a seven-under par 65 on Thursday to seize a two-shot first-round lead at the Canadian Women's Open.
Iwai, who on Sunday joined her twin sister Chisato as an LPGA winner, closed with back-to-back birdies to overtake a pacesetting group that included world number one Jeeno Thitikul and 15-year-old Canadian amateur Aphrodite Deng.
"So last week I won, but already it's in the past," Iwai said of resetting after her breakthrough victory and just a little celebrating on Sunday night. "I changed the mind -- good focus this week."
Iwai teed off on 10 and was three-under through nine holes. She picked up four birdies in her last six holes to power to the lead late on a blustery day at Mississauga Golf and Country Club in Ontario.
Deng had turned heads as she grabbed a share of the early lead on five-under par 66, quelling any nerves as she opened with back-to-back birdies.
Seeking to join New Zealand great Lydia Ko in lifting the trophy in Canada at 15, Deng was unfazed by the spotlight, saying her experience in winning the US Girls' Junior Championship in July had got her used to attention.
"There was a lot of cameras there, too," she said. "I was a little nervous, but I am with every tournament."
She added birdies at the par-five fifth and the par-four seventh and after a string of pars gave back a shot with a bogey at the 15th, where her putt to save par slipped past the hole.
She closed with a flourish, however, rolling in birdies at 17 and 18.
"It's really cool," Deng said of putting herself in contention in her home open. "Definitely something that I dreamed about."
Deng was tied for second with Thailand's Jeeno, Ireland's Leona Maguire, Mexico's Gaby Lopez, and American Megan Khang.
Jeeno, who regained the world number one ranking from Nelly Korda this month, teed off on 10 and after one birdie and one bogey in her first nine holes exploded with five birdies coming in as she found the pin positions open to attack.
"I think (on) the back nine the pin was easier than the front nine," she said. "The front nine I didn't hit that close, the back nine I did, that's why basically I holed the putts as well on the back nine."
Owner of five LPGA titles, Jeeno admitted she wasn't sure how it would feel playing her first tournament since regaining the top ranking she first held back in 2022.
"I'm not going to lie saying I'm not thinking about that... I just told myself you can think about it, you can worry, you can be nervous, but at the end of the day you've got to pass this as well."
N.Macleod--EWJ
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