Henderson Staying For The Weekend At Shaughnessy
Canada's Brooke Henderson Had A Nice Bounce Back Round Of 68 In Round 2 Of The CPKC Women's Open - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/BC Golf
By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf
It was difficult to know who was more relieved, Brooke Henderson or the organizers of the CPKC Women’s Open.
Suffice to say everyone was delighted when Henderson, the face of this tournament, rebounded with a bogey-free four-under 68 in Friday’s second round and comfortably made the cut.
Henderson drives ticket sales at this event and her early departure would have left a huge void at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club.
Henderson began the day at three-over par, one shot shy of the projected cutline. She acknowledged feeling a different kind of pressure as she began her fight to make the cut at a tournament she has never missed a weekend at since turning pro.
“Yeah, it’s not a good feeling,” Henderson said of having to chase the cut at what she says is her biggest tournament of the year. “I think the big key for me today was just to try to get off to a fast start, try to hit a bunch of fairways and greens, and try to give myself some good looks. You know, be a little bit more relaxed out there. Birdie looks is always what you’re really after, and today I gave myself a bunch and was able to make a few.”
Henderson was followed by large, supportive gallery that seemed to be willing her to the finish line. They exploded with loud cheers whenever she made a birdie. They didn’t have to wait long, as Henderson birdied her second hole of the day, the par 5 11th at Shaughnessy.
“They were happy when I started making birdies,” she said “That was really nice. When I chipped in on No. 1 (her 10th hole), that was a really loud cheer and that was a lot of positivity. It made me feel a lot better about my game and where I was at. The fan support was really clutch today and I’m excited for the weekend. Hopefully everyone continues to come out.”
Henderson sits at one-under through 36 holes and is tied for 11th, six shots behind leader Megan Khang. “I’m super excited to play on the weekend,” she said. “Hopefully I can just continue to climb the leaderboard and move up a little bit.”
By her standards, Henderson has had an indifferent year. She has struggled, especially of late, and welcomed a round that had lots of positives. “Yeah, I needed a confidence boost after the last few weeks and after yesterday, so this feels good. Hopefully just continue on and keep pushing.”
Henderson and everyone else who survived the cut are chasing Khang, a 25-year-old Massachusetts native who matched the tournament scoring record at Shaughnessy with a six-under 66 that left her at seven-under par. Khang did most of her damage on the back nine, when she rolled in five straight birdies.
Khang is now convinced that birdies are indeed available at a Shaughnessy course that had her playing more defensive golf than she’d like. “Coming in, during the practice rounds, we were all, whoa, didn’t realize we were playing another major,” she said “Definitely, birdies are out there.”
Sweden’s Linn Grant is solo second at six-under after a one-under 71 Friday. First-round leader Yuka Saso of Japan and Korea’s Jin Young Ko share third at five-under par. Hamilton’s Alena Sharp was only other Canadian to make the cut. She’s tied for 33rd at one-over par.
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CHIP SHOTS: The cut fell at four-over par and 71 players survived to play the weekend. Only three LPGA Tour events have had higher cuts this year and two of them were major championships.