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Henderson becomes Canada’s top golf winner with LPGA triumph
NEW YORK, June 17, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Brooke Henderson fired a two-under par
69 Sunday to grab a one-stroke victory at the LPGA Meijer Classic, becoming
the winningest Canadian golfer in history with her ninth career crown.
Henderson had been level with Sandra Post, former Masters champion Mike
Weir and George Knudson on eight career victories until capturing her second
Meijer title in three seasons.
“That’s really cool,” Henderson said. “Earlier this year, to get my eighth
win and to tie that record was a huge deal for me. Now, to kind of
breakthrough, that is awesome.”
It was the second title of the year for the 21-year-old prodigy, who also
took the LPGA Lotte Championship in April in Hawaii. She has won at least one
LPGA title in five consecutive years and at least two in four straight years.
Henderson finished 72 holes at Blythefield Country Club in Grand Rapids,
Michigan, on 21-under par 267.
That was enough to edge a pack on 268 that included Australian Su Oh,
Japan’s Nasa Hataoka and Americans Brittany Altomare and Lexi Thompson.
American Morgan Pressel was sixth on 272, one stroke ahead of compatriots
Nelly Korda and Annie Park.
Henderson birdied the par-5 fourth and par-4 sixth holes, added another at
the par-3 13th and took her lone bogey at the par-4 16th but closed with
back-to-back pars to secure the historic victory.
Henderson, whose caddie is her sister Brittany, took Father’s Day to praise
her dad Dave Henderson, the only golf instructor she has ever had, who
attended with Brooke’s mother Darlene.
“He’s my coach and he’s always helped both Brit and I to get better and to
improve,” Henderson said. “Before the tournament starts, we’re always talking
through strategy, practice rounds, trying to make good decisions and hit the
ball in the right places.
“As the tournament goes on, we talk about the pin sheets before the rounds,
try to get a good strategy again. If we make mistakes out there, he’s just
trying to correct them so we don’t make them again.
“So we owe a lot to him and we’re happy when he’s able to join us at
tournaments.”
It was Henderson’s second LPGA Father’s Day victory and the third in her
career.
“It’s just fun to be able to celebrate and get a win, especially on a
special day,” Henderson said.
Oh was pleased with a career-low 64 in the final round.
“I told myself to go low, but because I was so far behind, I had to go low
to be in contention,” she said. “Luckily, the greens were soft enough that I
could be quite aggressive to (go) straight at pins. I tried my best.”
BSS/AFP/GMR/0831 hrs