16-Year-Old Brooke Henderson Steals the Spotlight at US Women's Open

 

In 2011 the Goderich Sunset Golf Club hosted the Ontario Provincial Junior Girls Championship Monday July 11th to Thursday July 14th.  This is where the elite junior girls in Ontario come together and play a three day tournament.  A recap of the results from 2011 states: Brooke Henderson and Brogan McKinnon were tied with a 72 after day one.  However Brooke and Brogan were both able to shoot under par. Brooke shot 67 and Brogan shot 69 on day two of competition.  Brooke’s 67 is a women’s record at the Goderich Sunset Golf Course from the blue tees.   Both girls pulled ahead of the group going forward into the final day with Brooke holding onto a two-shot advantage over Brogan.  The next closest to the girls was nine stroke difference.  Thursday was a beautiful day for golf and 13-year-old Brooke Henderson came to play.  She concluded the tournament with a cumulative even-par scoring total of 210 (72-67-71) allowing her to be deemed the Ontario Junior Girls Championship. 

Fast forward to 2014 and Brooke Henderson is still an amateur golfer and at the age of 16 competed in the U.S. Women’s Open making the cut and her way up the leaderboard as the week went on.  With her sister Brittney on the bag for her it was a fantastic week for the Henderson. 

Henderson from Smiths Falls, Ont has always had very ambitious goals to achieve and the US Women’s Open would be no different.  After playing four incredible rounds and a final score of 69 on Sunday she was honoured the crown of low-amateur golfer beating Minjee Lee (World’s Top Amateur) by three strokes.  Henderson was only 7 strokes behind the overall winner Michelle Wie.  

In a interview following her round when asked about finishing as low amateur with Minjee Lee still on the course Henderson was quoted saying: “Oh, it would be amazing,” she said. “There's a lot of great amateurs here. Coming in, I was trying to make the cut and then climb up the leaderboard, and I was able to do that. So I'm very happy.”

Its really quite amazing how much a year of playing, practicing and the mental aspect of a year can change where you finish.  Last year Brooke finished in 59th place.  This year she was tied for 10th.  

“It's very exciting, that's for sure. The best players in the world are here and to know that I'm right up there, it's really awesome,” Henderson said. “I still have a long way to go to where I want to be in the next couple years, but it's really exciting to know that I have the potential and it was a great finish here this week.”

The Gravett family and members of the Goderich Sunset Golf Club are beyond thrilled that Brookes hard work and dedication are paying off all over the world.  We wish her the best with the rest of the season and want her to know that we are always rooting for her!