Inbee Park one-shot back at LPGA North Texas Shootout
Saturday 2 May 2015 03:54, UK
Canadian teenager Brooke Henderson fired a six-under par 65 on Friday to grab a one-shot lead after two rounds of the LPGA North Texas Shootout.
The 17-year-old, who is not a member of the LPGA and had to qualify to make the field, moved to eight-under for the tournament to hold a narrow advantage over world No 2 Inbee Park and 54-year-old Juli Inkster.
Henderson made six birdies in a blemish-free round, while Park finished with back-to-back birdies to stay in contention ahead in to the weekend.
The Canadian is making a habit of contending in LPGA events, having held the second-round and third-round leads before finishing in third place at last week's Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic.
“I learned a lot from the atmosphere last week and just watching some of the other players,” Henderson said. “I had a lot of emotions, and I really don't know how to explain it.”
Victory would make Henderson the first Monday qualifier to win since Laurel Kean at the 2000 State Farm LPGA Classic, and the first Canadian in the winner's circle since Lorie Kane in 2001.
Lexi Thompson, Mi Hyang Lee, Hee Young Park and Karine Icher are tied for fourth at six-under, with America's Cristie Kerr part of the group a further stroke back.
World No 1 Lydia Ko, who only just made the cut after a three-under second round 68, wasn’t surprised to see the fellow teenager top of the leaderboard.
"I knew Brooke was a very talented golfer,” Ko said. “I feel like she's quite aggressive and she's holing a lot of putts, she's striking the ball very well. “
