Lauren Coughlin maintained her lead in the CPKC Women’s Open on Friday, shooting a 70 to reach 6 under for the tournament. She sits one stroke ahead of Hannah Green and Haeran Ryu. Coughlin, who shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday, navigated challenging windy and smoky conditions at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary, Alberta.
Coughlin expressed satisfaction with her performance, acknowledging the difficulty of judging distances due to the wind and firm greens. She credited her solid putting and ability to capitalize on the front nine holes for her success so far.
Meanwhile, Canadian star Brooke Henderson struggled in her afternoon round, bogeying the final four holes to finish at 1 over for the tournament. Despite a strong start, Henderson remains seven strokes behind the leader. She reflected on the missed opportunities and emphasized the importance of learning from her mistakes.
Among the contenders, Hannah Green matched Coughlin's 70, while Haeran Ryu finished with a 69 after a bogey on the 18th hole. Green, a two-time winner this year, highlighted the challenge of committing to shots in the windy conditions, while Ryu commented on the adverse weather affecting play.
Former champion Lydia Ko, along with Lilia Vu and Jennifer Kupcho, sits at 3 under. Kupcho had a rollercoaster round, birdieing five of the first eight holes before struggling on the back nine. Despite some putting woes, Kupcho remained optimistic about her overall performance.
Lexi Thompson, tied for 26th at 1 over, plans to reduce her schedule after this season. The competition remains fierce as players adapt to the demanding conditions and strive for success on the course.
As the tournament progresses, the unpredictable weather and challenging course conditions continue to test the skills and resilience of the players. Stay tuned for more updates as the CPKC Women’s Open unfolds.