It’s been a monster year so far for Deng, who won the exclusive Junior Invitational at Sage Valley, AJGA Mizuho Americas Open and U.S. Girls’ Junior.

Fifteen-year-old Canadian amateur Aphrodite Deng was tied for second with top-ranked Jeeno Thitikul and three others as Akie Iwai eyes back-to-back wins on the LPGA.

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.