Canada's Brooke Henderson wins ShopRite LPGA Classic, her 11th career pro title
While Lindsey Weaver-Wright finished her round at the ShopRite LPGA Classic, Canada's Brooke Henderson got ready.
Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ont., held a one-shot lead over the American, but with No. 18 a par-5, the Canadian knew that a playoff was a distinct possibility. Sure enough, Weaver-Wright birdied the hole and forced an extra hole of golf at the LPGA event.
Henderson had made the most of her time waiting for Weaver-Wright and gotten prepared.
"It was a bit of a long wait, which makes it tricky," said Henderson. "I just tried to eat a lot to get the energy up, and then I just went to the locker room and just reflected a little bit.
"I was just grateful for the opportunity to go out there."
Henderson's preparation paid off in an eagle on the playoff hole -- again on the par-5 No. 18 at Seaview Bay Course in Galloway, N.J. -- to win her 11th title on the LPGA Tour. She was already the winningest professional golfer in Canadian history, but her latest victory added to her ongoing legacy.
She started Sunday in ninth, well back of Sweden's Frida Kinhult, the tournament's leader after two rounds. But Kinhult faltered on Sunday with a 4-over round as Henderson came out firing with three birdies and an eagle on the front nine to close the gap, peppering in two more birdies on the back nine for a bogey-free 7-under round.
"To start the day if they would've said 'you're in a playoff to win' I would've been super happy," said Henderson. "I just tried to take that mindset. With playoffs you really only have one opportunity, so you kind of have to give it your all and go to win.
"I just tried to hit solid shots and I was able to make eagle there, which is really cool."
Weaver-Wright, who finished her round after Henderson, birdied her final two holes to tie the Canadian at 12-under overall and force the playoff.
North of the border, word started to spread of Henderson's win at the PGA Tour's RBC Canadian Open at St. George's Golf and Country Club in Toronto.
Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., was the low Canadian at the national men's golf championship, was thrilled when he heard the news.
"I'm blown away. She's incredibly talented. From all Canadians, congrats Brooke, that's really special," said Conners, who was Henderson's teammate on the Canadian Olympic team at the 2021 Tokyo Games. "Eleven wins on the LPGA Tour is so amazing and I'm sure she's far from done with that.
"She's an incredible young lady and obviously an incredible player. So congrats, well done and enjoy a nice celebration."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Second Cup closes Montreal franchise over hateful incident
Second Cup Café has closed one of its franchise locations in Montreal following allegations of hateful remarks and gestures made by the franchisee in a video that was widely circulated online during a pro-Palestinian protest on Thursday.
‘It’s pretty emotional:’ N.B. family escape fire, plan to rebuild home
A family in Riverview, N.B., is making plans for Christmas and the future after escaping a fire in their home on November, 14.
Cargo ship runs aground in St. Lawrence River near Morrisburg, Ont.
A large cargo ship remains stuck in the St. Lawrence River after running aground on Saturday afternoon.
Scurvy resurgence highlights issues of food insecurity in Canada's rural and remote areas
A disease often thought to only affect 18th century sailors is reemerging in Canada.
B.C. man awarded $800K in damages after being injured by defective bear banger
A B.C. man has been awarded nearly $800,000 in damages as compensation for injuries he sustained from a defective bear banger, according to a recent court decision.
A man called 911 for help during a home invasion. Las Vegas police fatally shot him
A Las Vegas man called for police help during a home invasion before an officer fatally shot him, according to authorities and 911 calls.
Cat caught in hunting snare rescued by BC SPCA
Donations are ramping up for a BC SPCA cat with a mangled paw after being caught in a hunting snare, one of a rising number of pets to fall prey to the hunting device.
These royal residences are opening their doors this Christmas
Not so long ago, if you wanted to spend Christmas with the royal family, the only way to get close was to press your nose up to the TV screen during the monarch’s Christmas speech.
'Still working full time on it:' One year later police continue to search for gunman in Caledon double murder linked to ex-Olympian
One year after a couple was shot and killed in their Caledon home in what investigators have described as a case of mistaken identity, Ontario Provincial Police say they are still trying to figure out who pulled the trigger.