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.

.@BrookeHenderson sits tied for 5th after the 2nd round of @hondalpgath!

Watch highlights from her day: pic.twitter.com/nAZQiWyt7W

— LPGA (@LPGA) February 23, 2018

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.”

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.”

After working out some kinks in Australia, @BrookeHenderson shoots a first round of 67 at #HondaLPGAThailand

Watch: pic.twitter.com/J9PuJxMGtG

— LPGA (@LPGA) February 22, 2018

Hamilton’s Alena Sharp opened with a 3-over 75.

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.

With 7 birdies in her first round of @hondalpgath, @BrookeHenderson sits one shot off the lead!

Watch highlights: pic.twitter.com/GdmcwBYbha

— LPGA (@LPGA) February 22, 2018

ADELAIDE, Australia – South Korea’s Jin Young Ko shot a 3-under par 69 Sunday to clinch a 3-shot, start-to-finish win the Women’s Australian Open.

Playing in her first tournament as a full LPGA member, Ko shot 65, 69, 71, 69 to lead after all four rounds and to finish with a total of 274, 14-under par at the Kooyonga Golf Club. She is the first player to win her first tournament as an LPGA member in the tour’s 67-year history.

Ko started the day four shots clear of 21-year-old Hannah Green, who was bidding to become the first Australian to win her national crown since Karrie Webb won the last of her five titles in 2014.

Green played solidly in the final group with Ko, shooting 69 and missing a birdie on the 18th which cost her a share of second place.

The stiffest challenge Sunday came from Ko’s compatriot Hyejin Choi who closed within a shot at the turn, carding four birdies on her first nine holes. Ko began with birdies at the first and second holes, then stumbled with bogeys on the par-3 third and seventh holes.

But just as her lead came under threat, she found another gear, birdying the ninth hole to regain a two-shot lead. She then pulled away with birdies at the 13th and 17th in what seemed a nerveless finish, showing the experience gained as a 10-time winner on the Korean LPGA Tour.

She ended with a regulation par on the 18th to claim her second LPGA title after previously winning the co-sanctioned KEB-Hana Bank Championship.

Ko said she felt “lots” of nerves over the final round. Asked her reaction when she holed out on 18, she said “relief.”

“I thought I could do it but I felt I had to play my game and enjoy the game,” Ko said. “My goal this week was firstly to make the cut and second to enjoy the game.

“But I won this week so I don’t know what that might mean. My goal is Rookie of the Year.” Asked by a reporter whether Player of the Year was a realistic option, Ko replied: “No, not yet.”

Ko started the tournament ranked 20 but could be close to the top-10 by the start of the next LPGA tour stop in Thailand next weekend.

Choi was relentless in pursuit, the only player other than Ko to beat par in all four rounds. She shot 69, 71, 70, 67 on the par-72 layout, finishing at 277, 11 under par.

Green, in her rookie season, had rounds of 69, 74, 66, 69 to finish third at 10-under, one shot ahead of compatriot Katherine Kirk, who finished with a 7-under 65, the day’s best round.

“I started off really well,” Green said. “My goal was to get into every major and I know that’s quite hard being a rookie this year. So hopefully I’ve made enough money and keep making money to ensure I’m definitely in.”

Canada’s Brooke Henderson missed the cut for just the 5th time since the start of the 2015 season.

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.

Tune in now @GolfChannel for live final round coverage! pic.twitter.com/oCi4DTI8wn

— LPGA (@LPGA) January 28, 2018

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.”

.@BrookeHenderson leads by 1 going into Sunday @PureSilkLPGA

Saturday highlights >> pic.twitter.com/qyQqprxU6V

— LPGA (@LPGA) January 28, 2018

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.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Scott Parel beat fellow PGA Tour Champions player Scott Dunlap on the first hole of a playoff Sunday to complete a wire-to-wire victory in the Diamond Resorts Invitational.

The 52-year-old Parel won the 32-player professional division with a par on the extra hole, the 203-yard 18th at Tranquilo Golf Club. Dunlap hit a fat shot short into water and made a double bogey.

In regulation, Dunlap made an 8-foot birdie putt for three points, and Parel failed to get up-and-down and made a bogey to fall into the playoff. Unable to play a practice round before the event because of the flu, Parelearned $125,000.

“Beware the injured animal,” Parel said. “I think low expectations (helped). My expectations were just to try to finish and do the best I can.”

Parel and Dunlap finished with 93 points in the 54-hole Modified Stableford event, Parel earned 32 points in the final round. He spent 10 years as a computer programmer before turning pro at age 31.

Dunlap had 34 points in the scoring system that awards six points for eagle, three for birdie, one for par, zero for bogey and minus-two for double bogey or worse. John Daly was third with 88 points after a 34-point day.

Five-time LPGA Tour winner Brooke Henderson, playing from the same tees as the men, was seventh with 80 points. The 20-year-old Canadian had 25 points Sunday.

Finishes 7th ✔️
Beats most of the @ChampionsTour guys ✔️
Pretty solid week at #DRIGolf for @BrookeHenderson! ? pic.twitter.com/ouQGMJj7IW

— LPGA (@LPGA) January 14, 2018

Former tennis player Mardy Fish won the 52-man celebrity division for the second time in three years, finishing with 75 points. Former hockey star Jeremy Roenick was second at 61.

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.

Brooke Henderson’s victory at the McKayson New Zealand Women’s Open came with more than a cash prize and a trophy.

Henderson was given a traditional Maori cloak after winning her first tournament outside North America, and the young Canadian golfer counts that honour as a major highlight of her successful second season on the LPGA Tour.

“That cloak represents that I’m part of that family and it’s hard to think about,” Henderson said from her home in Naples, Fla. “I’m really proud to own it and be considered part of their family.”

The September victory at the inaugural New Zealand Women’s Open was her second of the season – her first win came at the Meijer LPGA Classic in June – and was a big part of her favourite two weeks of the year. She said she enjoyed New Zealand more than any other of the 11 countries she played in in 2017 and made time for a week’s holiday with her sister (and caddie) Brittany.

Although she admitted she was slow out of the gate this year on the course, Henderson still notched top-15 finishes in 16 of the 30 events she played. She earned more than US$1.5 million and finished sixth on the money list.

She also finished top-10 in two key statistics this year, greens in regulation and scoring average.

“I know my long game has always been my strength, but to see those numbers on weeks when I played well – and some weeks that I didn’t – and to be that consistent? I’m really happy with that,” she said. “Moving into 2018 I definitely want to keep that up, work on my ball-striking this off-season but hopefully improve my short game (and) putting stats. If I can make that happen, hopefully I’ll see even better results.”

The 20-year-old called her season a success, even though she said it was more difficult to win this year versus 2016.

“For a while we had 16 different winners on Tour and no one was really taking charge of it. I feel like the talent and the level of play was a lot stronger than it has been,” she said. “To get two wins when it was like that? it definitely gives me a lot of confidence.”

Henderson also counts this year’s CP Women’s Open in Ottawa as a big highlight.

Although she struggled for the first two rounds – needing a birdie to drop on her final hole Friday just to make the 36-hole cut – she shot the course record at the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club during Saturday’s third round, an eight-under 63, to launch into contention. She eventually finished tied for 12th.

Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club gave Henderson an honorary membership last year, and Henderson’s hometown of Smiths Falls, Ont. is less than an hour away from the club.

“I was grateful to make the weekend because I wanted to put on a good show,” she said. “All these people were there to watch me. I loved their support and I really wanted to show them what I could do.

“To have the course record at my home course against some of the best players in the world? that’s awesome. It’s history.”

Henderson said her goal for next year is to move into the top 10 in the world rankings once again after peaking at No. 2 last year. She currently sits at No. 13.

“I almost want to say I know I’m a top-10 player, so it bothers me a little bit that I’m just outside,” said Henderson. “I know that will change quickly. If I get a win early in 2018 and improve on those little things that I want to in the off-season I feel I could get down into a good spot.”

Henderson now has five wins on the LPGA Tour, second to only Sandra Post (eight) among Canadians, a record that could fall next year.

For now, she will appear on some of the Golf Channel’s programming this week before returning to Smiths Falls for the holidays, where that cloak she won in New Zealand might come in handy.

“I might wear it as my winter coat when I go home,” she said.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Two Canadians will join the world’s best next season on the LPGA Tour after earning conditional status in the final stage of Qualifying School on Sunday.

Maude-Aimée LeBlanc of Sherbrooke, Que., posted a final-round 75 (+3) to tie for 32nd to earn her status by way of finishing between places 21-45.

Fellow Canadian Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., finished T32 alongside LeBlanc at 1 over par through 90 holes of stroke play at LPGA International’s Jones and Hills courses. Marchand is coming off a banner year which includes a win at Symetra Tour’s PHC Classic as well as a T30 finish at the CP Women’s Open in front of a hometown crowd at Ottawa Hunt.

Marchand and LeBlanc will join the Canadian contingent next season on Tour: Brooke Henderson (Smiths Falls, Ont.), Alena Sharp (Hamilton, Ont.), Anne-Catherine Tanguay (Quebec City, Que.).

The top 20 players in Sunday’s finale earned full status, while those finishing inside places 21-45 join Marchand and LeBlanc with conditional status.

Five Canadians fell short of making Saturday’s 72-hole cut: Jennifer Ha (Calgary), Elizabeth Tong (Thornhill, Ont.), Samantha Richdale (Kelowna, B.C.), Lorie Kane (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) and Augusta James (Bath, Ont.).

Click here for full scoring.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.  – Seven Canadians are among 166 hopefuls vying for status on the LPGA Tour in the final stage of qualifying on the Jones and Hills courses of LPGA International from Nov. 28 – Dec. 3

Leading the Canadian contingent is Canadian golf Hall-of-Famer Lorie Kane of Charlottetown, P.E.I. The four-time LPGA champion is joined by fellow Canadians Maude-Aimée LeBlanc (Sherbrooke, Que), Jennifer Ha (Calgary), Elizabeth Tong (Thornhill, Ont.), Samantha Richdale (Kelowna, B.C.), Brittany Marchand (Orangeville, Ont.) and Augusta James (Bath, Ont.).

All participants will compete in 90 holes of stroke play for one of 20 full-time LPGA cards available. Those who finish in places 21-45 (plus ties) will earn conditional status.

Click here for scoring.