Refreshing start for Henderson at Evian
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE Canada’s Brooke Henderson is two shots back of the lead after the first round of the Evian Championship.
The 21-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., shot a 4-under 67 Thursday. Maria Torres of Puerto Rico and Carlota Ciganda of Spain lead the way at 6 under in the final major of the LPGA Tour season.
“I didn’t capitalize as much on my back nine as I would’ve liked to, but overall to shoot minus-4 on this golf course, I’m really happy with it,” Henderson said.
Henderson is coming off a win at the CP Women’s Open last month in Regina, her second victory of the season.
She took a week off at home last week and said that’s paying off.
“I feel like I’m back in playing form,” Henderson said. “I tried to play the next week (in Portland), but kind of lost some energy. I feel like the energy is back and I’m hitting the ball well.”
Torres, the first Puerto Rican player to get an LPGA Tour card, went birdie-birdie-eagle from the 13th to 15th holes.
“I just want to come here and play and whatever happens, happens,” Torres said.
Both excelled on the par 5s. Torres played the four long holes in 5 under, including her eagle at No. 15, against three birdies for the 28-year-old Ciganda, who previously helped Arizona State win a college title.
American Austin Ernst, who is one shot back, made an eagle at the 13th in a 5-under 66 to stand alone in third place. A three-player group at 67 included Japan’s Nasa Hataoka, Henderson and twotime major winner So Yeon Ryu of South Korea.
Georgia Hall, the British Open champion last month, had a bogey-free 68 to join a big group at 3 under, which included seventime major winner Inbee Park of South Korea.
Top-ranked Sung Hyun Park had a tough day, shooting a 6-over 77 in the same group as Hall. The South Korean, who won the PGA Championship in July, dropped shots at four of the first five holes.