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!

 

Can Martin Kaymer Hold On????

With two rounds left of the US Open will Martin Kaymer be able to hold on?

In an article written by Ewan Murray at Pinehurst for the The Guardian on Friday he wrote: “It is debatable which group would be more annoyed by Martin Kaymer’s Friday Pinehurst procession: the remainder of the field or the office bearers at the United States Golf Association.   Kaymer’s grip on the 114th US Open has tightened to the extent that this is now his tournament to lose. A flawless second round of 65, his second in a row, created a US Open record for a 36-hole aggregate score. Kaymer sits at 10-under par, with a “catch me if you can” sign pinned on his back.”  This is not what the USGA thought would happen going into this tournament.  They thought that this course would challenge the players differently then other courses.  

The last player to reach double-digits under par heading into the weekend of a US Open was also the first: Rory McIlroy at Congressional in 2011. The Northern Irishman eventually won by eight.

 “It’s just very, very satisfying,” Kaymer added. “I said to my caddie there were a couple of shots today that I was surprised how good they were, because I was not expecting to hit it that close.”

It must be recognized that Kaymer was playing in relatively favourable conditions. Two-thirds of an inch of rain fell on Pinehurst No2 during a thunderstorm on Thursday night, thereby softening the course for the second round’s early starters to an extent that the USGA would not have wanted.

 

McIlroy, at one-under, still has aspirations of glory. His second-round 68 included a fine back nine of 33. Ian Poulter is level par, one clear of the defending champion, Justin Rose.

This tournament is coming down to the importance of a short game and the touch that comes with it.  I feel extremely sad for Phil Mickelson as the putts did not seem to want to drop for him yesterday.

 

Enjoy the last two rounds of the US Open.  Having got engaged at Pinehurst this course holds a very special place in my heart.  I love the history and passion that is put into this tournament and couldn’t be more excited that its being played at Pinehurst.