Canadian teen phenom earns her first Symetra Tour title
Brooke Henderson took a break from her pursuit of an LPGA Tour card on the weekend, but it was still all business for the 17-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont.
Henderson came from behind on Sunday to capture her first Symetra Tour title in the Four Winds Invitational at South Bend, Ind., and in the process became the third-youngest winner in the tour’s history.
“It’s amazing to win and I’m so thankful that I got the sponsor’s exemption this week,’’ Henderson said. “I’m very grateful for the win here and I think it will be a big confidence booster.’’
Henderson, currently 51st on the LPGA rankings list, is the highest-ranked player to ever compete in an event on the Symetra Tour, the official developmental tour for the LPGA Tour. Coming off a tie for fifth place in an LPGA Tour major last weekend, she closed the Symetra event with a 3-under-par 69 for a three-stroke victory, finishing at 10-under 206 at the Blackthorn Golf Club. Henderson had sat in a tie for 27th at the end of Round 1 on Friday.
“I’ve been busy, but I wouldn’t change it for the world, it has been a lot of fun,’’ Henderson said. “People often ask me how busy it is and why I don’t take a week off, but I love being out here, and I think every week I am learning a bit more about myself and my game, and I think it is helping me be better.’’
Henderson surged into the lead on Sunday with consecutive birdies on 11, 12 and 13. She parred the next four before giving a stroke back at 18.
“I was 1 under on the front nine and I knew I was near the lead, but I was kicking myself because I knew I needed to get it going,’’ she said. “Holes 11 and 12 were huge turning points, where Dottie (Ardina) and I kind of switched positions, and then I was able to keep it from there.’’
Second-round leader Ardina, of the Philippines, settled for a final-round 74 that left her in a four-way tie for second along with American Selanee Henderson (65), Jessica Wallace (70) of Langley, B.C., and Italy’s Giulia Molinaro (70).
Henderson’s older sister, Brittany, a regular on the Symetra Tour, wrapped up her weekend with a 3-under 69 that left her tied for 27th with a 2-under total.
Because she’s still too young to have status on the LPGA Tour (members must be 18), Henderson is trying to win enough money to give her the equivalent of a 40th-place finish in 2015, which would put her in the Tour for 2016. (The LPGA ruled it would retroactively credit her for money earned in 2015 when she turns 18 in September). She had about $317,000 after last week, and about $448,000 was needed last year to secure a top-40 finish.