OTTAWA | By scoring three birdies in the first three pennants, it was believed that Brooke Henderson would take the lead at the Canadian Women’s Open on Thursday at the Ottawa Hunt Golf Club. But a rather cold putter slowed his enthusiasm.
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The real darling of the crowd followed by an impressive horde of spectators in the opening round of the national championship gave a card of 69 (-2) and advanced to the 51st level.
Two late bogeys derailed a satisfying day. The 24-year-old Ontarian swallowed hard the one committed on the final hole. On the par 5 of 537 yards from the 9th flag (she started her round at the 10th tee), she aimed for the eagle. She required two approaches as she missed the putt for par.
“It’s definitely disappointing to finish this way on a hole where it is possible to make an eagle or a birdie,” whispered the one who nevertheless said she was very happy to have started on the wheel hats.
“On this course, when you hit an erratic shot in the wrong place, you pay the price,” she recalled of the 6,546-yard course bordered by three-inch long grass. It’s a reminder that you have to play smart and know how to place your ball in the right places to improve your chances. I’ll remember it for the rest of the week. »
To attack
Although she is seven strokes behind point guard Paula Reto, Henderson feels she delivered a good performance despite her score.
She attacked the pennants in order to collect birdies, but her putter did not cooperate. Especially on the way back. She executed no less than 32 putts during this initial round.
“I hit very well and I feel like I could have scored a lot lower, which is disappointing. A below par score isn’t bad, but I know I can bounce back tomorrow (Friday). »
She hopes her putter will stop dabbling at the right opportunities. She is not overly worried about it, she knows she can deliver a performance similar to Reto, author of a resounding card of 62 (-9).
“Anyone can start strong on Thursday. During a tournament, one can guarantee that someone will manage to play -7. But the balance eventually returns. I must however know this day of -7 or -8 this week. »
Reto obviously eclipsed the course record that Henderson had held since 2017 with a score of 63. This clean performance from the South African also earned her the best round of the season on a par-71 course.
She is ahead of Korea’s Narin An by two strokes while three Americans sit at -6.
Eighty-nine golfers broke par. The best Canadian performance goes to Alena Sharp and Maddie Szeryk, installed in 16th place at -4. The young Lucy Lin, aged 12, signed a card of 74 (+3).
►According to the golfers, the Canadian Open is intended to be a 6th major tournament of the season due to the crowds and the playing conditions. In addition to the three-inch high grass, the speed of the greens is estimated at more than 12, 5 feet on the Stimpmeter.
Rhéaume leads in Quebec
OTTAWA| Sarah-Ève Rhéaume leads the contingent of four Quebec women taking part in the omnium.
None of them managed to break the par of 71 on the fairways of the Ottawa Hunt Golf Club despite a good day in the first round on Thursday.
Aged 22, the amateur from Quebec gave a card of 72 (+1) in the middle of the day. For his taste, this one had way too many normals.
“I didn’t make enough sparrows. And during my two birdies, I followed up with a bogey. It is therefore difficult to gain momentum, ”imaged the one who represents the Royal Quebec golf club, in Boischatel.
“I didn’t play very well with my irons. I missed several greens in prescribed shots, but I wedged good putts of reasonable lengths to save pars, ”added the one who missed seven of the 18 greens.
The athlete playing for the Paladins of Furman University in South Carolina, however, was not impressed by the big stars of the LPGA Tour in this first start as a pro. She didn’t come to Ottawa to play tourist and hunt for autographs.
Instead, she arrived strong with a solid performance at the first qualifying stage of the Epson circuit, the antechamber of the LPGA. Last weekend, his score of -6 over the four rounds played in Palm Springs, Calif., allowed him to move on to the second stage of the process. She finished 32nd there.
“I’m confident and I play good golf. Today (Thursday) I stayed calm and lined up the pars. But I have to limit errors on the greens and make more birdies,” she said as the second round should take place in the rain.
Serene Leblanc
By virtue of her card of 72, Rhéaume edged veteran Maude-Aimée Leblanc and Brigitte Thibault by one stroke. Valérie Tanguay returned a score of 74 (+3). They all point beyond the 100th rank and must quickly climb the ladder to hope to sneak into the rounds of the weekend.
Of the lot, Leblanc was disappointed that her little blunders had cost her dearly. Three bogeys, a double bogey and two birdies punctuated his front nine. She had some trouble on the greens. “I didn’t demonstrate what I could do. I’m trying to work on my attitude,” said the 33-year-old Eastern Townships golfer. I have to focus on my breathing on the course. It helps me improve my performance. I missed many shots due to the tension. »
She will therefore have to limit errors on Friday in order to break into the top 70 opening access to the final rounds.