MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Canadian star Brooke Henderson holed out for eagle from a greenside bunker on the quick par-4 seventeenth to the delight of her giant partisan gallery and shot a 6-under 65 on Saturday for a share of the lead with Minjee Lee within the CPKC Ladies’s Open.
“Earlier than I acquired into the bunker I used to be pondering, ‘I could make this. It is very makeable,'” Henderson stated. “I used to be actually pleased with the place the tee shot ended up and had a extremely good line within the bunker. I knew I needed to hit it gentle as a result of it was actually quick. It was good to land it proper the place I needed to and see it go in.”
The 2018 champion at Wascana in Saskatchewan, Henderson had the eagle, six birdies and two bogeys in breezy and cloudy circumstances at Mississaugua Golf and Nation Membership. She gained the final of her 13 LPGA Tour titles in January 2023.
“It is all the time been a extremely particular week,” Henderson stated. “I really feel like I’ve discovered a lot each single 12 months taking part in in it. I used to be simply making an attempt to lean again on some occasions after I’ve had quite a lot of success right here, what I did and the mentality I had going into it.”
Lee shot a 65 to match Henderson at 11-under 202. The Australian participant chipped in for birdie on the par-4 eighth, made an extended eagle putt on the par-5 twelfth. She ran in an 8-footer for one more eagle on the seventeenth, then chipped in once more to avoid wasting par on the par-4 18th.
“I might say these two [eagles] are my highlights and, clearly, the chip-in on the final,” Lee stated. “There aren’t any photos on the scorecard.”
Lee gained the KPMG Ladies’s PGA Championship in June in Texas for her third main title and eleventh LPGA Tour title. She’s No. 4 on the planet.
“I believe I it’ll simply be further thrilling being within the remaining group with Brooke,” Lee stated.
Stated Henderson: “I like taking part in with Minjee. She has a tremendous presence heading in the right direction, she is like very calm and relaxed and I really feel prefer it’s an incredible pairing for the ultimate spherical.”
Henderson, from Smith Falls, Ontario, overcame a sluggish begin Thursday. She performed the primary 11 holes on the tree-lined structure in 3 over, then fought again for an even-par 71, and had a shot 66 on Friday.
“It is simply so thrilling to be taking part in right here this week,” Henderson stated. “The crowds been phenomenal. Simply so blissful to be taking part in at house and hopefully only one extra good day.”
Akie Iwai, the Portland Traditional winner final week who took a three-stroke lead into the weekend, bogeyed the primary three holes in a 72 to drop right into a tie for third at 8 beneath with top-ranked Jeeno Thitikul.
Thitikul shot 69. She’s making her first begin since taking the No. 1 spot on the planet from Nelly Korda.
Aphrodite Deng, the 15-year-old Canadian beginner who was tied for second after a gap 66, was 6 beneath after a 68.
“It has been unimaginable with all of the individuals out right here supporting me,” Deng stated.
Korda was tied for twenty fourth at 3 beneath after a 72.
