Yamashita matches LPGA Tour’s 72-hole scoring record in 9-stroke victory in Edmonton

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EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Diminutive Japanese star Miyu Yamashita matched the LPGA Tour’s 72-hole scoring record Sunday in a wire-to-wire, nine-stroke victory in the CPKC Women’s Open at Royal Mayfair.

The 4-foot-11 Yamashita made an 8-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th for a 4-under 66 and 23-under 257 total. Sei Young Kim also shot 257 in the 2018 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic in Wisconsin, finishing at 31 under.

Six strokes ahead entering the round, Yamashita pushed the margin to nine on the tree-lined layout — and mosquito hot spot after record summer rain — for a tournament record in the national championship.

She broke the tournament record of 262 set by Jin Young Ko in 2019 at Magna in Aurora, Ontario, after also setting 36- and 54-hole marks.

Yamashita’s four LPGA Tour titles have come in four countries. She won the Meijer LPGA Classic in June in Michigan after taking the Women’s British Open in Wales and Maybank Championship in Malaysia last season as the rookie of the year. She has 13 Japan LPGA victories.

A stroke ahead Thursday after an opening with a course-record 62, Yamashita had a 64 on Friday afternoon to open a five-shot lead. She shot 65 on Saturday to push it to six.

Fellow Japanese player Yuri Yoshida was second at 14 under after a 69. Kim was another shot back after a 67.

Seventeen-year-old Anna Huang was the top Canadian, closing with a 65 to tie for fourth at 12 under. Aphrodite Deng, the 16-year-old a...

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