Brooke Henderson, the defending champion from Smiths Falls, Ont., is making her mark at the CPKC Women’s Open in Edmonton with a solid performance in the second round. Henderson, aiming for her third victory in Canada’s LPGA tournament, carded a 68 on Friday, placing her at 5-under par for the tournament. She currently trails leader Soo Bin Joo of South Korea by four strokes, with Joo sitting at 9 under at Edmonton’s Royal Mayfair Golf Club.

Despite being 7 under at one point, Henderson encountered some challenges with two bogeys on the back nine. During one tee shot, she accidentally struck a spectator, to whom she promptly apologized and offered a golf ball as a gesture of goodwill.

Aphrodite Deng from Calgary, last year’s low amateur in Mississauga, Ont., finished strong with consecutive birdies in her round, posting a 67 and reaching 3 under overall.

In this $2.75-million US event, the top 65 players and ties will advance to the next rounds. Canadian teenagers Anna Huang of Vancouver and Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont., who began the day three shots behind the lead at 5 under, had afternoon tee times.