Surging Henderson leads pack in Shanghai

As kids in Smiths Falls, Ont., were dreaming of becoming the next Brooke Henderson on Thursday night, the real thing was making a hole-in-one and beginning her surge to the top of the leaderboard at the Buick LPGA Shanghai in China.

Henderson aced the par-3 second hole at the Qizhong Garden Golf Club for her second holein-one of the season and the seventh of her career. She went on to shoot a scorching 8-under-par 64 on Friday morning and leads by two heading into the weekend at 11-under.

“When I have a hole-in-one in past tournaments, it’s been a really good thing,” said Henderson. “I’ve gone on to play really well. So I was excited.”

The Canadian star’s 64 tied the tournament record. She made an ace, seven birdies and just a single bogey

“I really like this golf course. I feel like it does suit my game really well,” Henderson said after her round. “It’s important to hit a lot of fairways, and the greens are so large that you’re going to hit a lot of greens, but the proximity to the hole is really important.”

She’ll head to the third round two strokes ahead of American star Jessica Korda (-9), and with a three-shot lead over Danielle Kang (-8).

Henderson hit a 9-iron on the par-3 second hole, and it was Kang ’s caddy Olly Brett who saw the Canadian star’s ball go in the hole.

“I didn’t see it at all,” Henderson said. “And then Olly, one of the caddies in our group, turned and said, ‘That went in.’ We were like ‘What, really?’ That was pretty cool. It definitely got my day started in the right direction.”

Henderson is looking for her third win of the season.