OTTAWA | The game didn’t go over well with Brooke Henderson at the Canadian Women’s Open. She can quickly forget that poor performance on the fairways of the Ottawa Hunt Golf Club thanks to the huge dose of crowd love she received all week.
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“It was surreal to have all this support this week. I didn’t offer my best game and the spectators stayed by my side. It’s incredible, I had never dreamed of that when I was so far in the standings this weekend, expressed the champion of the 2018 edition in Regina. Fans are loyal. It’s very touching, because I felt all their love. »
Her cumulative record of -5 relegated her to 49th place on a course where she is an honorary member since she grew up in Smith Falls, about sixty kilometers south of the federal capital.
Arriving in the region last week, the best golfer in the history of Canada knew very well what awaited her. Her schedule during the week of the Canadian Women’s Open is heavily congested. Although essential, golf took second place with all the activities in which she participated, including meetings with sponsors. You had to see her signing the hundreds of autographs with a smile throughout the tournament.
At 24 and in her ninth appearance at this event, she continues to learn in this busy week. “It was a very fun and crazy week. I always try to do a little more during our national omnium, because it represents only one week in our season. I try to enjoy the time with the amateurs. »
“I’m physically and mentally tired,” she added. These are seven very trying days. I learn every time I participate in this tournament. I try to prepare myself and make sure I have enough time to play my best game. But in the Ottawa area, I know more people, so I try to engage more. »
Reto lifts the trophy
Leader at the end of the first round and trailing by two strokes at the dawn of the final round, the South African Paula Reto rolled up her sleeves on Sunday.
In her ninth season on the LPGA Tour, she savored her first career victory. To get there, the 32-year-old golfer signed a final card of 67 (-4) while the Koreans Narin An and Hye-Jin Choi remained neutral.
Sitting 142nd in the world until then, Reto narrowly edged star Nelly Korda who was looking to regain the world No. 1 spot at the finish line.
With a final score of 265 strokes, the champion achieved the second highest score in Canadian Open history. And her record of -19, thanks in particular to a record first round of 62, places her in third place.
Three-time Open champion Lydia Ko shared the third echelon with Choi.
Alena Sharp offered the best Canadian performance, finishing 17th at -10.
