Eileen Park punches her ticket to the CPKC Women’s Open
Mike Masaro / Golf Canada
SMITHS FALLS, ON – Eileen Park grabbed the lead on Tuesday and ensured her name remained atop the leaderboard when it was all said and done. Park fired a final round 2-under 69 to win the 39th PGA Women’s Championship of Canada at the Smiths Falls Golf & Country Club in Smiths Falls, Ont. on Thursday.
With the win, Park of Red Deer, Alta. has also earned an exemption into the 2026 CPKC Women’s Open as part of the She Plays Golf Championship Series, presented by Audi. She will be making her first appearance at the CPKC Women’s Open next month from August 19 – 23 at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton, Alta.
The Team Canada NextGen member entered Thursday tied for the lead with Aryn Matthews of Little Britain, Ont. at 2-under. Park quickly grabbed the solo lead with a birdie on the first hole; her lead then increased to two shots following a bogey from Matthews on No. 2 and to three with another birdie on No. 4.
At the turn, Park held a one-shot lead following a bogey at the 7th but pulled it back to two with another birdie at No. 11. Park’s lead increased to four thanks to another birdie at No.13 followed by a bogey from Matthews at No.14.
Park added another birdie at No. 15 before closing with a double bogey at the par-3 18th to finish her round with a 2-under 69 to finish the tournament at 4-under and win by two over Katie Cranston of Oakville, Ont.
Park carded rounds of 67-73-69-209 and was awarded the Audi Precision Award for recording the most birdies during the tournament with 13.
Cranston, a fellow Team Canada member fired a 6-under 65 on Thursday to finish the tournament at 2-under. Cranston previously earned her exemption into the 2026 CPKC Women’s Open after winning the Peloton Glencoe Invitational last month in Calgary, Alta.
Lauren Zaretsky of Thornhill, Ont. finished atop the season long standings for the She Plays Golf Championship Series, presented by Audi and as a result has also earned an exemption into the 2026 CPKC Women’s Open. The Team Canada member finished T4 at 3-over in Smiths Falls in addition to finishing as runner-up at the Peloton Glencoe Invitational giving her the highest total of points accumulated by a player not already exempt. Zaretsky will be making her third appearance at the CPKC Women’s Open having previously competed in 2022 where she finished 75th overall and in 2023.
The trio are joined by Team Canada teammate Tillie Claggett of Calgary, Alta. who won the first stop on the She Plays Golf Championship Series, presented by Audi at the GOLFBC Group BC Women’s Open in June.
With stops around the country, the She Plays Golf Championship Series, presented by Audi provides an enhanced national qualifying path for players to punch their ticket into the CPKC Women’s Open. Anchored In three regions by a $60,000 CAD purse at two stops and $75,000 CAD at the Peloton Glencoe Invitational, each championship field features 60 professional and elite amateurs vying for an exemption into Canadia’s National Women’s Open. The series successfully debuted as part of the Glencoe Invitational in 2023.
For the final leaderboard and purse distribution from the 39th PGA Women’s Championship of Canada, please click here.
