ORLANDO, Fla. - A bogey-free remaining spherical noticed Canada’s Brooke Henderson end second on the season-opening Hilton Grand Holidays Match of Champions on Sunday.
Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., completed three strokes behind winner Danielle Kang of the U.S. – the very best end for the Canadian throughout her 4 Match of Champions appearances.
Regardless of her sixtieth bogey-free spherical since 2016 – and second in as many days – Henderson managed simply two birdies on a blustery, cool day at Lake Nona Golf and Nation Membership. She additionally missed a couple of putts the place she was pressured to accept par.
“Wasn’t actually the day I used to be in search of,“ Henderson mentioned. ”On the similar time, you grind it out fairly properly, and was completely happy to make two birdies. Sadly, that wasn’t sufficient. Nonetheless happy with how we performed on the market right this moment in these robust situations.
“I got here into this week pondering I had put in some strong work within the low season, so it’s good to see that it’s paying off. Hopefully, I can use this momentum over the subsequent couple of weeks and get a pair extra high finishes.”
Henderson opened the match with a 69 on Thursday. She adopted that up with back-to-back rounds of 68 on Friday and Saturday. The Canadian was two strokes again going into Sunday’s remaining spherical.
She completed at 13-under 275.
“For essentially the most half, I feel I did a variety of issues very well,” she mentioned. “It was good to rise up and down as many instances as I did, and even a few instances after I hit the inexperienced, I made lengthy putts. It was good to go bogey-free the final two days.
“I'd’ve preferred to make a couple of extra birdies, make a little bit bit extra of a cost, however on the finish of the day, I can’t complain an excessive amount of. In case you had instructed me initially of the week I'd be within the Prime 5, I'd be very completely happy.”
Kang ran off 5 birdies in a seven-hole stretch in the course of her spherical, posted the low rating Sunday at 4-under 68 and sprinted away to a three-shot victory.
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Kang, who was winless in 2021 after having gained in every of her earlier 4 LPGA seasons, completed at 16 below.
The 29-year-old American now has six LPGA titles.
“My psychological recreation was actually good,” mentioned Kang. “I had a very good angle all day right this moment and yesterday. I do know I left some putts on the market, however I by no means let it get to me, and I stored having to provide myself birdie possibilities as a lot as doable.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Jan. 23, 2022.
—With recordsdata from Jeff Babineau, The Related Press