Teens make their mark at CPKC Women’s Open, signalling bright future for women’s golf

The 2026 CPKC Women's Open showcased a new wave of Canadian talent, with a record four golfers aged 18 and under successfully making the tournament cut. This historic achievement signals a bright future for women's golf in Canada.

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The young talent coming out of Canada right now is phenomenal. When you have all these girls under the age of 18 doing these things, they are the future. They are the next Brooke Hendersons.

Among the standout performers was 17-year-old Anna Huang from Vancouver, who finished as the top Canadian, tying for fourth place at 12-under-par. Calgary's Aphrodite Deng, just 16 years old, followed closely behind, tying for seventh and earning the low amateur title for the second consecutive year.

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It’s amazing to see so many Maple Leafs at the top of the leaderboard. Just amazing scores all week by all of them. It’s really cool to see that and to be a part of it, and I feel like the future is really bright for the next few years.

Michelle Xing, 18, and 16-year-old Clairey Lin also made their mark, with Xing finishing at 3-under and Lin making the cut in her tournament debut. Their performances underscore the depth of emerging talent within the national program.

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Brooke has been someone I looked up to the most. Ever since I started playing golf she was definitely my idol.

Canada's women's head coach, Salimah Mussani, lauded the young golfers, calling their talent "phenomenal" and emphasizing that they represent the future of the sport. Veteran golfer Brooke Henderson, a multiple CPKC champion herself, expressed her delight at seeing so many young Canadians performing well, noting their diligent work ethic and eagerness to improve. Huang and Xing cited Henderson as a significant role model, highlighting the intergenerational inspiration within Canadian golf.

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She’s a role model for all of us.