PGA of Canada

pRO:file F or an instant, Brooke Hender- son acts like your typical 16- year-old. Leaning back on a chair on the patio at FireRock Golf Club outside of London, ont., Henderson picks at a chicken wrap and fries and talks about her plans for the evening. "We're going to see Dawn of the Planet of the Apes," she says, referencing the hit movie currently playing at a nearby mul- tiplex. "I hear it is really good." It may be the only time Henderson ap- pears like your usual teen. A half hour earlier the amateur golfer, ranked No. 2 in the world at the time, but now in the top spot, wandered up the hill from the bowl-shaped 18th green at FireRock with a victory at the PGA of Canada Women's Championship. How did Henderson pull it off ? By making a hole-in-one in the first round and five consecutive birdies in the second to shoot the tournament record at 13-under-par over 36 holes. e runner-up finished five shots behind. To call the victory impressive would be an understatement. It was a declaration— an indication that Henderson's days of playing amateur golf are likely numbered. It is something she recognizes. "My dream is to play on the LPGA Tour and I'm trying to get there as fast as I can," she says. "I just love being on the golf course and trying to improve and get better." And she is getting better. Aer the PGA of Canada Women's Championship, Henderson went to the U.S. Women's Am. She narrowly lost there—her oppo- nent, Kristen Gillman, made a boatload of birdies over the final holes—but rallied to make the cut at the CP Women's open, where the fairways were lined with spec- tators anxious to see what all the fuss was about. en it was off to caddie for her sister at LPGA qualifying school and then to Japan to play in the World Ama- teur Championship. roughout it all, Henderson seemed to start enjoying the attention and be- coming more comfortable with her status as Canada's can't-miss kid. "[I'm] a lot more comfortable on the big stage, which is awesome because when I was in here and I was 14, I was pretty nervous, and didn't really know anybody," Henderson said at the CP Women's open. "Now I know the other pros and they know me, and I'm more comfortable in the big setting with all the fans and all the cameras." e interest in Henderson's future turned red-hot in recent months, some- thing that will only be accentuated by her latest victory. Noted Canadian golf writer Lorne Rubenstein sent the Twitterverse aflutter last month with the comment that the LPGA had turned down a re- quest for a special exemption for Hender- 22  | PGA PRo:FoRMANCE

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