Canada’s Henderson keeps 2-shot lead at LPGA event
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — Brooke Henderson bogeyed the final two holes for a 4-under 67, leaving the 19-year-old Canadian with a two-stroke lead Friday in the Meijer LPGA Classic.
Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., had seven birdies — four in a row on Nos. 9-12 — and three bogeys to reach 12-under 130 and break the 36-hole record at Blythefield. She had a one-stroke lead Thursday after an opening 63.
Her approach on the par-4 17th rolled down a hill and she twoputted.
On the par-4 18th, she missed the green, left her chip well short and missed the long par putt.
“I kind of let emotions get into things and I was chasing birdie to try and get it back,” Henderson said. “Unfortunately, two bogeys to finish. Hopefully, that just gives me a little bit more motivation going into (the third round).”
Maude-Aimee Leblanc (65) of Sherbrooke, Que., is 5 under, while Hamilton’s Alena Sharp (72) is 3 under. Calgary’s Jennifer Ha shot an opening-round 64 but faltered to an 80 on Friday to miss the cut. Augusta James of Bath, Ont., also missed the cut.
Fellow major champion Lexi Thompson, coming off a playoff loss to Ariya Jutanugarn this past Sunday in Canada, followed her opening 64 with a 68 to join 2016 runner-up Carlota Ciganda (64) and Mi Jung Hur (66) at 10 under.
Henderson won twice last year, taking the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship for her first major, and successfully defending her title in the Cambia Portland Classic. She has a 36-hole lead for the first time since last September in China in the Reignwood LPGA Classic.
“It’s great to see my name up there,” said Henderson. “It’s been a little bit of a rough season so far. But this week seems to be a turnaround week and, hopefully, I can just finish strong the next two days.”