Defending champ Henderson battles for solid start at CPKC Women’s Open

EDMONTON – After a lengthy final-hole birdie, Brooke Henderson will look to make a Friday move and put herself in prime position to successfully defend her title at the CPKC Women’s Open.

Henderson, who opened with a 3-under 67, hadn’t played on the LPGA Tour in two weeks and admitted with a smile she felt that break after opening with a bogey on the par-4 1st.

She got it right back with a birdie on No. 2 and made five more along the way, including a stretch of three in a row on Nos. 10-12 after making the turn. Henderson said her closing birdie on No. 18 was “very important.”

“I really wanted it. I hit it really hard. Thought it hit the wall, but to see it go in was really nice. The scores are very low out here today and the leaders especially, so just trying to go out tomorrow and make a bunch of birdies and try to catch them,” Henderson said.

She trails first-round leader Miyu Yamashita by five shots after the opening round.

Henderson’s Thursday efforts so far this season on the LPGA Tour haven’t been her best, as she sits 63rd on the circuit in first-round scoring average. She bounces back nicely for her second rounds, usually, sitting fifth in day-two scoring. But Henderson said she was awfully pleased with her start on home soil – especially her closing birdie in front of the biggest crowd of the day.

The native of Smiths Falls, Ont., also said she was proud of the way she bounced back through Thursday. Any bogey she made was quickly erased with a birdie and Henderson said she feels like she’s set up for success on Friday.

“I'm happy with 3-under. Definitely going to need a little bit more tomorrow, but good start,” Henderson said.

Henderson, who is ranked No. 11 in the world, is looking to become the first golfer to go back-to-back at the CPKC Women’s Open since Lydia Ko in 2012-13, with, ironically, the latter also coming at Royal Mayfair.

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No Canadian, other than Henderson, has won the tournament more than once.