There’s another teenager leading the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic Presented by CTBC.
17-year-old Brooke M. Henderson shot a course record 65 Friday at Lake Merced Golf Club. She started her day on the back nine with three birdies and an eagle at the par 5, 14th hole to go out in 31. She carded a 34 on the front nine including a bogey at the par 4, fifth hole then bounced back with birdies on the next two holes to get to 9-under-par and take the Clubhouse lead. Henderson says playing her own game and making smart plays was her main focus on Friday to get herself into a position she’s very comfortable.
“In my amateur career I loved when I had the lead, and I just want to continue to build it,” Henderson said after her round. “I'm excited for the position I'm in and really excited for the next couple days.”
Henderson is in the field this week thanks to a sponsor invite. The former number one in the World Amateur Golf Ranking turned pro in December and has been taking her chances Monday qualifying for LPGA events and playing on the Epson Tour.
“It's always been my dream to turn professional and one day to play full time on the LPGA Tour,” Henderson said this week. “I am working my way towards that by playing a mixture of tours, some mini tour stuff, Epson, and LPGA. But it's been fun.”
In February, Henderson qualified for the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic where she finished T-33 in her first LPGA start as a professional. In March, she finished on the Epson Tour’s Florida’s Natural Charity Classic in a tie for second with her sister, Brittany.
“It's awesome, we get to practice and train together. Most of time we get to travel to tournaments together, too, which is a lot of fun. She's definitely one of my best friends and we get along really well. It's nice when we're able to you push each other to the next level.”
Brittany caddies for her sister when she isn’t playing. She is in the field at this week’s Epson Tour event in Sarasota so a family friend is on the bag this week in San Francisco for Brooke.
“I love when she's on my bag. She knows my game just as well as I do. Same goes for when I caddie for her. Her opinion means a lot to me. Just being able to lean on someone I think is very important.”
The Canadian has become a bit of a rock star at home with her successful amateur career. She won two CN Canadian Women’s Tour events as an amateur and this week was named Ontario’s Athlete of the Year for 2014. Henderson also finished runner-up at last year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur to Kristen Gillman, who she was grouped with in the first two rounds this week.
“Golf in Canada is definitely growing, and you see that over the last couple years,” said Henderson. “The U.S. Amateur, both men and women, there were two finalists that were Canadian. The national teams are really improving. A lot of positives, and I'm excited for what the future holds.”
It will be exciting to see what the future holds for Henderson as well.
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