Latest news with #AphroditeDeng
CBC
22-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Canada's Aphrodite Deng learns from Nelly Korda at junior golf event
Aphrodite Deng got to live out the dream of every competitive golfer, playing two rounds with the best in the world and excelling on the course, and she's just 15 years old. Deng played alongside Nelly Korda of the United States at the Mizuho Americas Open, winning the junior tournament on May 11 while the American tied for fifth in the LPGA Tour's event of the same name. "It was a really fun experience," said Deng, who also won the American Junior Golf Association's Junior Invitational in March by six strokes. "I was trying not to think too much about who's watching stuff, but it was fun." Deng was born in Calgary and her family lived in Montreal before moving to New Jersey for her dad's work. She mostly lives in Orlando now but remains a Canadian citizen and plays for Golf Canada's junior program. She said that she learned a lot from observing Korda, who won five consecutive tournaments and seven total last season to return to world No. 1 in the women's world golf rankings and earn the 2024 LPGA Tour's Player of the Year award. "It was really cool to see how (Korda) carries herself on the course and in her game," said Deng on Wednesday. "I think she takes more time and puts in a lot of thought for each shot. "I think I need some of that in my life." Jeff MacDonald, head coach of Golf Canada's NextGen team, said that Deng has grown stronger over the course of the season and it's helped her improve her game. "She's hitting the ball quite a bit further," said MacDonald. "She's always been a really consistent player, drives it great, but just in the last few months she's been getting a little bit of extra distance. "That's helping her out a ton. She's just super steady." Both Deng and MacDonald were at Weston Golf and Country Club in Toronto for Team Canada's media day, where media and other stakeholders could train like Golf Canada players for a day. Deng, who has taught golf to younger children, said she was looking forward to instructing adults. Golf Canada announced at the media day at Weston that it was adding 11 Canadians to the field at the RBC Canadian Open. Korn Ferry Tour players Sudarshan Yellamaraju and Matthew Anderson, both from Mississauga, Ont., headlined the group. Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont., earned his exemption as the top Canadian amateur player on the world rankings and Calgary's Hunter Thomson earned his exemption by finishing first on the individual leaderboard at the inaugural Canadian Collegiate Invitational last September at Öviinbyrd Golf Club in MacTier, Ont.
The Star
12-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Thai star Jeeno jives in Jersey for first crown of the year and fifth LPGA title at Mizuho Americas Open
Low amateur Aphrodite Deng of Canada and tournament winner Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand pose with their trophies after the Mizuho Americas Open 2025 at Liberty National Golf Club on May 11, 2025 in Jersey City, New Jersey. Photo by/ LPGA JERSEY CITY, New Jersey: Thai golfing star Jeeno Thitikul claimed her first win of the year and fifth career LPGA title at the Mizuho Americas Open, showing great poise to triumph by four shots at Liberty National Golf Club on Sunday. Following rounds of 64, 73 and 65, Thitikul led by one shot from France's Celine Boutier heading into the last day. World number one and defending champion Nelly Korda and her fellow American Andrea Lee were a shot further back. The final round saw Thitikul paired with Boutier in a repeat of their epic battle at the 2023 Maybank Championship, when the latter won a nine-hole playoff. The Thai player opened with a birdie and proved unflappable for the rest of the round, carding a bogey-free 69 for a 17-under-par 271 total. Boutier claimed sole runner-up honours on 13-under-par after a final round 72, which included a costly three-putt bogey from 10 feet at the par-four 15th hole. Despite an awkward stance, Thitikul made a glorious par save from a greenside bunker to extend her lead to three shots. The Thai player nailed her third and final birdie of the day at the 17th hole, draining an 18-foot putt to pull further away. Two late bogeys put paid to Korda's title defence as a closing 73 saw her settle for tied fifth place on 11-under-par with compatriot Yealimi Noh (72) and Australian Stephanie Kyriacou (67). Meanwhile, Lee signed off with a 72 to share third place on 12-under-par with Spain's Carlota Ciganda (70). Thitikul has now registered 13 top-10 finishes in her last 15 official starts on the LPGA Tour, dating back to last August and including a second runner-up finish at the Maybank Championship. 'When I was a kid wanting to play on the LPGA Tour, my dad just told me, winning on the LPGA Tour once is good enough. I had no idea I'm going to get this far for sure. I'm just trying to do my part. I'm just trying to improve myself every day,' said Thitikul. 'I know that a lot of putts didn't drop on the front nine today. I was just trying to tell myself, 'be patient, it's coming, it's coming.' That's pretty much what I told myself today,' added the 22-year-old. The tournament was hosted by former LPGA star Michelle Wie West and pairs American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) players with the professionals. Playing with Korda and Lee, New Jersey native Aphrodite Deng won the junior title with a modified Stableford total of 140 points. Following a one-week break, the LPGA Tour heads south for the inaugural Mexico Riviera MayaOpen at Mayakoba in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo. - LPGA
