Henderson finishes strong with T7 result in Thailand
Brooke Henderson (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Canadian Press with files from Golf Canada
CHONBURI, Thailand – Florida’s Jessica Korda set a tournament record to win the LPGA Thailand at the Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Course on Sunday.
Korda held off Lexi Thompson and local hope Moriya Jutanugarn for a four-stroke win after a final-round 67 for an overall total of 25 under 263, smashing the previous mark of 22 under set by Amy Yang of South Korea in 2017.
“It’s an incredible thing to be able to win again. I haven’t won in two years. And who knows? It’s so hard out here. These girls are so good. I mean, look at the scoreboard. I had to shoot 25 under just to win,” said Korda after claiming her fifth LPGA win.
Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., shot a fourth-round 67 to finish the tournament 16 under and tied for seventh. Hamilton’s Alena Sharp (71) was 3 over.
It was Korda’s first trophy since winning in Malaysia in 2015.
Ranked No. 26, Korda had surgery on an overbite in December and was playing in her first tournament since November.
“I just came with no expectations after surgery. It’s really hard for me to move. All this stuff is just still really hard, but I’m really, really happy that I chose to come back in this event exactly where I started my rookie year in 2011. I don’t think I could have asked for a better win,” she said.
Thompson, who won here in 2016, turned in a bogey free round that included eight birdies to sign off with a 64 for a 21 under 267.
“I had to just fire at everything today and make a lot of birdies because Jessica has been playing amazing, along with a lot of other people. So that’s what I did. I just went after it,” said No. 4-ranked Thompson.
Moriya, the 2013 Rookie of the Year, almost caught up with Korda after nine holes when she closed to within two shots, but her challenge faded and she failed to become the first Thai winner of the tournament. Moriya finished with a final-round 67 for an overall 21 under 267.
“I wasn’t sad at all. It was fun playing with Jessica. It’s been a fun week. I already tried my best. Whatever happened this week is cool,” said Moriya, who has yet to win on the LPGA tour.
CHONBURI, Thailand – Jessica Korda kept an eye on her younger sister while firing a 4-under 68 in the third round of the LPGA Thailand on Saturday to lead Moriya Jutanugarn by four strokes.
A day after a course-record 62 at Siam Country Club, Korda fought back from a bogey on the front nine with five birdies to finish on 20-under 196 overall. The American was on the 18th hole when concerns over lightning suspended play for 30 minutes before play resumed.
“(I) was playing really well at the end of the season, but I haven’t been in this (leading) position. Being back, it just takes you a little bit of time,” said the 24-year-old Korda, who won her fifth and last title at the LPGA Malaysia in 2015.
Her 19-year-old sister Nelly Korda (65) is eight shots off the lead.
“I’m definitely a leaderboard watcher. I love seeing her name up there,” said Jessica Korda, who was playing her first tournament since jaw surgery.
Propelled by eight birdies and an eagle on the par-4 No. 14, with three bogeys, Jutanugarn signed off with a 65 and a total of 16-under 200.
“Everybody has the chance to win as all the top players are here this week,” said Jutanugarn, who has a chance to become the first Thai winner in her home tournament.
Australian Minjee Lee (68) is third on 15-under 201, followed by former top-ranked Ariya Jutanugarn (65) on 202. Lexi Thompson (69), the 2016 champion, is a stroke further back. Michelle Wie (69) is tied for sixth.
Brooke Henderson (70) of Smiths Falls, Ont., is tied for ninth at 11 under while Hamilton’s Alena Sharp (72) was 4 over.
Brittany Lincicome was in second place after the second round, four shots behind Jessica Korda, but the American dropped down the board and is tied for ninth after a 73.
CHONBURI, Thailand – Jessica Korda shot a course-record 62 at the LPGA Thailand on Friday to lead by four strokes after the second round.
Playing her first tournament since having jaw surgery, the American fired eight birdies and finished with an eagle to move to 16 under par at the halfway point, a 36-hole record for the event.
“That was a pretty good round, pretty special,” she said. “Just had a lot of fun doing it.”
Korda is the daughter of former tennis player Petr Korda. She leads from another American, Brittany Lincicome, who carded a 65 to go 12 under at the Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Course.
Minjee Lee of Australia is third and a shot behind Linicome on 11 under after a 67. Lexi Thompson of the United States, the 2016 champion, is fourth and another shot behind Lee.
Brooke Henderson (68) of Smiths Falls, Ont., is tied for fifth at 9 under after posting six birdies against two bogeys in Friday’s second round. Hamilton’s Alena Sharp (73) was well back at 4 over.
Korda is making her season debut in Thailand after the surgery and is playing with 27 screws holding her jaw in place.
She seized the outright lead with a birdie on No. 15, the third of four straight birdies she made on the back nine. Her eagle on the last meant she finished with a 29 on the back nine, putting her in prime position for a first tour win since 2015.
“The best part is I have had no headache for 11 weeks. So that’s the biggest win for me,” she said. “Honestly I was just trying to get on the green, get myself a chance. I birdied four in a row and holed a long one (on 18). I wasn’t expecting it at all. It was pretty cool.”
Brooke Henderson one back after opening round in Thailand
Brooke Henderson (Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Canadian Press with files from Golf Canada
CHONBURI, Thailand – Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., is one shot back after carding seven birdies, five of which came on her first eight holes. The 20-year-old sits at 5 under for the tournament, in great position a week after missing the cut for just the 5th time in her career.
Henderson is set to give chase to the leaders with an 11:38 a.m. tee time in Friday’s second round.
“Yeah, you know, it was a really great start. Felt good, especially coming out of last week,” said Henderson. “I was happy to get a lot of birdies right out of the gate and feel comfortable again—unfortunately gave two back, but I was able to fight pretty hard on the back nine and finish at 5-under.”
A few months ago, Henderson was shovelling ice back home in Smiths Falls—she hasn’t shown any signs of trouble adjusting to the extreme heat in Thailand.
“Yeah, spending a lot time in Florida I’ve been able to learn all about grain and how to read putts like that. Coming from Canada I didn’t really know much about that, but last few years I’ve definitely learned a lot. This heat is pretty similar to Florida. Actually quite a bit hotter.”
Three-time tour winner Minjee Lee of Australia finished with a superb eagle putt to be among the four leaders after day one of the LPGA Thailand at Siam Country Club on Thursday.
Lee sank a 45-foot putt on the 18th hole to card a 6-under-par 66 for a shot lead with 2016 champion Lexi Thompson, Jessica Korda, and local hope Moriya Jutanugarn.
“I just hit the collar. I didn’t know if I was going to have enough. Such a big break there. I’m glad it caught the hole,” Lee said.
“It’s a second-shot golf course. Your approaches are really important, and obviously being in the right spots with the undulation. And if you have a hot putter that’s going to help.”
Lee won the Vic Open near Melbourne this month and opened her 2018 U.S. LPGA Tour account last week at the Women’s Australian Open, finishing fifth.
Thompson, who won this event in 2016 by six shots with a 20-under total and tied for fourth last year, started her latest round in style with an eagle followed by a birdie only to bogey the third hole. She shot four more birdies.
“It definitely helps to get that kind of start, but I was just trying to keep that momentum and not get ahead of myself,” Thompson said.
Her compatriot Korda had a rollercoaster round which featured eagles on the first and 17th holes, five birdies, a double bogey on the sixth, and two bogeys.
Moriya was the only player among the four to end the day without a bogey.
“I had a good start today, it was better than I expected,” said Moriya, who was seventh here last year.
She’s trying to become the first Thai winner of the tournament.
Two-time champion Amy Yang and world No. 2 Sung Hyun Park were among six players at 5 under.
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas – Brittany Lincicome beat darkness – with help from floodlights Sunday on the Ocean Club’s 18th green – to win the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic for the second straight year.
Lincicome birdied the final two holes and four of the last five for a 7-under 65 and a two-stroke victory over Wei-Ling Hsu in the event cut to 54 holes after wind wiped out play most of Friday.
Lincicome completed a second-round 67 in the morning, playing nine holes in 3 under, to begin the final round two strokes behind top-ranked Shanshan Feng.
The 32-year-old Lincicome won her eighth career title. The Pure Silk ambassador finished at 12-under 207. Last year, she beat Lexi Thompson in a playoff.
Hsu closed with a 68. Feng had a 71 to tie for third with Amy Yang (70) at 9 under. Thompson (71) was 7 under with Danielle Kang (68), Nelly Korda (69) and Bronte Law (69).
Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., the leader Saturday night when play was suspended because of darkness, shot a 72 to finish ninth at 6 under. Hamilton’s Alena Sharp (70) tied for 18th at 3 under and Maude-Aimee Leblanc (79) was 6 over.
Brooke Henderson is one of just three players to post multiple wins in each of the last two seasons (two in 2016, two in 2017), alongside World No. 1 Shanshan Feng (two in 2016, two in 2017) and 2016 Rolex Player of the Year Ariya Jutanugarn (five in 2016, two in 2017).
The earliest Henderson has captured a win in a full season on the LPGA came in her 15th start of the year, in both 2016 (KPMG Women’s PGA Championship) and 2017 (Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give).
This birdie putt on 10 puts Brooke Henderson in a tie for the lead with Thompson, Feng, Yang and Hsu @PureSilkLPGA.
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas – Canada’s Brooke Henderson birdied the par-5 18th hole and had a one-stroke lead over top-ranked Shanshan Feng on Saturday in the suspended second round of the wind-swept Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic.
Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., shot an even-par 73 to get to 5 under overall after two rounds and three days at the Ocean Club Golf Course in the event cut to 54 holes after wind wiped out play most of Friday.
“It was windy today,” Henderson said. “I feel like overall Britt (caddie and sister) and I did a really good job again just calculating numbers and negotiating the wind as best we could. There was a couple of bogeys I would like to take back, but having four birdies is really good.”
Feng had nine holes left when play was suspended because of darkness. On her last hole, the Chinese star birdied the 18th.
“I know this is only the first tournament of the year, but normally I’m pretty good in the wind,” Feng said. “Actually, I get more excited in the wind. It’s not really bothering me.”
Henderson began the second round with a bogey Friday morning just before play was called for the day. The 20-year-old Canadian dropped another stroke on the par-3 third, birdied the par-4 sixth and played the back nine in 1 under with birdies on the three par 5s.
“I’m try to hit as many low shots as possible, not just into the wind, but also when it’s across and sometimes even down,” Henderson said. “And just play in the back of my stance, keep my hands low.”
Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., was even through 12 holes and Hamilton’s Alena Sharp was 4 over through nine holes. Quebec City’s Anne-Catherine Tanguay finished her second round and was projected to miss the cut at 12 over.
Lexi Thompson was 3 under along with Ryann O’Toole, Danielle Kang, Luna Sobron Galmes and Wei-Ling Hsu. Thompson and Sobron Galmes had 10 holes to play in the second round, and Hsu had nine left. O’Toole had a 69, and Kang shot 73.
Brittany Lincicome, the winner last year in a playoff over Thompson, was 2 under with nine holes left. Michelle Wie was even par for the week with nine holes to go.
Brooke Henderson leads LPGA opener in windy Bahamas
Brooke Henderson (Getty Images)
Canadian Press
Friday update from the LPGA Tour: Based on the current weather forecast at the 2018 Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic, the LPGA has decided to take 72 holes off the table and instead focus on finishing 54 holes on Sunday. We should be able to complete the second round on Saturday and the final round on Sunday.
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas – Canada’s Brooke Henderson shot a bogey-free 5-under 68 in windy conditions Thursday to take the first-round lead in the season-opening Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic.
“We did a really good job of hitting balls pin-high, and I don’t know how we did it,” Henderson said about caddie and sister, Brittany. “It’s hard to judge wind sometimes, but I feel like we calculated everything really well.”
The 20-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., had four birdies in a seven-hole stretch and closed with three pars on the gusty Ocean Club layout.
“On 8 and 9, my 17th and 18th hole, putting was extremely difficult,” Henderson said. “My hat felt like it was falling off all the time. It was just hard to have good balance and kind of be over the putt for that long and have a good stroke on it.”
She has five LPGA Tour victories, winning last year in Michigan and in high wind New Zealand.
“I think by Sunday we will all be pretty good wind players,” Henderson said.
Australia’s Sarah Jane Smith finished with a bogey to drop into a tie for second with Spanish rookie Luna Sobron Galmes.
Maude-Aimee Leblanc (74) of Sherbrooke, Que., is 1 over and Hamilton’s Alena Sharp (75) is 2 over.
“I like playing in the struggle, I grew up playing in the wind, and I do enjoy playing difficult shots and stuff like that,” Smith said. “It’s probably better for me (other) people don’t like it.”
Sobron Galmes also is comfortable in wind.
“In Majorca, in my town, where I live, the wind is very hard, so it’s like this,” Sobron Galmes said. “I feel the course really is good. You play well, everything goes well.”
Top-ranked Shanshan Feng birdied her last for a 70.
“This is really windy and my ball-striking is not 100 per cent yet,” Feng said.
Danielle Kang also was at 70 with Lindsey Weaver, Katherine Kirk, Jing Yan and Maria Torres, the tour’s first player from Puerto Rico.
Lexi Thompson, a playoff loser to Brittany Lincicome last year, opened with a 72.
“If I’m playing well I know I can play well in the wind,” Thompson said. “The key is to hit it solid. The amateurs get out here and they start hitting harder and harder, but that’s not the key. You’ve got to swing a little bit smoother and make sure you get that centre contact. ”
Michelle Wie eagled the par-5 11th in a 73, and playing partners Lincicome and third-ranked So Yeon Ryu followed at 74.
Kim and Ariya Jutanugarn shot 76, and Stacy Lewis had two double bogeys in a 78.
Twelve players were unable to finish the round because of darkness.
Canadian golf journalists name players of the year
Adam Hadwin (Bernard Brault/ Golf Canada)
Golf Journalists Association of Canada
Adam Hadwin had a career year in 2017, and as the calendar changes, he added two more honours.
The Golf Journalists Association of Canada (GJAC) is proud to announce Hadwin, Josh Whalen, Judith Kyrinis, and Brooke Henderson are the 2017 Players of the Year as voted by GJAC members across the country. Hadwin’s magical season where he notched his first PGA Tour victory, shot 59, and played on the Presidents Cup team was also named the Canadian Golf Story of the Year.
“GJAC is happy to honour these golfers and their accomplishments in 2017,” said Robert Thompson, GJAC president. “The accomplishments of the winners – and each of the nominees – show how strong Canadian golf is right now. GJAC wishes the best of luck to in the year ahead.”
Hadwin’s first PGA Tour victory came in March after a thrilling Sunday at the Valspar Championship, where he won by one over Patrick Cantlay. In January, Hadwin became the eighth golfer in PGA Tour history to shoot a sub-60 round.
Just weeks after his win, Hadwin got married and closed on his first home to cap a whirlwind start to 2017. He ascended to inside the Top 50 in the world (becoming Canada’s highest-ranked male golfer in the process), played all four majors, and participated in the Presidents Cup in September.
Henderson continued her impressive start to her LPGA Tour career, winning twice – at the Meijer LPGA Classic and the McKayson New Zealand Women’s Open – and nearly defending her title at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. She finished sixth on the LPGA Tour’s 2017 money list, earning just over $1.5 million in 30 events (the most on Tour).
She was the only unanimous choice out of the four winners.
Kyrinis had a stellar 2017 campaign capped off with a victory in an all-Canadian final at the U.S. Senior Amateur. She also won the Ontario Women’s Senior Amateur and Mid-Amateur Championships, along with finishing runner-up at the prestigious North and South Senior Women’s Amateur, and fifth at the Canadian Women’s Senior Amateur.
Whalen finished No. 1 on the Golf Canada Amateur Order of Merit for his fine campaign in 2017. He finished third at the Canadian Men’s Amateur and notched six top-20 finishes during his senior year at Kent State University.
Canadian Press names Brooke Henderson female athlete of the year
Brooke Henderson (Bernard Brault/ Golf Canada)
Canadian Press
TORONTO – Canadian golfer Brooke Henderson is barely out of her teens and her list of accomplishments on the LPGA Tour is already a long one.
She won her first LPGA Tour event in 2015, added her first major championship last year and picked up two more tournament titles in 2017. Henderson capped her latest impressive season Wednesday by winning the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award as Canada’s female athlete of the year.
“I’ve always kind of felt like I belonged out there, which I think is a big part of why I’ve had so much success so early,” said Henderson, who turned 20 in September.
Henderson picked up 35 of 63 votes (56 per cent) in a poll of broadcasters and sports editors from across the country.
“Not only is the young golfer an international champion, but she’s also playing a monumental role in helping young children get into the game,” said Mitch Bach of CHAT TV news in Medicine Hat, Alta.
Swimmer Kylie Masse was a distant second with seven votes. Gymnast Ellie Black and soccer player Christine Sinclair were tied for third with four votes apiece.
Henderson, who also won the Rosenfeld award in 2015, is the first golfer to win the award on two occasions since Lorie Kane (1997, 2000). Swimmer Penny Oleksiak took the honour last year.
“(Henderson) captured the attention of Canadian golf fans in a way not seen since the adoration given previously to Mike Weir,” said Winnipeg Free Press sports editor Steve Lyons.
Henderson had a slow start to the season with just two top-10 finishes in her first 10 events. She found her form in June by winning the Meijer LPGA Classic and just missed out on a playoff at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship later that month.
Her second title came in September at the New Zealand Women’s Open.
“Patience I think is a key word that basically describes my whole season,” she said.
Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ont., finished sixth on the money list at just over US$1.5 million and was 13th in the world rankings. She did it by relying on her impressive long game and consistent accuracy from the fairways.
She finished 20th on Tour in driving distance this season (263.58 yards) and was 10th in greens in regulation (75.10 per cent). That helped her average just under 70 strokes a round (10th at 69.88).
Another big moment for Henderson came in August at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open in Ottawa. She nearly missed the cut before giving her army of fans something to cheer about on the weekend.
Henderson surged up the leaderboard before finishing in a tie for 12th place.
“I can’t even really put into words what it meant to me to see all that support and those people cheering me on,” Henderson said from Naples, Fla. “To get that 63 course record on Saturday in front of all those people in my hometown was truly amazing and one of the highlights of my year for sure.”
Henderson’s five career LPGA Tour victories leaves her only three behind Sandra Post for most wins by a Canadian.
“She knows how to score and she’s not afraid to go low,” Post said. “Some people, they get to 5 under, and they quit. She keeps going.”
Henderson, who had eight top-10 finishes, plans to focus on improving her short game as she prepares for the season opener next month at the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic.
Her putting average of 29.77 per round was 58th overall and she sat 100th in sand saves at 42.67 per cent.
“I have big goals and hopefully in 2018 I’ll have my best year yet,” Henderson said. “But to have a year like 2017 to back up what I did in 2016 – which was really a miracle season for me, everything went perfect – so to grind it out in 2017 and to have the finishes that I did, I’m really proud of that.”
Tennis player Denis Shapovalov won the Lionel Conacher Award as Canada’s male athlete of the year on Tuesday. The CP team of the year will be announced Thursday.
Bobbie Rosenfeld, an Olympic medallist in track and field and a multi-sport athlete, was named Canada’s best female athlete of the half-century in 1950.
The first winner of the Rosenfeld award was golfer Ada Mackenzie in 1933. Marlene Stewart Streit leads all golfers by taking the honour on five occasions (1952, ’53, ’56, ’57, ’63).
“I’m extremely proud to be named Canada’s female athlete of the year,” Henderson said. “I was just looking at some of the names … Marlene Streit, Lorie Kane, Sandra Post, all golfers that have won this award. Even the last few years, I just saw Christine Sinclair, Hayley Wickenheiser, Eugenie Bouchard.
“Those names are huge names in all of sport and all of Canada. So to be amongst them is a great honour for me.”
Canadian Brooke Henderson leads NZ Open as rain halts final round
Brooke Henderson (Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Canadian Press
AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Canadian Brooke Henderson took a big step towards her fifth LPGA Tour title in only six holes on Sunday, but will have to resume on Monday after rain, lightning and dangerous winds disrupted the final round of the New Zealand Women’s Open.
The 20-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., leads the tournament by four shots at 17-under par from overnight leader Belen Mozo of Spain and American Brittany Lincicome.
Play was repeatedly suspended Sunday because of adverse weather conditions and finally called for the day at 5:30 p.m. local time when a violent squall brought heavy rain and winds which sent advertising boards flying across greens.
Tour officials ruled the tournament would remain 72 holes and players will return to the Windross Farm course Monday to complete their final rounds.
Henderson was 3-under Sunday after her six holes. She birdied the second, fourth and fifth holes to move past the faltering Mozo, who was 2-over after six holes when a trying day finally ended.
Lincicome was 2-under after six holes, with birdies at the second and fifth, and loomed as Henderson’s most likely challenger Monday.
Mozo, who led the tournament by five shots after the second round and by one entering the final round, struggled on the greens Sunday and had bogeys on her first and sixth holes to concede the lead to Henderson.
Norway’s Nicole Broch Larsen and China’s Jing Yan are tied for fourth place at 12-under after nine and seven holes respectively. Australia’s Su Oh was next at 11-under through nine holes while Hee Young Park of South Korea and Thidapa Swannapura of Thailand share seventh place at 10-under.
Hometown favourite Lydia Ko was 1-under after nine holes and tied for ninth place at 9-under, eight shots off Henderson’s lead.
Tournament organizers and LPGA officials were aware of the threatening forecast for Sunday and made provision by bringing forward tee times, hoping to avoid the worst of the weather, which was expected to hit late afternoon.
The first players were off at 7:40 a.m. and the leaders had just teed off at 10 a.m. when rain and standing water forced play to be suspended for the first time.
Players returned to the course at 12:28 p.m. and almost two hours of play were possible before play was suspended again because of the threat of lightning.
Play resumed at 4:55 p.m. but had only continued about 20 minutes before the final, fierce squall spread across the course bringing lashing rain, gale force winds and bitterly cold conditions.
LPGA Tour rules official Bo Ream said organizers considered all possibilities before deciding to continue as a 72-hole event.
“We’ve talked with our partners and looked at various options,” Ream said. “We’ve decided we’re going to go 72 holes.”
