By Canadian Press

Henderson hopes to match Post’s Canadian LPGA win record at ANA Inspiration

Apr 3, 2019 | 1:12 PM

It’s no secret that Brooke Henderson wants to catch Sandra Post for most wins by a Canadian on the LPGA Tour. Matching Post’s record at this week’s ANA Inspiration — where the Canadian golfing great won twice — would be Henderson’s ideal event to do it.

Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ont., and Hamilton’s Alena Sharp are the only Canadians in the field at the ANA, the first major of the LPGA Tour’s season, starting Thursday in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Post won the event in 1978 and 1979 when it was known as the Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner’s Circle. Post has eight career LPGA wins, one more than Henderson

“Tying Sandra would be amazing. I’m really looking forward to, and excited, that hopefully I will get this eighth win this year and to do it at a major would be incredible,” Henderson, 21, said. “Especially at ANA where she has won twice.

“I talked to her there before and she’s given me some hints on how to beat the course and hopefully I can put those into action and see what I can do.”

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As winner of the Women’s PGA Championship in 2016, Henderson qualified for the ANA Inspiration well before this season began. But her strong start to this year — three top-10 finishes and one top 15 — would also have qualified her.

Sharp qualified as one of the top 20 players on the LPGA’s 2019 money list not already in the field.

“I’m really happy with my start to the season,” said Henderson. “I feel like I have been in contention a little bit, I’ve felt the competitive juices flowing. It’s been fun, for sure.

“I feel like my game is in a good spot, I just think there’s some small things I’m continuing to clean up.”

Another highlight of Henderson’s season has been her prominent role in the LPGA’s Drive On campaign.

In the campaign’s 45-second introductory video released on March 20, Henderson is seen practising at a driving range and she is the first of several golfers to do a voiceover encouraging girls to overcome adversity and be true to themselves.

“It was pretty amazing to be a part of a film like that, that is so powerful and has so much meaning behind it,” said Henderson. “I didn’t really realize I was going to be one of the biggest people to kickstart it, but definitely an honour.

“Drive On’s just getting started and I think it will empower not only women and young girls but I think people of all genders and all ages, helping them to push past negativity and focus on what you’re trying to do and get there.”

WOMEN’S AMATEUR — Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., was the only Canadian in the 72-player field on Wednesday morning as the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur teed off. It is the first all-female elite tournament at the historic course.

SYMETRA TOUR — Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., is the highest ranked Canadian competing at the inaugural Windsor Golf Classic in Windsor, Calif., this week. She sits 61st on the Symetra Tour’s official money list. She’ll be joined at the Windsor Golf Club by Hannah Hellyer of Stirling, Ont., as well as Samantha Richdale and Megan Osland of Kelowna, B.C., when the tournament tees off on Friday.

PGA TOUR — Monday qualifier Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., is one of six Canadians competing in the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio – AT&T Oaks. Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., and Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., round out the contingent vying for a stake in the US$7.5-million purse.

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John Chidley Hill’s weekly golf notebook is published on Wednesdays.

Follow @jchidleyhill on Twitter

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press