Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ontario won her 10th career LPGA event on Saturday. Henderson posted a four-round score of -16 to win the Hugel-Air Premia Los Angeles Open in southern California.
This was the first time in Henderson’s career that she came from four shots back or more heading into the final round, and ended up in the winner’s circle. Heading into the final round, American Jessica Korda was at -16, and South Koreas Jin Young Ko was in second place at -15. However Korda and Ko each played poor golf in Saturday’s final round as they each went +1. This allowed Henderson to make a run and move into first place on the leaderboard. Korda finished alone in second at -15, with Australia’s Hannah Green and Ko tied for third at -14.
Henderson had scores of two-under-par 69 in round one, six-under-par 65 in round two, and then back-to-back rounds of four-under-par 67 in rounds three and four. In the first round, Henderson had birdies on the fourth, seventh, 13th, and 15th holes, and bogeys on the first and ninth holes. In the second round, Henderson had birdies on the third, fourth, ninth, 14th, 15th, 16th, and 18th holes, and a bogey on the 11th hole. In the third round, Henderson had birdies on the seventh, eighth, 12th, 15th, 16th, and 17th holes, and a double-bogey on the sixth hole. Finally, in the fourth round, Henderson had birdies on the second, fifth, seventh, 11th, 12th, and 14th holes, and bogeyed the 6th and 17th holes.
The most magical shot Henderson had in the tournament came on the 12th hole on Saturday in the fourth round. There, with the golf ball off the green, she made a 70-foot putt.