Canadian young gun a top gun
After all she had been forced to contend with, to say Brooke Henderson was happy was an understatement.
Canadian young gun Henderson was crowned champion of the inaugural LPGA Tour event on Kiwi soil yesterday, sealing the New Zealand Women’s Open title by five shots in strong westerly winds at the Windross Farm course near Auckland.
On what was the fifth day of the tournament after heavy rain squalls and high winds meant the final round could not be completed on Sunday, the 20-year-old world No 12 set out with a four shot lead and 12 holes to complete.
It was an advantage she would not relinquish to secure the US$195,000 (NZ$269,000) winner’s cheque with a tournament total of 17-under par, China’s Yan Jing claiming outright second on 12-under and South Korea’s Park Hee Young a further one back in third.
Kiwi star Lydia Ko had a double bogey, triple bogey finish, resulting in a three-over 75 final round which saw the event host fall down the leaderboard to end up in a tie for 22nd.
After lighting up the links-style layout at Ardmore across the first two days, third round leader Belen Mozo of Spain also faded in the
often brutal spring conditions to card a six-over final round and finish in a tie for fifth at nine-under.
There were few such troubles for Henderson and after being draped in a korowai (traditional Ma¯ ori cloak) next to the 18th green where she had sealed a commanding win with a birdie, the affable Canadian said she felt amazing.
‘‘To get my first win outside North America and my fifth win on the LPGA Tour, it’s really incredible.
‘‘It’s a dream come true to win out here in New Zealand ... we are going to go down to Queenstown and celebrate.’’
It was always going to be the one who handled the mentalitytesting wind and rain best that would likely prevail, and Henderson was that person in carding an impressive three-under 69 final round to go with rounds of 65, 70 and 67 across the first three days.
Understandably, she was very proud of how, with a lot of help from older sister and caddie Brittany, she had handled ‘‘probably the worst’’ conditions she had played in.
‘‘Between the wind and rain, all the different delays and how long it took to play 18 holes of golf, we tee’d off at I don’t even remember what time yesterday morning and we’ve only finished right now.
‘‘It’s been really long and mentally draining but I’m definitely still a little high on adrenaline at the moment knowing this trophy is mine.
‘‘It’s been really crazy and the weather has been unbelievable. I feel like Brit and I did an awesome job adapting to conditions.’’
With most of the cards in her favour as she stood on the seventh green when play resumed yesterday, Henderson was just a solid final 12 holes away in the increasingly blustery conditions from securing the crown.
A bogey five at the tricky eighth hole may have brought on a few nerves but the fact Brittany Lincicome had double bogeyed the seventh and Mozo had done the same at eight meant the leader’s advantage was still comfortable.
She got her round immediately back on track with four straight pars and when she made birdie at at the par-three 13th to stretch her buffer to six shots with six holes to play, the title was all but in Henderson’s grasp.
Bogey at the par-four 16th was a minor mis-step but the second youngest major winner in women’s golf history, behind only Ko, ensured the Kiwi fans got a fitting finish, nailing her approach at the par-five last to five feet and draining the birdie putt.
‘‘I feel like I had a lot of pressure off me this week, which is probably why I got off to such a fast start,’’ Henderson, who hails from Ontario, said.
‘‘To be able to play this well on this course was incredible. This season has been a bit up and down. ‘‘To get my second win [this year], I’m really excited for the last five events I’m going to play in.’’