OUT OF THE WOODS
Cheyenne Woods comes out from her uncle’s shadow to tie course record at Manulife Classic,
CAMBRIDGE, ONT.— Brooke Henderson felt her growing popularity during the first round of the Manulife LPGA Classic.
Chants of “Go Canada Go!” and cheers every time she dropped a putt followed her around the course on Thursday at Whistle Bear Golf Club. But the Smith Falls, Ont., native felt she didn’t give the pro-Canadian crowd much to cheer about in her first round by shooting1-under par 71 for tie for 86th place.
“It was different. The crowd was more in my favour which was amazing and such an awesome experience,” said Henderson, who is not a full-time LPGA member due to age requirements. She was given a sponsor’s exemption for the tournament. “I’m hoping that the next couple days I’ll play well enough so that the crowd’s not just there to see me play but to see me play really well.”
The crowd, instead, got a surprise performance from a familiar name. Cheyenne Woods, the niece of Tiger Woods, joined Cristie Kerr and K.P. Kongkraphan in tying the course record with 9-under 63s.
Woods had eight birdies — five of those in the final nine holes — to go with an eagle and one bogey. It was quite the turnaround for Woods, who missed the last five cuts at tournaments.
“I played really solid all day,” said Woods.
It was just the second time this season that Woods has shot under 70, and bettered her LPGA career-best round of 65.
“I had one bogey, which was a stupid three putt, but overall I played solid,” said Woods. “And I think the biggest thing, we were just having fun out there, Jaye Marie (Green) and I were talking the whole day and it was very relaxed atmosphere while we were playing. That’s sometimes when I play my best and I guess it worked out.”
The top Canadian on the day was Alena Sharp, who carded a 5-under par 67. The Hamilton native started off slow, admitting she was nervous playing less than an hour from home, but managed to reel off five straight birdies at one point. Natalie Gleadall of Stratford, Ont., one of two players that advanced to the Manulife Classic from the Monday qualifier, was at 4-under, with Toronto’s Sue Kim at 3-under.
Henderson joined Quebec’s Sara-Maude Juneau and Toronto’s Rebecca Lee-Bentham at 1-under, while sister Brittany Henderson, Jennifer Kirby, from Paris, Ont. and Lorie Kane of Prince Edward Island, shot even par 72. Augusta James, the other qualifier from Bath, Ont., was at 4-over.
It’s been a hectic start of the week leading up to Henderson’s opening round, as she’s had photo shoots and several media requests. While it’s unusual for her, she said that didn’t affect her performance.
“Definitely there is a lot of support and there was a lot more attention than I’m used to on a regular LPGA Tour event, but I enjoyed it and I try to see it as a fun experience and fun opportunity to learn what it’s like,” she said.
“Stacy (Lewis) and Lydia Ko and Brittany Lincicome, they get that every week, so I’m hoping I’ll be like them in the future and it’s a learning experience. I think I did a good job in my preparation, I just wasn’t 100 per cent today.
“One-under, I’ll take it if it’s my worst day.”
Henderson, who admits that she is usually aggressive on the golf course, said she held back at certain points when she probably she have just played her usual style.
“The wind wasn’t quite as strong and I think it influenced a couple shot today and a couple lines where I was thinking the wind would be stronger and it was a lot lighter. So I think I could have taken it a little more aggressive on a couple tee shots and a couple approach shots.”
Henderson though, knows it’s just one day of four.
“I’ll just build off today, learn from it and play better tomorrow.”