TORONTO — Brooke Henderson, the No. 1 ranked female amateur golfer in the world, has turned professional and signed with IMG for worldwide management and marketing representation.
A native of Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada, Henderson was assisted by her hometown Ottawa Senators hockey team in making today’s announcement.
Henderson has signed with PING and will continue to be supported by Golf Canada’s Young Pro program.
“I am really excited to begin my professional career in 2015 and proud to represent Canada along the way,” said Henderson. “I realize what a big step it is to play professionally and I think IMG and their partners at WME give me a competitive advantage on a global level.”
The 17-year-old was an integral member of Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad for the past three years. She won the individual title at the 2014 Women’s World Amateur Team Championship and led Canada to a silver medal. As a 16-year-old, she was runner-up at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur and tied for 10th at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open at Pinehurst No. 2.
She boasts more than 50 victories as an amateur and has also won three professional tournaments including two Canadian Women’s Tour events and the 2014 PGA of Canada Women’s Championship. Henderson’s Canadian Women’s Tour victory in 2012 at the age of 14 years, 9 months and 3 days made her the youngest player (male or female) ever to win a professional golf event.
Guy Kinnings, Global Head of Golf at IMG, commented, “Brooke’s tremendous talent on the golf course is exceeded only by her positive and engaging personality. We are delighted to help Brooke make the transition into professional golf and very much look forward to helping her achieve all of her goals both inside and outside the ropes.”
Henderson joins former No. 1 amateurs Lydia Ko and Minjee Lee as recent IMG signees. Ko most recently earned 2014 LPGA Rolex Rookie of the Year honors, while Lee was co-medalist at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament earlier this month.
“Through outstanding competitive results and a commitment to excellence, Brooke has proven herself to be a special talent, demonstrating all of the necessary characteristics to make a successful transition to the professional golfing ranks,” said Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer. “She has been a huge part of the Team Canada program which is designed to challenge our top athletes through exposure to the highest levels of training and competition. We are proud to have played a role in her development and will continue to support her in this next exciting stage of her career.”
Following today’s announcement, Henderson is now the top-ranked Canadian professional.
Brooke Henderson shortlisted for Ontario Athlete of the Year honours
Brooke Henderson (Golf Canada/ Graig Abel)
Brooke Henderson’s standout season on the golf course has her in the running to be named the 2014 Ontario Athlete of the Year.
If the Team Canada member and Smiths Falls, Ont. native is successful in receiving the Syl Apps Award, she will become only the second golfer to receive the honour and the youngest award winner in its 16-year history. The only other golfer to earn the honour is Mike Weir, who received the award in 1999, 2000 and 2003.
Henderson is up against some stiff competition, including Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors, Russel Martin of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Jose Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays, Milos Raonic (tennis) Patrick Husbands (horse racing) and Cory Perry of the Anaheim Ducks.
Voting for the award is conducted annually by the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. Those eligible to vote include Ontario-based sports writers, broadcasters/personalities with at least 10-years covering sports in this province, members of the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors and the Hall’s Advisory Board.
To be eligible for the award, athletes must be born in Ontario or play for an Ontario-based team. They also must have made an outstanding and memorable contribution to Ontario sport during the previous calendar year.
The public is encouraged to vote for their favourite athlete online. The voting widget is located on the left side of the home page and will be available until December 5, 2014.
Markham, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Team USA got out to an early lead and never let it go, finishing with a team-total score of 17-under par 559 for the wire-to-wire victory at the inaugural World Junior Girls Golf Championship at Angus Glen Golf Club (South Course) in Markham, Ont.
The Americans (137-141-137-144—559) began Wednesday’s final round with a commanding 16-shot lead and went on to shoot a team-total, even-par 144 to capture top spot on the medal podium.
Team USA counted matching rounds of even-par 72 by 16-year old Megan Khang (67-73-70-72—282) and 15-year old Angel Yin (73-72-73-72—290) while 15-year old Mika Liu (70-69-67-73—279), who finished as individual gold medalist, rounded out the scoring with a round of 1-over 73.
For Team USA non-playing captain Courtney Myhrum, the victory capped a special week that left her beaming with pride for her young squad.
“They’re my dream team, it’s been wonderful it’s been a great week and a real team effort; I couldn’t be more proud of the three of them, the way they conducted themselves on the course and off the course,” said Myhrum. “Go play and have fun, there is really not much else I can say to these three. They had great course management and are really easy to captain because they know how to get around the golf course – they didn’t really need me this week.”
Sweden, which began the day tied for fifth, five shots back of a podium placing, vaulted into the silver medal by counting the low team-total of the final round – 5-under par 139. Leading the way for the Swedes was 18-year old Emma Svensson (76-70-72-67—285) who counted the low round of the day on the South Course at Angus Glen, a sizzling 5-under 67. Seventeen year old Filippa Mork (81-75-77-72—305) saved her best round – even-par 72 – for the final day to count the second score while 18-year old Michaela Finn (74-72-72-75—295) rounded out the scoring for Sweden.
Team Canada (144-146-141-149—580) was looking to build on their team-best score from Tuesday but it wasn’t meant to be as the host country shot a final-round, team-total 5-over 149 to claim the bronze medal. The Canucks counted final-round scores of even-par 72 by Brooke Henderson (17) of Smiths Falls, Ont. (70-73-71-72—286) and 5-over 77 by Grace St-Germain (16) of Ottawa (74-73-78-77—302) while teammate Naomi Ko (17) of Victoria (77-79-70-81—307) completed the scoring with a non-counting 81.
Rounding out the top-five in the team competition at the inaugural World Junior Girls Team Championship was Team Denmark (149-143-141-150—583) in fourth at 7-over 583 followed by Spain in fifth (147-146-142-152—587) at 11-over 587.
Canada’s second team in the competition comprised of Jaclyn Lee (17) of Calgary (72-77-75-75—299), Selena Costabile (16) of Thornhill, Ont. (78-74-74-76—302) and Alisha Lau (14) of Richmond, B.C. (83-80-75-74—312) shot a final-round, team-total 5-over 149 (150-151-149-149—599) to finish tied for 13th position.
In the individual competition, 15-year old American standout Mika Liu (70-69-67-73—279) shot a final-round, 1-over 73 to win the gold medal by three shots over her USA teammate Megan Khang (67-73-70-72—282). Liu came into Wednesday’s final round with a four-shot lead over Khang and was more excited to contribute to the team victory than capturing individual gold.
“Yes, I am extremely happy that my team won first and that I did too – it is a total celebration,” said Liu, the no. 48 ranked player on the World Amateur Golf Ranking. “To be able to share the podium with my teammates who were out there on the course with me and my captain and manager makes me extremely happy and proud because we came here together and we are able to leave as champions together.”
Sweden’s Emma Svensson (76-70-72-67—285) saved her best play for the final round, firing a 5-under 67 and tournament-total 3-under 285 to edge out Canada’s Brooke Henderson (70-73-71-72—286) by a single stroke and capture the bronze medal. Team USA’s Angela Yin Angel Yin (73-72-73-72—290) and Ireland’s Olivia Mehaffey (77-67-74-72—290) tied for fifth at 2-over for the tournament.
USA takes commanding lead into final round of World Junior Girls Championship
Mika Liu (Golf Canada/ Tyler Costigan)
Markham, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Team USA continues to dominate the 15 country field of competitors at the World Junior Girls Golf Championship after firing a team-total score of 7-under par 137 to increase their lead to 16 shots heading into the final round of the inaugural event at Angus Glen Golf Club (South Course) in Markham, Ont.
After starting the day with a comfortable 12-shot lead, Team USA (137-141-137—415) continued their sizzling play on Tuesday and with only 18 holes to play, look poised to claim the championship team title on Wednesday at Angus Glen.
Mika Liu (70-69-67—206) continued to lead the way for the Americans shooting 5-under 67 Tuesday and pairing with teammate Megan Khang (67-73-70—210) to count a team score of 7-under 137 to lead the host Canadian team by 16 shots heading into Wednesday’ final round.
“You know what, I am just so proud of these kids – it’s shaping up really well,” said Team USA non-playing captain Courtney Myhrum. “This is a marathon, this format – everybody has to play well, you can’t just have one superstar on your team. This kid (Mika), is unbelievable, they all are. I think we have a 16 stroke lead going into the final round and it’s a nice place to be.”
Liu, 15, tied the low round of the tournament with her 5-under 67 that included six birdies and a single bogey under breezy overcast conditions at Angus Glen. The young American standout set out Tuesday to improve on her 69 a day earlier and did just that.
“Today, I improved on what I practiced yesterday. I hit the fairways I missed yesterday, I hit greens, and just had many more opportunities for birdies, and I did make more,” said Liu, currently the no. 48 ranked player on the World Amateur Golf Rankings. I only made one bogey today, so that was very helpful. I will continue to work on my swing, and I will focus mainly on putting again – both on the short putts and long ones for speed. Mentally, I will still be the same as during the practice round. I will play my game, talk to my teammates, talk to the other players and enjoy my time out there.”
Khang (16), carded three birdies and a single bogey for a third-round, 2-under 70 as the second USA score to count while 15-year old teammate Angel Yin (73-72-73—218) shot a non-counting 1-over 73 to round out the USA team scores.
Team Canada (144-146-141—431), had their best team score of the tournament, shooting 3-under on the day. Naomi Ko (17) of Victoria (77-79-70—226) shot her best round of the tournament, 2-under 70, to lead the way for Canada who head into Wednesday’s final round two shots up on Team Denmark (149-143-141—433) for second spot in the team competition.
Brooke Henderson (17) of Smiths Falls, Ont. (70-73-71—214) counted a score of 1-under 71 for Canada while teammate Grace St. Germain (16) of Ottawa (74-73-78—225) rounding out the Canadian scores with a 6-over 78.
Besides Team USA, Canada and Denmark holding down the top three positions, Spain is alone in fourth at 3-over for the tournament (147-146-142—435) with Italy (147-145-146—438) and Sweden (150-144-144—438) tied for fifth at 6-over.
Canada’s second team in the competition comprised of Jaclyn Lee (17) of Calgary (72-77-75—224), Selena Costabile (16) of Thornhill, Ont. (78-74-74—226) and Alisha Lau (14) of Richmond, B.C. (83-80-75—238) shot a team-total, 5-over 149 (150-151-149—450) are in 13th position at 18-over through 54 holes.
With her third-round 67, Mika Liu (70-69-67—206) continues to top the individual leader boad at 10-under par, four shots better than her USA teammate Megan Khang (67-73-70—210). Canada’s Brooke Henderson (70-73-71—214) is alone in third at 2-under for the tournament while Denmark’s Line Hansen (76-67-72—215) and Hana Ryskova of the Czech Republic (74-71-70—215) are tied for fourth at 1-under.
USA takes commanding lead into final round of World Junior Girls Championship
Mika Liu (Golf Canada/ Tyler Costigan)
Markham, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Team USA continues to dominate the 15 country field of competitors at the World Junior Girls Golf Championship after firing a team-total score of 7-under par 137 to increase their lead to 16 shots heading into the final round of the inaugural event at Angus Glen Golf Club (South Course) in Markham, Ont.
After starting the day with a comfortable 12-shot lead, Team USA (137-141-137—415) continued their sizzling play on Tuesday and with only 18 holes to play, look poised to claim the championship team title on Wednesday at Angus Glen.
Mika Liu (70-69-67—206) continued to lead the way for the Americans shooting 5-under 67 Tuesday and pairing with teammate Megan Khang (67-73-70—210) to count a team score of 7-under 137 to lead the host Canadian team by 16 shots heading into Wednesday’ final round.
“You know what, I am just so proud of these kids – it’s shaping up really well,” said Team USA non-playing captain Courtney Myhrum. “This is a marathon, this format – everybody has to play well, you can’t just have one superstar on your team. This kid (Mika), is unbelievable, they all are. I think we have a 16 stroke lead going into the final round and it’s a nice place to be.”
Liu, 15, tied the low round of the tournament with her 5-under 67 that included six birdies and a single bogey under breezy overcast conditions at Angus Glen. The young American standout set out Tuesday to improve on her 69 a day earlier and did just that.
“Today, I improved on what I practiced yesterday. I hit the fairways I missed yesterday, I hit greens, and just had many more opportunities for birdies, and I did make more,” said Liu, currently the no. 48 ranked player on the World Amateur Golf Rankings. I only made one bogey today, so that was very helpful. I will continue to work on my swing, and I will focus mainly on putting again – both on the short putts and long ones for speed. Mentally, I will still be the same as during the practice round. I will play my game, talk to my teammates, talk to the other players and enjoy my time out there.”
Khang (16), carded three birdies and a single bogey for a third-round, 2-under 70 as the second USA score to count while 15-year old teammate Angel Yin (73-72-73—218) shot a non-counting 1-over 73 to round out the USA team scores.
Team Canada (144-146-141—431), had their best team score of the tournament, shooting 3-under on the day. Naomi Ko (17) of Victoria (77-79-70—226) shot her best round of the tournament, 2-under 70, to lead the way for Canada who head into Wednesday’s final round two shots up on Team Denmark (149-143-141—433) for second spot in the team competition.
Brooke Henderson (17) of Smiths Falls, Ont. (70-73-71—214) counted a score of 1-under 71 for Canada while teammate Grace St. Germain (16) of Ottawa (74-73-78—225) rounding out the Canadian scores with a 6-over 78.
Besides Team USA, Canada and Denmark holding down the top three positions, Spain is alone in fourth at 3-over for the tournament (147-146-142—435) with Italy (147-145-146—438) and Sweden (150-144-144—438) tied for fifth at 6-over.
Canada’s second team in the competition comprised of Jaclyn Lee (17) of Calgary (72-77-75—224), Selena Costabile (16) of Thornhill, Ont. (78-74-74—226) and Alisha Lau (14) of Richmond, B.C. (83-80-75—238) shot a team-total, 5-over 149 (150-151-149—450) are in 13th position at 18-over through 54 holes.
With her third-round 67, Mika Liu (70-69-67—206) continues to top the individual leader boad at 10-under par, four shots better than her USA teammate Megan Khang (67-73-70—210). Canada’s Brooke Henderson (70-73-71—214) is alone in third at 2-under for the tournament while Denmark’s Line Hansen (76-67-72—215) and Hana Ryskova of the Czech Republic (74-71-70—215) are tied for fourth at 1-under.
USA continues to lead through 36 holes at World Junior Girls Championship
Mika Liu, Courtney Myhrum (Golf Canada/ Tyler Costigan)
Markham, Ont. (Golf Canada) – After starting the day with a 7-shot lead, Team USA (137-141—278) continued their impressive play Monday and now hold a commanding 12-shot lead through 36 holes at the inaugural World Junior Girls Golf Championship at Angus Glen Golf Club (South Course) in Markham, Ont.
Mika Liu (70-69—139) and teammate Angel Yin (73-72—145) counted a second-round team score of 3-under 141 to lead the host Canadian team by 12 shots heading into Tuesday’s third round.
“I can’t be more proud of these kids; I’m really just their No. 1 fan,” said non-playing captain Courtney Myhrum on the team’s score of 10-under 278 through 36 holes. “To have a complete game and the age of 15 or 16 is amazing. Mika, Megan and Angel they just grind, absolutely grind. They just don’t get flustered. What I tell them is to relax, have fun, enjoy the moment and take one shot at a time. I’m just there to encourage them all the way around.”
Liu, 15, led the way for Team USA shooting 3-under 69 in a round that included two bogies, three birdies and a impressive eagle on the 380 yard, par-4, 10th hole at Angus Glen (South Course), holing out from 177 yards with a 5-hybrid.
“That eagle was amazing,” said Liu, currently the no. 48 ranked player on the World Amateur Golf Ranking. “I had 177 yards from the rough and on a downhill lie. My first plan was to get in on the green. I was between a 5-hyrid and a 5-wood and I decided to go with the hybrid to play it safe. I hit my shot and all of a sudden the Australian coach just started standing up and clapping and clapping. I was like, what’s going on? I got up there and my ball was in the hole. I just took it and kissed it. I was very happy.”
Yin (15) carded three birdies over three bogies for a second-round, even-par 72 as the second USA score to count while 16-year old teammate Megan Khang (67-73—140), the opening-round individual leader, shot a non-counting 1-over 73 to round out the USA team scores.
Team Canada (144-146—290), led by the world’s no. 1 ranked amateur Brooke Henderson (17) of Smiths Falls, Ont. shot a team-total 2-over 146 and is alone in second at 2-over through 36 holes, 12 shots off the lead.
Henderson (70-73—143) and teammate Grace St. Germain (16) of Ottawa (74-73—147) counted matching scores of 1-over 73 for Canada on Monday with Naomi Ko (17) of Victoria (77-79—156) rounding out the Canadian scores at the midway point of the championship.
Team Denmark (149-143—292), who began the day in 7th, counted an impressive second-round, 5-under 67 by 15-year old Line Hansen (76-67—143) to jump into a share of third with Italy (147-145—292) at 4-over with Spain (147-146—293) rounding out the top-five at 5-over.
Canada’s second team in the competition comprised of Jaclyn Lee (17) of Calgary (72-77—149), Selena Costabile (16) of Thornhill, Ont. (78-74—152) and Alisha Lau (14) of Richmond, B.C. (83-80—163) shot a team-total, 7-over 151 (150-151—301) are in 13th position at 13-over through 36 holes.
With her second-round 69, Liu (70-69—139) takes over the top spot on the individual leaderboard at 5-under, one shot better than her USA teammate Megan Khang (67-73—140). Canada’s Brooke Henderson (70-73—143) is tied for third with Denmark’s Line Hansen (76-67—143) at 1-under while Ireland’s Olivia Mehaffey (77-67—144) and Finland’s Anna Backman (71-73—144) are tied for fifth at even par 144.
USA takes opening-round lead at World Junior Girls Championship
(Golf Canada/ Terry Lenyk)
MARKHAM, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Megan Khang (5-under 67) and Mika Liu (2-under 70) shot an opening-round team-total 7-under 137 to give Team USA a 7-shot, opening-round lead at the inaugural World Junior Girls Golf Championship at Angus Glen Golf Club (South Course) in Markham, Ont.
Khang, 16, carded six birdies and a single bogey going off the back nine of the South Course at Angus Glen on Sunday. Currently the no. 40 ranked player on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Khang finished her opening-round in impressive fashion with birdies on her final four holes.
“I was hitting a lot of great approach shots coming in and my short game was working really well for me,” said Khang following her round. “That’s what I’ve been working on the most and it’s great to see it coming all together. The course was in great shape; I blew some putts by but made some comebackers and that gave me a great confidence boost in the putter.”
Megan Khang (Golf Canada/ Terry Lenyk)
Liu, 15, had five birdies and three bogies in her opening round as the second US score to count while teammate Angel Yin shot a (non-counting) 1-over 73 in her opening round.
For Team USA non-playing captain Courtney Myhrum, the team executed their game plan and left their captain brimming with pride following their round.
“I’m so proud, the team did a wonderful job; the course was playing great and I’m in awe of how they hit the ball,” said Myhrum. “What impresses me so much is that these kids hit greens in regulation and give themselves birdie opportunities one after another. They’re very consistent off the tee and they didn’t get into any trouble.”
Team Canada, led by the world’s no. 1 ranked amateur Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. sits alone in second at even-par 144 through 18 holes. Henderson (2-under 70) and teammates Grace St. Germain of Ottawa (2-over 74) and Naomi Ko of Victoria (5-over 77) were grouped with Team USA in Sunday’s opening round at Angus Glen.
Henderson, 17, finished with four birdies including her final two holes while St-Germain, 16, was 1-under through 16 holes before a bogey on her 17th hole and a double-bogey finish for Canada’s two counting scores.
“It was little bit slow to start, I wasn’t hitting the ball quite as good as I would have liked to,” said Henderson, who earlier this year finished runner-up at the US Women’s Amateur and was the low individual at the recent World Amateur Team Championship. “Throughout the round I started to get a bit more comfortable. The last couple of holes I was playing my best golf; three birdies in the last four or five holes so I’m happy with that.”
Brooke Henderson (Golf Canada/ Terry Lenyk)
Team Finland’s Anna Backman (1-under 71), Sandra Salonen (2-over 74) and Ellinoora Moisio (10-over 82) are alone in third at 145. Rounding out the top-five tied at 3-over 147 are the Italian trio of Lucrezia Colombotto Rosso (1-over 73), Calotta Ricolfi (2-over 74) and Martina Flori (4-over 76) as well as Spain’s Ana Pelaez Trivino (1-over 73), Alejandra Pasarin Olalla (2-over 74) and Nuria Iturrios (9-over 81).
Canada’s second team in the competition comprised of Jaclyn Lee of Calgary (even-par 72), Selena Costabile of Thornhill, Ont. (6-over 78) and Alisha Lau of Richmond, B.C. (11-over 83) shot a team-total, 6-over 150 sit tied for 8th with Belgium and Sweden.
With her opening round 67, Khang sits alone atop the individual leader board with a three-shot lead over Liu (70) and Henderson (70) heading into Monday’s second round. Finland’s Anna Backman is fourth at 1-under 70 while Canadian Jaclyn Lee and England’s India Clyburn are tied for fifth at even-par 72 through 18 holes.
Visit www.worldjuniorgirls.com for additional information about the World Junior Girls Championship.
USA takes opening-round lead at World Junior Girls Championship
(Golf Canada/ Terry Lenyk)
MARKHAM, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Megan Khang (5-under 67) and Mika Liu (2-under 70) shot an opening-round team-total 7-under 137 to give Team USA a 7-shot, opening-round lead at the inaugural World Junior Girls Golf Championship at Angus Glen Golf Club (South Course) in Markham, Ont.
Khang, 16, carded six birdies and a single bogey going off the back nine of the South Course at Angus Glen on Sunday. Currently the no. 40 ranked player on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Khang finished her opening-round in impressive fashion with birdies on her final four holes.
“I was hitting a lot of great approach shots coming in and my short game was working really well for me,” said Khang following her round. “That’s what I’ve been working on the most and it’s great to see it coming all together. The course was in great shape; I blew some putts by but made some comebackers and that gave me a great confidence boost in the putter.”
Megan Khang (Golf Canada/ Terry Lenyk)
Liu, 15, had five birdies and three bogies in her opening round as the second US score to count while teammate Angel Yin shot a (non-counting) 1-over 73 in her opening round.
For Team USA non-playing captain Courtney Myhrum, the team executed their game plan and left their captain brimming with pride following their round.
“I’m so proud, the team did a wonderful job; the course was playing great and I’m in awe of how they hit the ball,” said Myhrum. “What impresses me so much is that these kids hit greens in regulation and give themselves birdie opportunities one after another. They’re very consistent off the tee and they didn’t get into any trouble.”
Team Canada, led by the world’s no. 1 ranked amateur Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. sits alone in second at even-par 144 through 18 holes. Henderson (2-under 70) and teammates Grace St. Germain of Ottawa (2-over 74) and Naomi Ko of Victoria (5-over 77) were grouped with Team USA in Sunday’s opening round at Angus Glen.
Henderson, 17, finished with four birdies including her final two holes while St-Germain, 16, was 1-under through 16 holes before a bogey on her 17th hole and a double-bogey finish for Canada’s two counting scores.
“It was little bit slow to start, I wasn’t hitting the ball quite as good as I would have liked to,” said Henderson, who earlier this year finished runner-up at the US Women’s Amateur and was the low individual at the recent World Amateur Team Championship. “Throughout the round I started to get a bit more comfortable. The last couple of holes I was playing my best golf; three birdies in the last four or five holes so I’m happy with that.”
Brooke Henderson (Golf Canada/ Terry Lenyk)
Team Finland’s Anna Backman (1-under 71), Sandra Salonen (2-over 74) and Ellinoora Moisio (10-over 82) are alone in third at 145. Rounding out the top-five tied at 3-over 147 are the Italian trio of Lucrezia Colombotto Rosso (1-over 73), Calotta Ricolfi (2-over 74) and Martina Flori (4-over 76) as well as Spain’s Ana Pelaez Trivino (1-over 73), Alejandra Pasarin Olalla (2-over 74) and Nuria Iturrios (9-over 81).
Canada’s second team in the competition comprised of Jaclyn Lee of Calgary (even-par 72), Selena Costabile of Thornhill, Ont. (6-over 78) and Alisha Lau of Richmond, B.C. (11-over 83) shot a team-total, 6-over 150 sit tied for 8th with Belgium and Sweden.
With her opening round 67, Khang sits alone atop the individual leader board with a three-shot lead over Liu (70) and Henderson (70) heading into Monday’s second round. Finland’s Anna Backman is fourth at 1-under 70 while Canadian Jaclyn Lee and England’s India Clyburn are tied for fifth at even-par 72 through 18 holes.
Visit www.worldjuniorgirls.com for additional information about the World Junior Girls Championship.
Henderson and Canada ready for World Junior Girl’s Championship
MARKHAM, Ont. – Brooke Henderson is close to deciding her golf future.
The 17-year-old rising star from Smiths Falls, Ont., said Friday she expects to make a decision in the next two weeks regarding whether she’ll enrol at the University of Florida or join the LPGA Tour. Henderson, who is No. 1 in the world amateur golf rankings, has won seven amateur titles and two pro events this season while making the cut in all four LPGA tournaments she entered.
“Right now I’m making a lot of decisions, the big one being whether to go to Florida, which is one of the top-ranked schools in the U.S., or turn professional,” Henderson said during a telephone interview. “My decision is a little unclear at the moment but I think in the next couple of weeks a decision should be made.”
Giving Henderson food for thought is her performance in the LPGA events.
Not only did the articulate, well-spoken teen make the cut in all four tournaments, she finished tied for 10th — and was the top amateur — in the U.S. Women’s Open. She also finished tied for 26th at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, which is also a major.
Henderson was victorious at the Canadian Women’s Tour Ontario and PGA Women’s Championship of Canada and was also the low amateur and low Canuck at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open in London, Ont., last August — the LPGA Tour’s lone stop north of the border.
“Those two (majors), really, were confidence boosters and showed me, ‘You know what? I can compete with the best,”’ Henderson said. “I know I still have a long way to go until I am consistently up there at the top but those were definitely key moments in my summer.”
Earlier this month, Henderson won the individual title at the world amateur championship in Japan and combined with Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., and Augusta James of Bath, Ont., to earn Canada a second-place finish in the team event.
For Henderson, it’s a perfect prep event for the upcoming World Junior Girls Championship at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont.
“It doesn’t happen often in golf that it’s a team sport,” Henderson said. “The Ryder Cup is going on right now but other than that, there’s not many team events so it is a learning experience, definitely.
“But coming off the world amateur, that was my last tournament so I’m still in that mindset and I think that’s definitely going to help.”
As the host country, Canada will field two three-golfer teams in the inaugural 15-country event, which begins Sunday. Henderson, Ottawa’s Grace St-Germain and Victoria’s Naomi Ko will make up one squad while the other will consist of Calgary’s Jaclyn Lee, Selena Costabile of Thornhill, Ont., and Alisha Lau of Richmond, B.C.
The 72-hole tournament runs through Wednesday. A total of 48 golfers aged 19 and under are scheduled to participate in team and individual competition.
Qualifying countries were invited based upon how they fared at the 2012 event in Turkey.
“They picked the top countries so they’re all very good players, they’re all very skilled,” Henderson said. “There’s always Korea, the U.S., and Japan who are always right up there.
“You’ve got to play your own game but also keep an eye on them.”
Playing on home soil will put added pressure on the Canadians, but Henderson says that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
“If there’s pressure, it means you’re doing something right and you’re expected to complete something,” she said. “Definitely everyone here wants us to play well and play our best and hopefully hold up that trophy at the end of the week.
“There’s always going to be that little bit, you just have to take the challenge and run with it.”
And given her place in the world rankings, that’s an attitude Henderson plans to take on to the course.
“Like I said, you have to take that challenge and perform your best,” she said. “If you’re able to represent your country and the people around you along the way, that’s perfect.
“The key is definitely to play my own game. It’s a team event but if I play well then it’s going to help my team in the long run.”
Golf is slated to return to the Summer Olympics in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and if the Canadian team was selected now, Henderson would make the cut as the highest-ranked female among pro golfers in the country. Although that selection won’t be made for a while, Henderson definitely wants to wear Canada’s colours in an Olympic competition.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to play for Canada and go to the Olympics,” she said. “I’m excited right now because I am the No. 1-ranked professional in Canada so if the team was chosen right now I’d be picked to go to Rio and compete.
“I’m excited to be in this position and hopefully over the next two years I stay there.”
Click here for pairings for the World Junior Girls Championship.
