LANCASTER, Pa. – Atop the leaderboard, veteran Karrie Webb and second-year LPGA Tour player Marina Alex did their best to temper expectations at the U.S. Women’s Open.

Both early starters opened with a 4-under-par 66 on Thursday, and that score held up through the afternoon before things turned wet and windblown. Play was suspended in the early evening after a storm packing high winds, lightning and heavy rain pounded Lancaster Country Club.

The sudden halt to the action with 55 players needing to complete their rounds – with at least two threatening the lead – left Webb and Alex as unlikely co-leaders.

The USGA’s plan is to restart the first round at 6:45 a.m. Friday and begin the second round at 7:15.

Amy Yang was in the clubhouse a shot behind the leaders. Two players on the course were also at 3 under: Na Yeon Choi, the 2012 U.S. Open champion, had three holes to play, while Jane Park had five.

Top-ranked Inbee Park birdied two of her last three holes before play was stopped and was at 2 under through 14. Morgan Pressel and six other morning starters shot a 2-under 68.

The 40-year-old Webb reeled off four birdies on her second nine holes and finished with her first score in the 60s in a U.S. Open since 2001, when the Australian won the tournament for the second straight year.

The seven-time major champ started on the back nine and reeled off 10 straight pars before making her move with birdies at the second, fourth, sixth and eighth holes.

This season has been a struggle for Webb, who has three top-10 finishes in 14 starts. That all changed Thursday when she hit 14 fairways and 17 of 18 greens.

“It’s been a test of my patience. I feel like I’ve had some good golf in me,” Webb said.

An eighth major title would move her into a tie for sixth place with Betsy Rawls, but Webb said it was too early to think about that.

“That’s never been a goal of mine,” she said. “I’m just happy to get off to a good start and hopefully continue to play this good for the next three days.”

Alex, playing in her second U.S. Open and first since 2009, was a surprise atop the leaderboard. The 24-year-old from Wayne, New Jersey, is in her second season on the LPGA Tour. She missed the cut five straight weeks and her best finish was a tie for ninth in Arkansas.

She’d been working on swing changes before the tournament, and it finally all came together.

She hit a 5-wood to within 18 feet on the ninth hole and made a curling birdie putt.

“It was the best putt and best shot of the day for me, so that was great,” she said.

Alex was an amateur when she played in her first U.S. Open.

“I qualified like the last spot on my sectional,” she said. “My game then and now is not even remotely the same. I was a nervous kid, pretty much.”

On Thursday, she embraced the championship atmosphere and cheering crowds.

“I’m not a front-runner for this tournament, really,” she said. “So I’m just going to go out there and have fun tomorrow with my caddie and just keep doing the things that we’ve been doing and just see where that puts me.”

Elizabeth Nagel, a 23-year-old playing her second professional event, was in the group two strokes off the lead. Making her U.S. Open debut wasn’t going to rattle the cancer survivor.

After a trip to her doctor because of cold symptoms during her junior year at Michigan State, Nagel was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. She had surgery to remove her thyroid and cancerous lymph node in her neck. Nagel went through radioactive iodine treatments and was declared cancer free about a year later.

“It kind of brings all this into perspective and makes this even more special,” she said. “Everybody says it, but when you make a bogey you keep pressing on. When you’ve heard the `C’ word and went through that whole battle really in your life, it brings everything back to even keel.”

Stacey Lewis, who finished second last year, shot a 69, while Lydia Ko opened with 70, and defending champion Michelle Wie, slowed by injury and illness this season, shot a 2-over 72.

Jimin Kang withdrew after 16 holes, citing illness.

Canadian Christina Foster made her professional debut today with a round of 1-over par 71. Currently Brooke Henderson sits at 1-over par with two holes to play tomorrow to complete her first round.

LANCASTER, PA. – Brooke Henderson might be a little worse for wear after a minor car accident last week, but that’s not stopping the 17-year-old from a busy stretch of golf.

It starts with the Women’s U.S. Open this week as Henderson continues to try to earn enough money to qualify for her LPGA card for next season.

The goal is to earn as much as 40^th place on the LPGA money list (she would currently be 22^nd with $317,000). She cannot be a member of the LPGA Tour until she turns 18 (in September) and has been turned down in her request for a special age exemption.

The LPGA has ruled it will count her money earned this summer as official when she turns 18. If she earn as much as 40^th place on the money list (which looks like it might be about $450,000) she will earn her card for 2016.

After winning on the developmental Symetra Tour last month and being granted membership, she could also earn her card by finishing in the top 10 on that Tour’s money list.

That’s why she withdrew from competing for Canada at the Pan-Am Games next week. She’ll be playing the Symetra Tour event in Rochester, N.Y. to try and boost her chances.

Henderson said she remains confident choosing the Symetra Tour over the Pan-Am Games was the right thing to do.

“I’m very happy with my decision,” she said after a practice round at the Lancaster C.C. “Of course I love playing for Canada and I’m hoping to play in the Olympics next year. I wear the Maple Leaf on my shirt every time. I love playing for Canada, but I know it was the right decision.”

Her other options to earn an LPGA card are by winning one of her remaining Tour starts. The last resort is going through qualifying school in the fall.

After another Symetra Tour event in Albany, Henderson will be off to the Ricoh British Women’s Open at Trump Turnberry Resort in Scotland  July 30-Aug. 2. She was granted a special exemption for the women’s major.

At this point, her last chance to earn money on the LPGA Tour will be at the Canadian Pacific Canadian Women’s Open Aug. 17-23 at the Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, B.C. The championship will be her sixth and last sponsor’s exemption, the most allowed for an LPGA non-member.

There remains a chance she could play in more LPGA events by Monday qualifying.

In the meantime, she could take a big step this week with another strong performance at the U.S. Open. She finished tied for 10^th last year at Pinehurst as an amateur which earned her a place in the field this week.

This is the most lucrative event in women’s golf with a pursue of $4.5 million, the United States Golf Association announced Wednesday. The winner will receive $810,000. Tenth place is worth $121,500.

“I’m in a good position. I’m far from being safe with that top 40 though, and I know that my next three tournaments – this one, British and Canadian Open – will be really important,” she said. “That’s another reason why this week it’s really important that I play and that I play well.”

Henderson’s leg was a little sore after her accident – which caused her to withdraw from the Symetra Tour event in Michigan last week – but after a couple of trips over the Lancaster C.C.’s rolling hills, she’s ready to go.

“I’m excited for this week. There’s a reason why I’m ready to play and I want to see what I can do with it. It’s been an interesting week, but I’m very grateful to be here,” Henderson said. “It’s by the grace of God that I’m here this week and able to play.

“I think I have to take the most out of this opportunity.”

Entries have now closed for the 2015 Ricoh Women’s British Open field at Trump Turnberry Resort, Scotland, July 30 to August 2.

Seventeen year old Canadian Brooke Henderson turned professional at the end of 2014 and, with only limited playing rights, has stormed up the rankings. The native of Smiths Falls, Ont., currently sits at No.46 on the Rolex Rankings. Henderson’s impressive professional debut has resulted in the Championship Committee awarding her a special exemption into the 2015 Championship.

Henderson commented, “I am so excited to play in my first Ricoh Women’s British Open and I am very grateful to the Championship Committee for granting me this opportunity. I played in the 2012 Ladies British Amateur at Carnoustie and I absolutely loved visiting Scotland so I am super excited to be heading back there again. I really enjoyed the different challenges of playing links golf in Scotland and, now that I have gained a little more experience, I think I will enjoy it even more. I can’t wait to get to the Trump Turnberry Resort.”

All of the current top-20 on the Rolex World Ranking, along with all of the current top-20 on both the LPGA Race to the CME Globe and the LET Order of Merit, are in the field for the 39th playing of the Championship. The impressive field will be competing for a prize fund of £1,990,266 (US $3 million).

Mo Martin, the 2014 Champion, has the tough task of defending her title against a field including all of the world’s best players. The entry list includes World No.1 Inbee Park, World No.2 Lydia Ko, World No.3 Stacy Lewis, World No 12 Lexi Thompson, defending U.S. Open Champion Michelle Wie, Ricoh Ambassadors Paula Creamer and Charley Hull, Scotland’s Catriona Matthew, the 2009 Champion and English legend Dame Laura Davies.

The star-studded field is also the most international of the five women’s majors with 23 nationalities already represented in the field to be finalized at the conclusion of final qualifying on Monday 27th July at Irvine Golf Club.

Australian veteran Karrie Webb claimed the Women’s British Open title in 2002 when the Championship last visited Turnberry.

The Ricoh Women’s British Open was founded by the LGU in 1976 and has been staged in conjunction with IMG, the world’s largest sports marketing company, since 1984. The event has been co-sanctioned by the LPGA and LET since 1994 and gained Major status in 2001.

The full list of confirmed entrants into the Championship, can be found here.

TORONTO, Ont. – Golf Canada regrets to announce that Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. has withdrawn from the TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games golf competition.

Statement from Brooke Henderson:

“Since turning professional in December, my goal has been to play in as many LPGA Tour and Symetra Tour events as possible to earn LPGA status and avoid the Q-School process. After winning the Four Winds Invitational last week, LPGA Commissioner Whan graciously granted me membership on the Symetra Tour which allows me the opportunity to earn my way onto the LPGA. I am now guaranteed a spot in a professional tournament the week of July 13. Based on my goals for the year, this is an opportunity I cannot pass up.”

“As an ambassador for golf in Canada, I am disappointed to miss the Pan-Am Games. I am so appreciative for the support I receive every week from Golf Canada and fans across the country. I wish the competitors all the best and look forward to cheering them on.”

Statement from Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer Jeff Thompson:

“We are disappointed to lose Brooke Henderson from the Pan Am golf team but we respect the rationale that went into this very difficult decision.  Brooke is committed to her goal of reaching the LPGA Tour and her recent play including her victory on the Symetra Tour last weekend has provided a unique opportunity that will help her achieve that goal. We will continue to be a strong supporter in her career.”

Golf Canada is currently working with the Canadian Olympic Committee to determine who will join previously confirmed team member Lorie Kane on the Women’s golf team at the Pan Am Games.

The men’s Pan Am golf team will be comprised of 18-year-old Austin Connelly, currently the 13^th ranked player on the World Amateur Golf Rankings along with reigning Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion and recently crowned Ontario Mid-Amateur champion Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont.

Golf Canada’s National Women’s Team Head Coach Tristan Mullally of Straffan, Ireland along with National Men’s Team Head Coach Derek Ingram of Winnipeg, Man will serve as coaches for the 2015 Pan Am Golf Team.

The Pan Am golf competition will run July 16-19 at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont.

The field for the 2015 Pan Am Golf Competition will include 32 women and 32 men competing in a women’s individual, men’s individual and mixed team competition (low female and male score combined).

HARRIS, Mich. – Anne-Catherine Tanguay (Quebec, Canada) will take a one-shot lead over Dani Holmqvist (Stockholm, Sweden) into the final round of the Island Resort Championship.

“I think the biggest part of my game this week has been putting,” Tanguay explained. “I’m usually a pretty good ball striker but yesterday I wasn’t as consistent with my ball striking so I hit the range and touched some little things and today was just great.”

Tanguay used six birdies against a lone bogey on 18 to card her second round 67 and put her at 9-under for the championship, a stroke up on Holmqvist who posted a 3-under 69 on Saturday.

“I personally don’t think it’s been easy out there,” Holmqvist admitted. “The score may reflect something else but I think the course has been a really fair and good golf course and I think it’s going to be a good test tomorrow as well especially if the wind picks up a bit.”

Rounding out the final group is Volvik Race for the Card No. 9 Casey Grice (College Station, Texas) who will be looking to capture her first victory on the Symetra Tour.

“I’ve been hitting the ball very well and giving myself opportunities within two feet,” Grice said. “That makes it a little easier and takes the pressure off the putting but I was hitting good putts so a solid day overall.”

The penultimate group will consist of Shannon Fish (Spring, Texas) at 6-under and Samantha Richdale (Kelowna, British Columbia) and Katie Kempter (Albuquerque, N.M.) at 5-under.

FELLOW CANADIAN WINNERS INSPIRE TANGUAY: A.C. Tanguay has seen three of her fellow Canadians – Brooke Henderson, Augusta James and Sue Kim – capture victories on the Symetra Tour this season and would like to be the fourth to take home a win tomorrow during the final round of the Island Resort Championship.

“It’s very exciting for Canadian golf, especially on the women’s side, to have so much success. It’d be amazing to get a win tomorrow,” Tanguay said.

Tanguay, who ranks 42nd on the Volvik Race for the Card Money List, finds herself in a good position to accomplish that heading into the final round as she is the leader by one. The win would mean a little more to the Oklahoma grad as she has taken a shine to the event and venue.

“I think this is my favorite event so far,” Tanguay admitted. “Everything is great about it. The hotel, the casino, the food, everything with the golf course and the people. Everybody is so excited that we’re here and the golf course is in amazing shape too so it’s just been great.”

HARRIS, Mich. – Four Winds Invitational Champion Brooke Henderson (Smiths Falls, Ontario) shot an opening round 70 in her first round as an official member of the Symetra Tour and currently sits in a tie for 18th at the Island Resort Championship.

“I didn’t play my best today,” Henderson admitted. “It was a little bit up-and-down. I started off with a bogey on the first hole but was able to bounce back and finish 2-under which I’m happy about. I still have a lot of work to do but I’m excited to be out here as an official member of the Symetra Tour and to compete against these players.”

Following her victory in South Bend, Henderson petitioned to waive the minimum age requirement and was granted Symetra Tour membership by LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan.

With her new membership, Henderson was able to get into the field this week based on her Category C status. The 17-year old has been taking advantage of the opportunity and enjoying her first event in the Upper Peninsula.

“The hospitality is top of the line for sure,” Henderson said. “It’s been an honor to be here the past couple of days. Great people and they’ve treated us like gold.”

After the first round four players – Dani Holmqvist (Stockholm, Sweden), Lee Lopez (Whittier, Calif.), Lauren Doughtie (Suffolk, Va.) and Giulia Molinaro (Treviso, Italy) – sit atop the leaderboard at 5-under-par.

“You never expect five under,” Molinaro said. “Today I think it’s as easy as it could get. There was no wind and perfect weather. I’m not surprised that there were some lower scores today.”

“I think it played very fair,” Holmqvist added. “If you hit a good shot you would get a pretty good result from it.”

The four at the top of the leaderboard sit a stroke clear of Anne-Catherine Tanguay (Quebec, Canada), Ani Gulugian (Irvine, Calif.) and Annie Park (Levittown, N.Y.) who sit at 4-under. In total, there are 39 golfers within four strokes of the lead.

Second round play will begin off the first and tenth tees starting at 7:30 a.m. on Friday.

HARRIS, Mich. – The Symetra Tour, Road to the LPGA, has announced that Brooke Henderson was granted Symetra Tour membership by LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan following her win at last week’s Four Winds Invitational. By virtue of her win, Henderson will be placed in category C on the Symetra Tour Priority List for the remainder of the year. She has committed to play in the Island Resort Championship this week in Harris, Michigan and was already scheduled to play the Tullymore Classic, July 3-5, as a sponsor invite.

Henderson carded a 3-under 69 on Sunday at Blackthorn Golf Club to win her first Symetra Tour event by three shots at 10-under 206. She became the third youngest winner in Symetra Tour history behind 16-year-old Hannah O’Sullivan, who won the Gateway Classic at Longbow Golf Club earlier this year, and Cristie Kerr, who was 17 years old when she won the 1995 Ironwood FUTURES Classic.

“I‘m really excited to be a member of the Symetra Tour and that my petition was accepted by Mike Whan and the LPGA,” said Henderson. “I have worked really hard to maximize the playing opportunities on both LPGA and Symetra Tours and to get a win at the Four Winds Invitational feels really good and gets me closer to my goals.”

Here is the statement from LPGA Chief Tour Operations Officer Heather Daly-Donofrio on Henderson being granted membership on the Symetra Tour:

“On Sunday, Brooke Henderson petitioned Commissioner Whan to waive the minimum age requirement to be eligible for Symetra Tour membership. Commissioner Whan reviewed the petition and accepted it. Based on her win Sunday at the Four Winds Invitational, Henderson will now be seeded into Category C on the 2015 Symetra Tour Priority List for the remainder of the season. As a Symetra Tour Member, she will be eligible to earn official money for the purposes of the Symetra Tour Money List and the Volvik Race for the Card. Per Symetra Tour regulations, any money previously earned by Henderson as a non-member will remain unofficial for the purposes of the Symetra Tour Money List. Henderson plans to compete this week at the Island Resort Championship in Harris, Michigan.”

Henderson’s $22,500 first-place check for the Four Winds Invitational victory will not count towards the official Volvik Race for the Card money list because she played the event as a non-member. However, any money earned by Henderson at the Island Resort Championship and any Symetra event moving forward will count.

While the money that Henderson won last week is unofficial, her victory at the Four Winds Invitational will count toward potential additional playing opportunities on the LPGA. Winners of three official Symetra Tour tournaments during the current year can earn a spot in Category 13 on the LPGA Priority List. A spot in Category 13 does not give a player LPGA membership but it is an opportunity for that player to compete in LPGA events as a non-member.

“Since turning professional this year, Brooke has compiled an impressive list of accomplishments including her victory Sunday at the Four Winds Invitational,” said Chief Business Officer of the Symetra Tour Mike Nichols. “We welcome her to the Symetra Tour for the remainder of the season as she continues her pursuit of ultimately joining the LPGA Tour.”

This year, Henderson has competed in seven LPGA events as a non-member while posting two top-10 finishes and five top-25 results. She recently finished in a tie for fifth at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Henderson is scheduled to play in the U.S. Women Open in July after finishing in a tie for 10th at last year’s U.S. Women’s Open.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. carded a 3-under 69 to win the 2015 Four Winds Invitational by three shots at 10-under 206. Henderson becomes the third youngest winner in the history of the Symetra Tour.

“It’s amazing to win and I’m so thankful that I got the sponsors exemption this week so I’d be able to play with my older sister,” said 17-year-old Henderson. “I’m very grateful for the win here and I think it will be a big confidence booster moving forward.”

“These are great players out here (on the Symetra Tour) and this win is huge for me,” Henderson continued. “I have big goals and this is definitely a stepping stone towards them.”

Henderson played the front nine in 1-under to move to 8-under for the tournament and made the turn in a share of the lead with Dottie Ardina. Then, Ardina made birdie on the tenth hole to take the lead at 9-under. Both Ardina and Henderson made birdie on the 11th hole and Ardina held a one shot lead with seven holes to play.

The momentum shifted in Henderson’s favor on the 12th hole when she made birdie and Ardina made bogey. Henderson also birdied the 13th hole to move to 11-under. She would cruise to victory as Ardina made four bogeys over five holes between the 12th and 16th holes.

“I was 1-under on the front nine and I knew I was near the lead, but I was kicking myself because I knew I needed to get it going,” said Henderson. “Holes 11 and 12 were huge turning points where Dottie and I kind of switched positions and then I was able to keep it from there.”

Henderson has been very busy and will continue to be, but she is fine with that.

“I’ve been busy, but I wouldn’t change it for the world, it has been a lot of fun,” said Henderson. “People often ask me how busy it is and why I don’t take a week off, but I love being out here and I think every week I am learning a bit more about myself and my game and I think it is helping me be better.”

Brooke’s older sister, Brittany, a Symetra Tour member, followed her from hole 16th until the end.

“Brittany has been a huge role model for me and this week it has been awesome to be able to play with her,” said Henderson. “I’ve always followed in her footsteps and I was so excited to see her on 16 and have her follow me in. She is one of my best friends, too.”

Second-round leader Dottie Ardina of the Philippines was second. She birdied the final hole for a 74.

American Selanee Henderson, Canada’s Jessica Wallace of Langley, B.C., and Italy’s Giulia Molinaro tied for third at 7 under. Selanee Henderson had a 65, and Wallace and Molinaro shot 70.

After the victory, Henderson also took to Twitter to announce some great news. The Team Canada member – having previously been denied LPGA membership due to an age restriction – is now a member of the Symetra Tour.

So excited about my @Road2LPGA win!!! And so thankful to @LPGACommish to accept my petition to become a member of the #SymetraTour

— Brooke Henderson (@BrookeH_Golf) June 22, 2015

Brooke Henderson had petitioned Commissioner Whan to waive the minimum age requirement to be eligible for Symetra Tour membership earlier today. Commissioner Whan reviewed the petition and accepted it.

“Based on her win today at the Four Winds Invitational, Henderson will now be seeded into Category C on the 2015 Symetra Tour Priority List for the remainder of the season,” said Heather Daly-Donofrio, the LPGA’s Chief Tour Operations Officer.

As a Symetra Tour Member, she will be eligible to earn official money for the purposes of the Symetra Tour Money List and the Volvik Race for the Card.

Per Symetra Tour regulations, any money previously earned by Henderson as a non-member will remain unofficial for the purposes of the Symetra Tour Money List. Henderson plans to compete this week at the Island Resort Championship in Harris, Michigan.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Dottie Ardina birdied the final three holes Saturday in the Symetra Tour’s Four Winds Invitational, leaving Canadian teen Brooke Henderson three strokes back.

Ardina, from the Philippines, shot a 7-under 65 at Blackthorn to take a 10-under 134 total into the final round.

The 17-year-old Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ont., also had a 65.

“It was a lot of fun, my ball striking today was a lot better than yesterday and that was a big key,” said Henderson. “I didn’t give myself a lot of long birdie putts and the short ones I was able to make, which is awesome. My putter has been a little off and on the last couple weeks and today it was definitely on.”

Henderson started on the back nine and birdied the 11th hole before adding three more birdies on 14, 15 and 16. She closed her round with back-to-back birdies on eight and nine.

“My game is feeling pretty good, but I know I have a lot of work to do and I’m far from where I want to be,” said Henderson. “Rounds like this are really confidence boosters. There is a lot of golf left and a lot of great players up there on the leaderboard. I know I’ll have to post another really good round tomorrow to come away with the win.”

Henderson is playing the tournament as a non-member on a sponsor invite. Any money earned on the Symetra Tour doesn’t count towards the Volvik Race for the Card money list. She has earned $317,470 in seven LPGA Tour events this season, the equivalent of 20th on the LPGA money list.

Henderson will be aiming for her third win as a professional on Sunday.

Japan’s Chie Arimura was third at 6 under after a 66.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Natalie Sheary, Casey Grice and Katherine Perry all share the lead after the first round of the Symetra Tour’s Four Winds Invitational on Friday. Sheary, Grice and Perry all shot a 4-under 68 at Blackthorn Golf Club.

Jessica Wallace of Langley, B.C., is the top Canadian at 2-under. Wallace shot an opening round 70 and is tied for ninth.

Brittany Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., is tied for 19th at 1-under while Nicole Vandermade of Brantford, Ont., is tied for 27th.

Henderson’s sister, Brooke, birdied the final two holes and is even after the first round. Brooke Henderson shot a 72 and is also tied for 27th entering Saturday. She is ranked 51st on the LPGA rankings list, making her the highest-ranked player to ever compete on the Symetra Tour.