LPGA: Brooke Henderson takes the lead in the Évian Championship

ÉVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — Canada’s Brooke Henderson birdied eight times, including three in a row to end her run, en route to a second-round score of 64 (minus-7) that allowed her to build a cushion of three strokes in the lead of the Évian Championship, Friday.

Henderson, who was second after the first round tied with American Nelly Korda, continued her momentum on the prestigious Evian course. His only misstep was a bogey on the third hole, a par-4. The main interested party believes she knows where her success so far comes from.

“I’ve eaten a lot of pancakes so far in France,” she said with a smile. If I want this to continue, I’ll have to eat even more. »

The 24-year-old Ontarian is chasing a ninth career victory on the LPGA Tour, and a second major title after her triumph at the Tour Championship in 2016. Her career-best result at the Évian Championship is ninth place, in 2016 .

“It’s nice to get off to a good start in a major tournament,” Henderson said.

“I haven’t been able to do that for a long time. To be so far under par is wonderful because I feel like I’m hitting the ball with ease and getting my putts right,” she added.

Henderson leads overall Korda, who hit her approach shot three feet from the cup and followed that up with a putt for an eagle on the last green to play 67 (minus-4).

The American, who is at minus-11 overall, started her round with 10 consecutive pars. The Olympic champion was still par when she birdied after a 15-foot putt on the 14th hole. Which set the stage for his grand end of the round: a birdie on the 17th, followed by an eagle on the 18th, a par-5, after a long second shot with a left-to-right spin that landed in the middle of the green and rolled just next to the cut.

This is Korda’s fifth tournament since returning to her professional career, after being out for four months due to surgery to remove a blood clot from her arm. Like Henderson, she is chasing a second career Grand Slam title, following her Women’s Championship triumph last year.

South Koreans So Yeon Ryu and Hyo Joo Kim scored identical 66s to tie for third at 9 under.

An imposing group of golfers then points to minus-8, including the Spaniard Carlota Ciganda (67) and the local favorite, Perrine Delacour (68).

The leader after the first round, Ayaka Furue, completed the course in 72 shots, nine more than the day before, and follows in a group at under-7.

For her part, Maude-Aimée Leblanc, from Sherbrooke, shot 71 to find herself at plus-4 overall. It will obviously not be able to avoid the ax for the rounds of the weekend.