COQUITLAM, B.C. – Just when it looked like her game was going off the rails, Brooke Henderson recovered to shoot an even par round of 72 Saturday at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.

The 17-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., who became the centre of attention after her LPGA Tour win last weekend, remains at 1 over heading into Sunday’s final day of the US$2.25-million tournament.

Henderson had a bogey on the second hole, then hit the water on No. 3 for a double-bogey. She settled down with birdies on No. 6 and No. 7. Despite some putting problems. she put together a sting of pars before ending the day with a birdie.

“It was a really rough start,” Henderson sighed after the round. “I am happy to finish with the birdie on 18.

“You feel good about the round even though maybe I shouldn’t be.”

After shooting a respectable 2 under on Thursday’s opening day, Henderson ballooned to a 3-over-75 Friday on the 6,681-yard, par-72 Vancouver Golf Club course. That left her at 1 over and just on the line that made the cut.

Having her older sister Brittany caddie Saturday helped iron out some of the wrinkles in her round.

“She knows me probably better than I know myself sometimes,” said Henderson. “Someone that tells me what to do when I’m not playing well, and tells me what to do when I am keeping it on a roll, that’s really important.”

Henderson and her playing partner Sadena Parks, of Raleigh, N.C., were the first pair to tee off at 8:30 a.m. They still attracted a large gallery, most hoping to see the young, rising star in Canadian golf.

“It was a very early tee time, much earlier than I would have liked,” joked Henderson. “They (the crowd) were there pretty much from the get go, an amazing crowd.

“It makes it exciting being able to play in front of your home crowd. Even though you are not playing your best, you still have the whole country behind you.”

Henderson has been in the spotlight all week. She was granted her Tour card on Tuesday after becoming the youngest Canadian to win an LPGA or PGA event with her victory last weekend at the Cambia Portland Classic.

That produced extra attention from the media and more focus from fans. She attracted large crowds while playing and swarms of autograph seekers when stepping off the course.

The win in Portland moved Henderson to No. 17 in the world rankings and boosted her earnings over US$660,000.

Despite struggling at times Henderson said the week has been a learning experience and she’s looking forward to Sunday’s final round.

“There has been a lot of positives this week, which is always good,” she said. “I know I can take a lot from it and learn from it.

“I will just go out there and shoot a decent number and hopefully climb up the leaderboard a bit.”

COQUITLAM, B.C. – Brooke Henderson struggled with her putting and shot 3-over 75 during Friday’s second round at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.

The score left the 17-year-old at 1 over, hovering around the projected cut on the 6,681-yard, par-72 Vancouver Golf Club course.

“It wasn’t a great day out there but I ground it out pretty well,” said the Smiths Falls, Ont., native.

“I just missed some shots. Other than that it could have been good. I hung in there and really played well on the back nine.”

Henderson, who began the day on the 10th tee, had five bogeys, including back-to-back ones on No. 18 and No. 1. After finishing the No. 1 hole she walked off the green before the other two players in her group had finished.

Henderson battled back with a pair of birdies on the front nine. On the last hole of the day she had to chip onto the green, then sink a four-foot putt for par.

“It was a tricky up-and-down,” she said. “I played really smart with that chip and was happy to make that putt.”

It’s been a busy week for the teenager, who was granted her Tour card on Tuesday after becoming the youngest Canadian to win an LPGA or PGA Tour event with her victory last weekend at the Cambia Portland Classic.

Henderson has been dealing with extra media attention, playing before large galleries. When not facing a television camera she’s been surrounded by autograph seekers of all ages.

“It’s been busy,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of attention and a lot of things that I’ve had to do over the last couple of days.

“That is not an excuse for how I played today. Hopefully I will get used to all that attention because hopefully I will be winning more often.”

Henderson fed off the energy of a Canadian crowd that cheered her every shot.

“It’s pretty cool that so many people are watching and wanting me to do so well,” she said. “I think it is a much different atmosphere than if I was playing across the border. It’s the same conditions, just a different crowd.

“It’s fun. I have to really learn to enjoy it and just build off their energy. It is pretty cool that they are cheering for me.”

The win in Portland moved Henderson to No. 17 in the world rankings and boosted her earnings over US$660,000.

The Canadian Pacific Women’s Open has a purse of US$2.25-million, with the winner taking home US$337,500.

The tournament ends Sunday.

Listen to our full conversation with Brooke Henderson by clicking the media player below.

Brooke Henderson’s first LPGA Tour win didn’t stop her from having to play golf on Mondays.

Henderson completed an eight-stroke victory Sunday at the US$1.3-million Cambia Portland Classic to become the first Canadian to win an LPGA event since Charlottetown’s Lorie Kane in 2001 and the Tour’s third-youngest champion ever at 17 years 11 months six days.

She catapulted to No. 17 in the world rankings, boosted her earnings over $660,000 and secured her 2016 card, but because she’s exhausted all six of her sponsor’s exemptions she’ll have to continue playing Monday qualifiers to gain entry into tournaments for the remainder of this season.

Last year, Henderson petitioned the LPGA to allow her into Q-school but was turned down because she didn’t meet the minimum age requirement of 18. However other players —including second-ranked Lydia Ko and major champion Lexi Thompson — successfully petitioned to become Tour members before their 18th birthdays.

On Monday, Henderson said she continues to weigh her options regarding whether to again petition the LPGA Tour for an exemption.

“We’re still thinking about it and evaluating the situation options with my family and team,” the native of Smiths Falls, Ont., said during a conference call. “Hopefully we’ll come to a decision pretty soon.

“There’s many pros and cons to both options . . . I’m just kind of working through those right now with my team. We’ll see what happens.”

Henderson earned $195,000 with the win and has made $661,818 in 10 events. By not being a full-time Tour member, Henderson must rely on sponsor’s exemptions or Monday qualifying to participate in LPGA tournaments.

Henderson doesn’t have the luxury of time to relish her historic win. Her next tournament is the $2.25-million Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, which begins Thursday in Coquitlam, B.C., where the spotlight will be firmly fixed upon her.

She doesn’t expect to feel any extra pressure competing on home soil.

“I don’t think so,” she said. “It’s fun to be back home and I know all the people I’ve talked to earlier (Monday) have been very excited and (are) cheering me on this week.

“I just have to make sure I stick to my own gameplan and do my own thing to make sure I play well this weekend. I haven’t played as well in Canadian Opens as I would’ve liked in the past and I’m hoping to change that this week.”

Henderson will look to become the first Canadian to win a LPGA Tour event on home soil since Jocelyne Bourassa of Shawinigan, Que., claimed the ’73 La Canadienne — the precursor to the Canadian Women’s Open — in Montreal.

Sunday’s final round in Portland marked the second time this season Henderson led an LPGA event through 54 holes. But last time she carded a final-round 74 on April 26 to finish third at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic in Daly City, Calif.

On Sunday, Henderson shot a 3-under 69 to register the largest-ever margin of victory in tournament history and biggest on Tour since Jiyah Shin won the 2012 Women’s British Open by nine shots.

Henderson said the seeds for her first LPGA win took root in late April.

“I got a lot of confidence and a lot of momentum was built up off that,” she said. “I’ve been playing great all season, my game has been in a great spot.

“I just knew I had to remain patient and keep working on a few little things. My season has really been a lot of fun and it really kicked off (at Swinging Skirts event).”

Henderson said she was besieged with congratulatory text messages and tweets following her win, including one from golf legend Gary Player.

“That meant a lot to me because my sister (pro golfer Brittany Henderson) and I always liked The Black Knight,” she said. “I was up to almost 80 text messages a couple of hours afterwards and a lot of emails from a lot of family members and friends.”

Despite having a healthy bankroll at such a tender age, Henderson said her fortune isn’t a distraction. She’s also been able to resist the temptation of making a big purchase.

“I haven’t really thought about it yet,” she said. “I’m still kind of saving it up and hopefully use it wisely.”

PORTLAND, Ore. – Brooke Henderson got her breakthrough LPGA Tour victory. The Canadian teen will have to wait a little longer to become a tour member.

Henderson won the Cambia Portland Classic by eight strokes Sunday to become the third-youngest champion in LPGA Tour history at 17 years, 11 months, 6 days.

Henderson closed with a 3-under 69 at Columbia Edgewater to finish at 21-under 267, the lowest total since the event went from 54 holes to 72 in 2013.

“I was just trying to keep going low and trying to push it to get even further under par, which I wouldn’t have had that a couple months ago,” Henderson said.

Henderson earned $195,000 and has made $661,818 in 10 events this year. Last year, LPGA Tour Commissioner Mike Whan denied Henderson’s age petition, preventing her from playing Q-school. Because she’s assured of finishing in the top 40 in earnings, Henderson will earn a tour card for 2016.

Henderson said she didn’t know if she would petition the LPGA again this week. “I haven’t even really thought about it yet,” Henderson said. “I’m just going to celebrate tonight and then hopefully make a decision soon and we’ll see what happens.”

Lydia Ko set the age record as an amateur in the 2012 Canadian Women’s Open at 15 years, 4 months, 2 days. She also won the Canadian event in 2013 at 16, and won four times at 17. Lexi Thompson won the 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic at 16 years, 7 months, 8 days.

Henderson’s eight-stroke margin is the largest in the history of the event and the biggest on the LPGA Tour since Jiyah Shin won the 2012 Women’s British Open by nine shots.

Henderson held a 54-hole lead for the second time this season. This time was different than April in San Francisco, when Henderson ended up finishing third after a 74.

“Today, the first time that I really felt nerves was on 18, and then afterward,” Henderson said. “My attitude is much different than it was a couple months ago, and I think that was a big key. … I demanded a lot more of myself than I did three or four months ago.”

Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ontario, became the first Canadian winner since Lorie Kane in the 2001 Takefuji Classic. Becoming a part of Canadian golf history is not lost upon Henderson.

“I think Canadian golf is really growing and there’s a lot of great players coming up. To get that for Canadian fans and for the Canadian support that I’ve received over the last couple of months and last couple years is unbelievable, so I’m happy to bring one home for Canada.

“Even the last couple days I received a lot of Twitter messages and text messages and emails, just cheering me on and wishing me the best. I’m sure my phone is blowing up pretty badly right now,” Henderson said.

She joined Laurel Kean as other only Monday qualifiers to win. Kean accomplished the feat in the 2000 Rail Classic.

Henderson bogeyed the final hole, only her third dropped stroke of the week, and had 24 birdies. She got into the field Monday with a 68, then shot 66-67-65 to take a five-stroke lead into the final round. Pornanong Phatlum (68), Ha Na Jang (70) and Candie Kung (70) tied for second.

Henderson never allowed an opening Sunday. She made two-putt birdies at the par-5 fifth and seventh to reach 20 under, and holed a 20-foot birdie putt at the par-4 ninth to take an eight-stroke lead.

She made a 3-footer for birdie at the par-5 12th, then stumbled with a bogey at 13. Henderson made her final birdie at the par-4 17th, knocking in a 10-foot putt from the fringe.

Henderson hit her drive in a fairway bunker at 18, but with a large lead, pitched out of the sand, hit her approach to 20 feet and two-putted for bogey. After raising her arms in victory, Henderson was quickly doused with champagne by players and family.

Asked if she was able to taste the champagne, Henderson smiled and said, “No, not really. I can just smell it, though.”

Henderson also won the Symetra Tour’s Four Winds Invitational in June in Indiana, and tied for fifth in the Women’s PGA Championship – the second of the LPGA Tour’s five majors.

Defending champion Austin Ernst shot a 68 to tie for fifth at 12 under.

Morgan Pressel, second after three rounds, had a 75 to tie for 10th at 10 under. Finishing alongside Pressel at 10 under was Canadian Alena Sharp with a round of 1-under 71 on Sunday.

PORTLAND, Ore. – Brooke Henderson gave herself some breathing room in her bid for a breakthrough victory.

The 17-year-old Canadian opened a five-stroke lead Saturday in the Cambia Portland Classic, shooting a 7-under 65 at Columbia Edgewater.

“To get a good round together and try and increase my lead, and definitely just hit good shots. I’m really happy to get it to (18 under), and hopefully tomorrow just improve on that just a little bit,” Henderson said.

She’s trying to join Lydia Ko and Lexi Thompson as the only players to win an LPGA Tour title before turning 18.

On a warm, calm day, Henderson made seven birdies in her bogey-free round. Henderson, who turns 18 in September, tied the tournament 54-hole record of 18-under 198 set by Yani Tseng in 2013. The five-stroke margin is the largest third-round lead on the LPGA Tour this year.

Morgan Pressel was second after a 65.

Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ontario, also had the 54-hole lead in April in California in the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic. She closed with a 74 and ended up finishing third. She’ll be banking on that experience Sunday.

“Saturday I wasn’t feeling the nerves, and then Sunday I did. I’ll just have to be aware of that tomorrow,” Henderson said. “It was interesting in San Francisco. I learned a lot about myself and my game, and I think I’ve come leaps and bounds from there early in the season.”

The Canadian won the Symetra Tour’s Four Winds Invitational in June in Indiana, and tied for fifth in the Women’s PGA Championship – the second of the LPGA Tour’s five majors.

A win Sunday would assure Henderson of finishing among the tour’s top 40 on the money list, giving her an LPGA Tour card for next season. Through nine LPGA Tour tournaments, Henderson has made $466,818. LPGA Tour Commissioner Mike Whan denied Henderson’s age petition last year, preventing her from playing Q-school. She earned a spot in the Portland Classic field in Monday qualifying.

Henderson is attempting to become the second Monday qualifier to win an LPGA Tour tournament. The only player to accomplish the feat was Laurel Kean in the 2000 Rail Classic.

Had it not been for Henderson’s older sister, Brittany, there’s a chance none of this happens. Brittany received a sponsor’s exemption for the Portland Classic, and Brooke decided to take a chance on the Monday qualifier after running out sponsor’s exemptions.

She was asked if she would have tried to qualify without Brittany in the field.’

“I don’t know,” Henderson said. “I think it was a blessing in disguise that she’s got the sponsor’s invite and I came out here, because it is a long way to travel from home, and I’m not sure I would have made the trip.”

Henderson took a one-stroke lead over Masson into the day. After the two matched birdies at the par-4 first, Henderson increased her lead to two strokes with a birdie at the par-3 second. Masson closed within a stroke with a birdie at the par-5 fifth, and both players birdied the par-5 seventh.

Henderson pulled away on the back nine, starting with birdies on the par-5 10th and par-4 11th. Masson bogeyed the par-5 12th, giving Henderson a four-stroke lead. Even though Pressel birdied three of her final four holes, Henderson increased her lead to five strokes with birdies at the par-4 15th and par-3 16th.

On Sunday, Henderson will play alongside Pressel. The two played in Sunday’s final group when Henderson had the 54-hole lead at Swinging Skirts.

“Brooke is a great player. I mean, to Monday qualify and obviously be playing this well, she knows what’s at stake for her. She’s a great girl, and she has a lot of potential, for sure,” Pressel said.

Pressel, who made nine birdies during her second and third rounds, says she’ll have to stomp on the gas again if she’s to have a shot at catching Henderson.

“I’ll take another nine birdies tomorrow,” Pressel said. “I need to just give myself a lot of opportunities and eliminate the sloppy mistakes that I’ve made the last few days.”

German players Sandra Gal (65) and Caroline Masson (70) were tied for third 12 under.

Jaye Marie Green had a 63 – the best round of the week – to move into a tie for ninth at 9 under. Ko was tied for 53rd after 2 under after a 72.

Alena Sharp posted a third-round of 70 to sit T9 heading into tomorrow’s final-round.

PORTLAND, Ore. – Brooke Henderson is trying to leave everyone else behind – and not get too far ahead of herself.

The 17-year-old Canadian took the outright lead in an LPGA Tour event for the third time this year, birdieing three of her last four holes Friday for a 5-under 67 and a one-shot advantage in the Cambia Portland Classic.

“Just to stay within myself and play my own game,” she said when asked what she has learned this season. “Playing as an amateur I was used to a lot of people, a lot of media and television and stuff like that, but it’s a little bit different on the LPGA Tour, and I think that’s something that I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable with this year.

“I think if I can just stay patient and play my own game and not focus on outside factors, I think good things will happen.

Playing in cool, breezy and sometimes wet conditions, Henderson finished with an 8-foot birdie putt on the par-4 ninth to reach 11-under 133 at Columbia Edgewater. She made her only bogey of the tournament at 11, but rebounded with birdies at 12, 14 and 3 before the late burst.

Henderson, who turns 18 in September, has made $466,818 in nine LPGA Tour tournaments and needs to finish in the top 40 on the money list to earn a card for next year. LPGA Tour Commissioner Mike Whan denied Henderson’s age petition last year, preventing her from playing Q-school. She earned a spot in the field in Monday qualifying.

“Right now, I’m just taking it one day at a time and one tournament at a time, but I’m really looking forward to the next couple years,” Henderson said. “Hopefully, this week I can secure my card for next year and be full time on the LPGA.”

Henderson is attempting to become the third player to win an LPGA tournament before turning 18, joining Lydia Ko and Lexi Thompson.

“That would be really good, but I’m still a long way from that, and I realize that,” Henderson said. “I have to go low and shoot some good numbers.”

Caroline Masson has second. The German player shot a 64, the best round of the week.

Masson had eight birdies, four on each nine, in her second straight bogey-free round after missing the cuts in five of her six previous tournaments. Masson is winless in her three-year LPGA Tour career. In the 2013 Portland tournament, she shot a second-round 64 on the way to a fifth-place finish.

Masson is attempting to win and make a late bid for European team berth in the Solheim Cup, set for Sept. 18-20 in Germany.

“It’s been on my mind a lot. I don’t know, maybe not too much. It’s the only Solheim Cup probably that’s going to be in Germany while I’m playing,” said Masson, who played in the 2013 Cup. “It means a lot to me, obviously, to be on that team. But you can’t think about it and you can’t play with that being on your mind because it just puts too much pressure on yourself.

Candie Kung, Julieta Granada and Jenny Shin were tied for third at 9 under. Kung, a four-time LPGA Tour winner, had a 66, Granada shot 69, and Shin 68.

Amy Anderson and Sandra Changkija, tied for the first-round lead at 65, each shot 72 to drop into a tie for ninth at 7 under.

Defending champion Austin Ernst was 6 under after a 66.

No. 3 Stacy Lewis was 4 under after a 69, and No. 2 Ko shot a 72 to remain 2 under.

The 36-hole cut was at even par. Among those failing to advance were two-time Portland champion Suzann Pettersen. She was 5 over after a 74. Also missing the cut was Henderson’s sister Brittany, who was 5 over after a 75.

The Portland Classic is the penultimate tournament before the U.S. Solheim Cup team is set Aug. 24. The top eight players in the Solheim Cup standings, the top two in the world ranking not among the top eight in the standings, and two captain’s picks will make up the 12-player team. Six players have clinched spots in the standings.

No. 7 Angela Stanford failed to make the cut after shooting 74, while No. 8 Gerina Piller was even par after a 72. Of those outside the top eight, No. 9 Lizette Salas (70) and No. 10 Brittany Lang (71) are in the best position to make a move, as both are 3 under through 36 holes.

Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont., posted a second round of 2-under to sit T9 at 7-under for the tournament.

Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont., signed for a round of 75, Sue Kim had a round of 74 and Brittany Henderson recorded a round of 75. The trio not play the weekend.

PORTLAND, Ore. – After the opening round Canadian teen star Brooke Henderson is a shot back of the lead along with Alison Lee and Julieta Granada.

The 17-year-old Henderson birdied six of the first 13 holes. The Canadian, who doesn’t turn 18 until September, has made $466,818 in nine LPGA Tour tournaments this year. Henderson earned a spot in the field in Monday qualifying, and thought that helped Thursday.

“I feel much more comfortable in the first round than I do a lot of times because I’ve already played this golf course in a competitive atmosphere this week,” Henderson said.

Anderson and Sandra Changkija shared the first-round lead at 7-under 65 on Thursday in the Cambia Portland Classic.

Amy Anderson set an NCAA record with 20 tournament victories during her college career at North Dakota State. Now she’s seeking a breakthrough victory in her second year on the LPGA Tour.

In warm, calm afternoon conditions, the 23-year-old Anderson had five consecutive birdies on the front nine in her bogey-free round at Columbia Edgewater.

“This is a good learning experience, and I’m kind of excited to learn from it and just see what it’s like out here,” Anderson said. “You have to learn at every single level, so for me it started at local tournaments, then to national amateur tournaments, collegiate … but this is a whole other ballgame.”

Anderson had never led a round during her two-year LPGA Tour career. She’s coming off her best finish of the year, a tie for eighth in Michigan in the Meijer LPGA Classic.

Changkija, playing in the morning, made six birdies on her opening nine and reached 8 under before finishing with a bogey. The 26-year-old Changkija, in her fourth LPGA season, has only two career top-10 finishes, but one came at the 2013 Portland stop. The 65 was her lowest competitive round since shooting 63 in Canada in the 2012 Manulife Financial Classic.

Changkija has rarely been near the lead during her professional career, but said her mindset won’t change Friday.

“I’m just going to do the same thing I did today – hit fairways, hit greens and just roll some putts,” Changkija said. “I’ve been hitting it really well. I just wasn’t making putts. I switched putters this week. I went to a Cure putter. It seems to be working well for me.”

One stroke back of third place with a round of 67 is Canadian Alena Sharp sitting T6. Jennifer Kirby posted a round of 70. Brittany Henderson signed for a round of 74, while Sue Kim shot 75.

Mo Martin and Cristie Kerr shot 67. Second-ranked Lydia Ko opened with a 70, and No. 3 Stacy Lewis had a 71.

Defending champion Austin Ernst made four birdies and four bogeys and shot 72.

Suzann Pettersen, the Portland winner in 2011 and 2013, started her round with a double bogey and shot 75.

The Portland Classic is the penultimate tournament before the U.S. Solheim Cup team is set.

The top eight players in the Solheim Cup standings, the top two in the world ranking not among the top eight in the standings, and two captain’s picks will make up the 12-player team for the Sept. 18-20 matches against Europe in Germany. Six players have clinched spots in the standings. No. 7 Angela Stanford shot 74, and No. 8 Gerina Piller had a 72.

Many players are wearing pins and ribbons honoring LPGA pioneer Louise Suggs, who died Friday at 91. Suggs, an 11-time major winner, was an LPGA founding member in 1950.

Click below to listen in to Golf Canada’ s media teleconference with Lydia Ko.

VANCOUVER – Lydia Ko had no idea she was in the process of making history the first time she competed at The Vancouver Golf Club.

Then just 15 years old, the New Zealander became the youngest player to win an LPGA event when she captured the Canadian Women’s Open by three strokes as an amateur back in 2012.

“I didn’t know what the record was,” Ko said on a conference call Wednesday. “I was out there trying to have fun, playing alongside the world’s best golfers.”

Now 18, Ko is herself one of the world’s best, and will be among the field when the tournament – now known as the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open – returns to Coquitlam, B.C., next week.

Ko recalled the excitement of stepping on the Vancouver course in one of her first LPGA events

“It was a very memorable week,” Ko said. “I hadn’t played many LPGA events. Just to be able to play alongside my role models, it was really exciting for me.”

Ko shot rounds of 68, 68, 72 and 67 for a score of 13 under, but didn’t get to claim her winnings because she was still an amateur.

“I just tried to enjoy it out there,” said Ko. “My goal was first of all to make the cut.”

She followed up that initial victory with another Canadian Women’s Open title in Edmonton in 2013, however she wound up tied for 55th last year in London, Ont., her first time playing the tournament as a professional.

Ko also struggled a bit earlier this year, but has been rounding into form since the end of June. She tied for third in her last two events, including last month’s Women’s British Open.

“It’s been a really fun last couple weeks,” she said. “Lots of travel to, but I’ve been enjoying it.”

Fans will be focused on Ko, currently ranked No. 2 in the world, but should also be keen to see 17-year-old amateur Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont.

Ko knows the Canadian well and said she isn’t surprised by Henderson’s success, which has seen her rise to No. 32 overall.

“I knew how good she was,” said Ko. “I think everybody’s been noticing her more because she’s been playing more LPGA events. Brooke’s a superstar.

“She hits the ball a long way and she’s very consistent.”

A two-time Canadian Open champion while still in her teens, Ko is both the present and future of women’s golf, something she sometimes stops to think about – just not on the course.

“That’s the really great thing about golf. Age is just really a number,” she said. “When we’re out there we’re not thinking about our rankings and what we are, we’re just trying to play our best. That’s all we can do.”

And what Ko will be looking to do after competing in an LPGA tournament in Portland, Ore., this week is recapture some of the magic from her performance at the Canadian Open three years ago.

“Every moment of that week was exciting (and) so much fun,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to going back.”

Coquitlam, B.C. – Golf Canada and Canadian Pacific (CP) are pleased to announce the names of 14 players who have received exemptions into the 2015 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, August 17 – 23, 2015 at The Vancouver Golf Club.

Headlining the list of exemptions is previously confirmed 17 year old Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ontario who earned her exemption by way of winning the 2015 PGA of Canada Women’s Championship, the third event on the 2015 Canadian Women’s Tour. Currently No. 32 on the Rolex World Rankings, Henderson’s stellar rookie season as a pro includes three top 10 finishes on the LPGA Tour, a victory on the Symetra Tour and more than $466,000 in LPGA Tour earnings through nine events played. Henderson, who Monday qualified into this week’s LPGA Tour event in Portland, Oregon, will be making her fourth consecutive appearance in Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship.

Four other players earned tournament exemptions by way of their play on the 2015 Canadian Women’s Tour including Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Rebecca Lee-Bentham of Toronto, who won the Canadian Women’s Tour stop at Smiths Falls Golf and Country Club in Smiths Falls, Ontario. Also earning an exemption was Michelle Piyapatra of Corona, California who won the season-opening Canadian Women’s Tour stop at The Glencoe Golf and Country Club as well as Lauren Mielbrecht of Gulf Stream, Florida and Seul-Ki Park of Northbrook, Illinois who received their exemptions based on the 2015 Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit.

Two members of the Team Canada Women’s Amateur Squad also earned exemptions including Maddie Szeryk, 19, of Allen, Texas and Brittany Marchand, 22, of Orangeville, Ontario. Currently the No. 35 ranked player on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Szeryk, won the 2015 Ontario Women’s Amateur and finished tied for sixth at the 2015 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship. Marchand, who recently got through stage one of LPGA Qualifying, will make her fourth appearance at Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship.

Four Canadians competing on the Symetra Tour have also been granted exemptions including former Team Canada member Augusta James of Bath, Ontario who currently sits fourth on the Symetra Tour money list in her rookie season as a professional. James will make her fourth appearance in Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship.

Other Canadian Symetra Tour players granted exemptions include Maude-Aimee LeBlanc of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C., and Jessica Wallace of Langley, B.C. who sit 10^th, 16^th and 24^th respectively on the Symetra Tour money list.

A pair of Canadians with non-exempt status on the LPGA Tour will also compete including Sue Kim of Langley, B.C. and Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ontario. Rounding out the list of exemptions is Mariel Galdiano of Pearl City, Hawaii who earned a spot by winning the 2015 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship two weeks ago.

The 14 players earning exemptions into the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open will join a world-class field at The Vancouver Golf Club that features Rolex World Rankings No. 1 Inbee Park; two-time champion and Rolex Rankings No. 2 Lydia Ko; No. 3 Stacey Lewis; No. 7 Shanshan Feng; No. 8 Lexi Thompson; No. 9 Anna Nordquist; and defending champion and world No. 4 So Yeon Ryu. Other LPGA Tour stars confirmed to compete include international fan favourites Paula Creamer, Na Yeon Choi, Sandra Gal, Charley Hull and Morgan Pressel.

In addition to Ryu (2014) and Ko (2012 & 2013), past Canadian Women’s Open champions set to compete include Brittany Lincicome (2011), Michelle Wie (2010), Suzann Pettersen (2009), Katherine Hull-Kirk (2008) and Cristie Kerr (2006).

The 10 Canucks receiving exemptions will join a Canadian contingent led by CP ambassador Lorie Kane of Charlottetown, PEI as well as fellow LPGA Tour player Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ontario.

“The Canadian Pacific Women’s Open is not only set to feature arguably the strongest field on the LPGA Tour, but also the very best rising talents in Canadian and international golf,” said Canadian Pacific Women’s Open Tournament Director Brent McLaughlin. “Golf fans are sure to be treated to an unbelievable showcase of world-class golf.”

A field of 156 competitors will vie for the US$2.25 million purse when the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open makes its return to The Vancouver Golf Club for the first time since 2012.

On Monday August 17, 2015, the LPGA Tour will conduct an 18-hole stroke play qualifier at Pitt Meadows Country Club to determine the final four exemptions directly into the 2015 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.

First conducted in 1973, Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship has allowed the brightest stars of the LPGA Tour to shine on Canadian soil and inspire the nation’s next generation of female golfers.

PORTLAND – Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., has qualified to play in this week’s Cambia Portland Classic on the LPGA Tour.

Henderson, 17, shot a four-under 68 at Columbia Edgewater Country Club to grab one of two spots available in the field this week. She joins sister Brittany, who received a sponsor exemption, in the field in Portland. Brittany Henderson, who plays on the Symetra Tour, was granted a sponsor’s exemption, a spot that might have gone to Brooke, except she has already received her maximum seven for the year.

If Henderson had not qualified Monday, she would have caddied for Brittany – something she did during the LPGA qualifying tournament last year. Brittany has caddied for Brooke five times this year, including at the U.S. Women’s Open and Women’s British Open.

“I love it,” Brooke Henderson said. “She’s a great caddie. I’m not sure how good I am, but she’s great. We know each other so well, so we know what to say when things aren’t going well, and when things are going well, to keep us going.”

Florida’s Doris Chen, a University of South California graduate, claimed the other Monday qualifier spot.