CALGARY, Alberta — Mao Saigo emerged from wildfire-fueled smoke Saturday at Earl Gray Golf Club with the lowest round in CPKC Women’s Open history. After five hours, Haeran Ryu and Lauren Coughlin found themselves clear of the rest of the field.
Capitalizing on calm conditions after two windy days, Saigo shot an 11-under 61 to jump from a tie for 46th to a tie for third — five strokes behind Ryu and four back of Coughlin on a course with aggressive trees and small greens.
“I’m very proud of myself because that was the best round maybe since I started playing golf,” Saigo said through an interpreter. “The wind wasn’t blowing too much, so I was trying to make birdies on the par-5s and try to keep my power with my iron.”
The 22-year-old Japanese player — an LPGA Tour champion after winning six times on the JLPGA — holed out 133 yards for an eagle on the 4th 10th.
“I was able to feel the pressure from the fans and that helped me to play well,” said Saigo.
She broke the tournament record of 62 set by Song Hee-Kim in 2009 at nearby Priddis Greens and was matched by Mo Martin in 2018 at Wascana in Regina, Saskatchewan, and Paula Reto and Lindy Duncan in 2022 at the Ottawa Hunt.
“I never set my target score and I always try to hit the best shot every time,” said Saigo. “So, today I kept the same attitude, and that adds up to today’s points.”
Ryu shot a 64 to get to 13-under 203, making a 20-foot eagle putt on the par-4 14th.
The 23-year-old South Korean birdie bogeyed the first four and five of the first six holes. He added a birdie at No. 10, he bogeyed the par-4 12th and again birdied the 13th.
“[Saigo] having a crazy day,” Ryu said. “But I started five holes 5 under, so I’m crazy, too, I guess. It’s funny today.”
Second last week in Ohio at the Dana Open, Ryu won last year’s Walmart NW Arkansas Championship for his first LPGA Tour title.
“Last year is just last year. Last week is last week,” Ryu said. “I think now and the future.”
Coughlin, the leader after each of the first two rounds, shot a 66. Unsuccessful on the LPGA Tour, the 31-year-old former University of Virginia player is coming off a fourth-place finish two weeks ago in France at the Evian Champions. .
“Stay right here,” Coughlin said. “[Ryu] I did everything there to start, so I was trying to stay in my bubble and not get too caught up in what he was doing.”
Rose Zhang shot a 66 to join Saigo at 8 under. Jennifer Kupcho was 7 under after a 68, while second-placed Lilia Vu (69) and Hannah Green (71) were 6 under.
“I felt that today is an easy day because there is little wind and some people are going up and up,” said Vu. “But I didn’t hit the ball well.”
Three-time champion Lydia Ko was 3 under after a 72. He won as a novice in 2012 at the age of 15, successfully defended his title as a novice in 2013 and won as a professional in 2015.
Canadian star Brooke Henderson, the 2018 winner, was tied for 18th at 2 under after a 69. On Friday, he carded a 73 on the last four holes.
“This is still a tough golf course,” Henderson said. “Even though the mood was low, you still have to choose your path and some misses are better than some misses.”
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