Aphrodite Deng is the talk of the tournament at the LPGA Canadian Women’s Open

Open this photo in gallery: Aphrodite Deng plays her approach to the 17th green during first round play at the CPKC Women's Open golf tournament on Thursday.Dan Hamilton/Reuters

Canada’s emerging teen golf star Aphrodite Deng finished her round tied for first Thursday afternoon as the opening round of the CPKC Women’s Open got underway.

The lead didn’t hold, but it didn’t dampen the day for one of the day’s crowd favourites, who is very much in the mix as play begins Friday.

The 15-year-old amateur and member of Team Canada NextGen shot a five-under 66 to take a share of the lead at her national open, with many golfers still to play.

One of those players was Japan’s Akie Iwai, who fought her way to the front of the pack later in the day, with a seven-under performance.

“I thought it was pretty cool,” Deng said of seeing her name atop the leaderboard throughout the round. “But I knew I had to keep the same game plan.”

Deng, Ireland’s Leona Maguire, Mexico’s Gaby Lopez, Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul and Megan Khang of the U.S. all sit tied for second at five-under.

If Deng’s name sounds familiar, that’s because she’s already won some impressive junior titles this year, including last month, when she became the first Canadian to triumph at the U.S. Junior Girls Championship.

Teenager golfer Aphrodite Deng becomes first Canadian winner of U.S. girls' junior championship

The list of past champions at that prestigious junior event include some giants in women’s golf, like Minjee Lee, Inbee Park and Lexi Thompson. That win helped Deng earn an exemption into the CPKC Women’s Open.

The Calgary native looked composed with a hot start in her opening round Thursday morning at Mississaugua Golf & Country Club, scoring two birdies on her first two holes. She then birdied the par-five fifth and par-four seventh, finishing the front nine at a four-under 31.

Deng remained at four-under for much of the back nine with a long string of pars before dropping a shot at the par-four 15th – her only bogey of the round.

After parring the 16th, Deng finished strong with back-to-back birdies to end her day and leap up the leaderboard into a share of first place.

Open this photo in gallery: Deng uses a rangefinder before hitting her tee shot at the sixth tee.Dan Hamilton/Reuters

“She’s just the type of player that once she gets going, she’s going to keep it going, and her composure was unbelievable,” said Jeff MacDonald, head coach of Team Canada NextGen Girls. “The birdies on the last two to finish it off – just incredible. She’s so far beyond her years. It’s pretty fun to watch.”

Deng mostly trains in Florida but reconnects with Golf Canada’s NextGen team at monthly camps, and they also provide her with support at tournaments.

She also won the 2025 Junior Invitational at Sage Valley in April and the 2025 Mizuho Americas Open in May, where she played alongside LPGA star Nelly Korda, and they drew big galleries.

“When I was playing with Nelly there were a lot of people following. It was a nice experience,” said Deng.

Deng was asked if the big crowds watching her make her nervous.

“Maybe the first time,” said Deng. “But now I’m pretty used to it.”

On Thursday, Korda, No. 2 in the World rankings, finished her round shortly after Deng did, and took note of the young Canadian’s score.

“We played earlier this year, her composure was great, and I’m sure she really enjoyed the moment,” said Korda on Thursday after shooting a two-under 69.

“There are so many young girls out here that are playing so well, but still, to come out here and to shoot the score that she did is impressive.”

Only one 15-year-old has ever won the Canadian tournament – LPGA superstar Lydia Ko, who has hoisted the trophy three times, in 2012, 2013 and 2015.

Canadian teenage female athletes have provided some exhilarating performances this summer, from swimmer Summer McIntosh’s multi-medal showing at the World Aquatic Championships to rising tennis star Vicky Mboko winning the National Bank Open. Deng looks like another precocious young countrywoman to keep an eye on.

MacDonald said Deng hit it off quickly with the caddy who was along for her round on Thursday, Matthew Sim, a member of the Mississaugua Golf & Country Club. The two worked well together, despite just meeting for the first time on Monday.

Deng plays quickly because she is very decisive about what she wants to do next, explaining with a laugh, “I don’t really like playing slow, because then I think too much.”

She showed her consistency and steadiness in Thursday’s opening round, hitting 13 of 14 fairways off the tee.

“Yeah, that’s pretty good,” she said afterward. “Usually, my driver is pretty straight.”

For those who know her, the stellar Thursday round was no surprise.

“When she first came to our selection camp, I think she was 12 years old and she was phenomenal then,” said MacDonald. “Then we started working with her a little bit more regular, and she’s got a great team around her as well [in Florida]. So we just kind of support that.”

PGA player Billy Horschel is a big fan of Deng’s, as both golfers work with the same swing coach, Todd Anderson, director of PGA Tour’s Performance Center at TPC Sawgrass. Horschel posted last month about Deng on X when she won the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship.

“Congrats to Aphrodite on her victory! She’s a stud and a future star on the LPGA Tour! Don’t think I’m @ToddAnderson TPC #1 student anymore,” read Horschel’s post.

Deng didn’t get overly excited on Thursday about being a clubhouse leader so early in this tournament.

“Her strengths are how steady she is, and her mental composure,” said MacDonald. “I mean, to make that putt on 18, like, ‘No big deal,’ and she just picks it out of the hole, and away she goes. She’s just really focused, and she’s really mentally tough.”

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