Canada’s Brooke M. Henderson got her 2023 season off to a flying start by taking control of the first event of the year, the LPGA Tournament of Champions, on Thursday in Orlando, Fla.
Since 2019, this tournament has brought together golfers who have had victories over the past two years and the young Ontarian has competed in all four editions. However, in 2022 she finished second, three shots behind American Danielle Kang.
This time, Henderson took the lead in the first round with a 67 (-5) card. The 25-year-old fended off six birdies and made her only error at the 17th flag, where she suffered a bogey.
As every year, the American Nelly Korda should be at the peak of the fight against her maple leaf rival. She concedes just one hit, she who also added a bogey to her tally. In 2021, his sister Jessica won. As in 2019, Nelly stood on the third step of the podium.
Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh, England’s Charley Hull, South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai and Taiwan’s Wei-Ling Hsu are third at -3.
No other Canadian is in action at the tournament, which brings together 29 golfers this year.