While the spotlight at the CPKC Women's Open shined brightest on Brooke Henderson, two Canadian teens stole the show last weekend.
Anna Huang, a 17-year-old pro who made history on the Ladies European Tour, finished tied for fourth in Alberta after a closing 65. Aphrodite Deng, 16, finished one shot behind her in a share of seventh. Deng's third-round 63 tied the lowest round by an amateur in LPGA history, set by Lydia Ko in 2013.
Both Huang and Deng played their way into this week's FM Championship by virtue of a top-10 rule that went into effect in 2022. The rule allowed for non-members who finish in the top 10 of an event to tee it up the next week.
Previously, the LPGA only held two spots for top-10 finishers who were members.
"It means so much
to tee it up next week in Boston," said Huang. "I actually wanted to play that a couple weeks ago and I tried to get an invite, but I couldn't get through there, so I'm really glad I got top 10 here."
Deng, a Stanford commit who is currently No. 8 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, tied for 17th at the U.S. Women's Open at Riviera and took a share of 38th at the JM Eagle LA Championship. Last year at the CPKC, the former figure skater tied for 20th. The first Canadian to win the U.S. Girls' Junior, Deng won back-to-back AJGA titles at the Mizuho Americas Open while playing alongside LPGA stars.
"It feels great and I'm so proud of the way I played this week," said Deng after earning low amateur honors at her national open.
With her strong finish in Canada, Huang moved up nine spots to a career-best No. 36 in the Rolex Rankings. A four-time winner on the LET in two seasons, Huang most recently clipped Charley Hull with an eagle on the last hole to win the PIF London Championship. The youngest player in LET history to win four times, Huang also made the cut in two LPGA majors this season – Amundi Evian (T-22) and KPMG Women's PGA (T-42) – and took a share of 13th at the Aramco Championship.
"I'm really happy that I played well in front of the best in the world," said Huang on Sunday, "and hopefully, I can continue doing that."
Huang made her third appearance in the CPKC last week and counts Henderson as an idol, following in her footsteps by becoming only the second Canadian to win on the LET. Huang will soon begin her senior year of high school online and turn 18 on Oct. 30.
The top 10 players in the world are in the field at TPC Boston, where the field of 144 will play for a purse of $4.4 million.
Beth Ann Nichols is a Golfweek senior writer covering the LPGA and women's golf.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Two history-making teens finish top 10, earn spots in LPGA Boston field
