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Just play, we\u2019ll handle the rest<\/p>\nEDMONTON \u2013 After a lengthy final-hole birdie, Brooke Henderson will look to make a Friday move and put herself in prime position to successfully defend her title at the CPKC Women\u2019s Open.<\/p>\n
Henderson, who opened with a 3-under 67, hadn\u2019t played on the LPGA Tour in two weeks and admitted with a smile she felt that break after opening with a bogey on the par-4 1st.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She got it right back with a birdie on No. 2 and made five more along the way, including a stretch of three in a row on Nos. 10-12 after making the turn. Henderson said her closing birdie on No. 18 was \u201cvery important.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI really wanted it. I hit it really hard. Thought it hit the wall, but to see it go in was really nice. The scores are very low out here today and the leaders especially, so just trying to go out tomorrow and make a bunch of birdies and try to catch them,\u201d Henderson said.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n
She trails first-round leader Miyu Yamashita by five shots after the opening round.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Henderson\u2019s Thursday efforts so far this season on the LPGA Tour haven\u2019t been her best, as she sits 63rd on the circuit in first-round scoring average. She bounces back nicely for her second rounds, usually, sitting fifth in day-two scoring. But Henderson said she was awfully pleased with her start on home soil \u2013 especially her closing birdie in front of the biggest crowd of the day.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The native of Smiths Falls, Ont., also said she was proud of the way she bounced back through Thursday. Any bogey she made was quickly erased with a birdie and Henderson said she feels like she\u2019s set up for success on Friday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m happy with 3-under. Definitely going to need a little bit more tomorrow, but good start,\u201d Henderson said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Henderson, who is ranked No. 11 in the world, is looking to become the first golfer to go back-to-back at the CPKC Women\u2019s Open since Lydia Ko in 2012-13, with, ironically, the latter also coming at Royal Mayfair.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just play, we\u2019ll handle the rest<\/p>\n
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