Henderson takes lead at Shootout
Canadian teen shoots 65 on Friday to lead heading into weekend
IRVING, TEXAS — Canadian Brooke Henderson shot a 6-under 65 on Friday in the North Texas Shootout, giving the 17-year-old Canadian the lead going into the weekend.
Henderson, of Smiths Falls, Ont., had a bogey-free round to reach 8-under 134 total at Las Colinas, a stroke ahead of 2013 winner Inbee Park and 54-year-old Juli Inkster.
“I hit a lot of good shots,” Henderson said. “My putter was really working. I had a lot of birdie opportunities, and I was able to make a lot. I made a really long putt on 16, which really kept the momentum going, and it was lucky, too. ... On the back nine, my driver struggled a little bit, and I was able to hit some great shots out of trees and under limbs and everything and able to keep it going.”
Denied a waiver to the LPGA Tour’s minimum-age requirement of 18 last year, Henderson earned the last spot in the field Tuesday in a playoff in the qualifier. Last week in California in the Swinging Skirts, she led after the second and third rounds, but fell a stroke short of a playoff that Lydia Ko won over Morgan Pressel.
“Last week definitely helped out a lot, finishing solo third and having a chance to win on Sunday was a lot of fun, and I definitely learned a lot from it,” Henderson said.
“And then I had to qualify earlier in the week, so I just sort of kept the momentum rolling.”
The top-ranked Ko rallied Friday to push her career-long cuts streak to 51, following her opening 75 with a 68 to make it on the number at 1-over 143. The 18-year-old New Zealander was tied for 62nd.
Park had a 66, and Inkster shot 69.
Lexi Thompson, Mi Hyang Lee, Hee Young Park and Karine Icher were tied for fourth at 6 under.
Michelle Wie was four strokes back at 4 under after a 70. She was 7 under through 12 holes, but bogeyed three of the last four holes.