EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France – South Korean teen Hyo-Joo Kim made history look easy, with barely a glitch as she posted the lowest score ever in a major with a 10-under 61 to open the Evian Championship on Thursday.

To boot, the first round of her major debut achieved perfect symmetry, with five birdies each on the front and back nine.

“I made a chance (for) a birdie on every (hole),” she said. “I missed some (but) it didn’t matter.”

If she didn’t sound fussed about the 61, it’s because she did it last year on Japan’s JLPGA circuit.

“My goal is to have a good experience here. That’s all,” said the 19-year-old Kim, who was in the first year of a physical education course at Seoul University.

Her good experience exceeded the previous best score in a major of 62, by Minea Blomqvist of Finland in the third round of the 2004 British Open – also when she was 19 – and Lorena Ochoa in the first round of the 2006 Kraft Nabisco Championship. In a men’s major, 63 is the lowest, and it has been achieved multiple times.

“I like a hard course,” Kim said. “I felt very comfortable today.”

Blomqvist and Ochoa might still be holding their record if not for Kim’s remarkable escape on the third hole, when she went into the bunker off the tee and still got a birdie.

“She had a few up and downs and a chip-in on the third, par four … after she shot a little bit left,” her caddie Gordon Rowan said. “She had a very difficult chip.”

“She’s not a massive hitter but has a very decent length, and keeps up with the girls. She’s so straight and this is a course where you need to hit fairways because the rough is very thick. Her accuracy into the greens means that she’s never far away. She also has a very good temperament, and even on days when she’s fighting and putts don’t fall, she keeps going.”

Kim is ranked 20th in the world, and leads the Korean LPGA money list with three wins.

She takes a four-shot lead over veteran Karrie Webb into the second round of the last major of the year.

Korean Mi-Jung Hur was five behind Kim in third after a round of 66, while defending champion Suzann Pettersen of Norway and Brittany Lincicome of the U.S. were six behind.

Inbee Park, bidding for back-to-back majors after defending her title at the LPGA Championship, was tied for 12th at 2 under.

Meanwhile, Michelle Wie’s bid for a second major ended early as she retired after just 13 holes, clearly still feeling the effects of a recent finger injury.

Wie had two double bogeys and was 5 over when she pulled out. The U.S. Women’s Open champion was returning after five weeks out and missing four tournaments following a stress reaction in her right index finger. She wore blue strapping around her hand.

“I had hoped it was a week later but I just really wanted to come to France. I really love this tournament,” she said. “The doctors told me `It’s all up to you.’ But they did tell me if it did hurt to stop right away because it could get worse.

“I should have stopped earlier but I was having so much fun out there.”

Wie believed she should be able to play next month, in Asia.

The 39-year-old Webb had eight birdies but was undone by two bogeys.

The last of Webb’s seven majors was at the Kraft Nabisco in 2006, the year she won at Evian.

“Probably the best I putted for a long time. Switched to an old putter I used about 12 years ago,” the Australian said. “I changed swing coaches in the middle of the season, so I’ve actually probably put more work in through the summer than I normally would. The changes are starting to click.”

Alena Sharp is the lone Canadian in the field. The Hamilton, Ont. native opened with a 7-over 78.

So Yeon Ryu had been racking up top-10 finishes, a total of 27, before finally pulling off her third career victory in record setting fashion at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. Ryu fired a tournament record 23-under-par to win by two strokes over one of her best friends, Na Yeon Choi. The World No. 5 player followed up her win with her 11th top-10 finish of 2014 – a tied for third – at the Portland Classic the following week and has been named the Kia Most Compelling Performance for the month of August.

Ryu began the week by firing a course record 63 (-9) in her first round of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open at the London Hunt and Country Club, and ended it by setting the tournament record with a 23-under-par 72-hole total (265), five shots better than the tournament record in relation to par.  While Ryu set one record, she made the tournament even more interesting by chasing another. Ryu had the LPGA record of of 27-under par held by Annika Sorenstam at the 2001 Standard Register Ping (261 total, par-72) in her sight until late in her final round. Despite not quite catching Annika, Ryu did win her first tournament since 2012 in convincing fashion and posted yet another top-10 finish.

The 2014 Kia Most Compelling Performance Award winner will be announced at the season-ending 2014 CME Group Tour Championship following an online fan vote which begins October 1, 2014. Performances may include a single tournament, multiple tournaments, single-round accomplishments or record-breaking performances. Winners of the 2014 Kia Performance Awards receive an all-new 2015 Kia K900, the brand’s first-ever luxury sedan, and the official vehicle of the LPGA.

Mo Martin earned the award for the month of July after clinching her first LPGA win and first major victory at the RICOH Women’s British Open. Martin was a shot behind the lead with a 240-yard second shot into the 18th – a par 5 – at Royal Birkdale Golf Club. She responded with the shot of her life – a 3-wood that thwacked off the pin that ended up five feet away from the hole. One short stroke later ended in the back of the hole for her first eagle of the year and a one-stroke victory.

PORTLAND, Ore. – Austin Ernst won the LPGA Tour’s Portland Classic on Sunday with a par on the first hole of a playoff against South Korea’s I.K. Kim.

It was the first professional victory for the 22-year-old Ernst, who shot a 5-under 67 in the final round to get to 14 under at Columbia Edgewater. Kim, the first- and second-round leader, carded a 68.

Ernst pulled into contention with a 5-under 31 on the front nine, highlighted by a chip-in eagle at the par-5 fifth. Kim made four birdies and no bogeys.

South Korean’s So Yeon Ryu and Chella Choi tied for third at 12 under. Ryu, last week’s Canadian Pacific Women’s Open winner, shot 70, while Choi had a 68.

Sue Kim of Langley, B.C. and Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont. finished as top Canadians with a share of 52nd at 1-under 287.

PORTLAND, Ore. – Defending champion Suzann Pettersen shot her second straight 5-under 67 on Saturday for a share of the third-round lead in the LPGA Tour’s Portland Classic.

Trying to match Nancy Lopez’s record with her third victory in the event, Pettersen had an eagle, four birdies and a bogey at Columbia Edgewater. The fourth-ranked Norwegian star is winless this season after winning four times last year to push her career total to 14.

“I still feel the low one is out there. Got to go out tomorrow and just try to birdie as many holes as you can,” said Pettersen, who birdied Nos. 16 and 17.

The last five times Pettersen has led or had a share of the lead after three rounds, she has gone on to win.

“Tomorrow, just got to step on the pedal,” Pettersen said.

Spain’s Carlota Ciganda and South Korea’s Mi Jung Hur shot 70 to match Pettersen at 11-under 205. Ciganda bogeyed the par-4 18th to fall into the tie.

Ciganda is hoping to win her first LPGA Tour title in memory of Rogelio Echeverria, her long-time coach who died three weeks ago after a brief bout with stomach cancer.

“It would be unbelievable. I know he’s watching up there, and I would love to win for him. Everything I do from now on, it’s going to be for him,” Ciganda said.

On the final hole, she drove into a fairway bunker and missed a 6-foot par putt.

“Not the best, but I mean that’s a tough hole,” Ciganda said. “I hit it into a bunker and it wasn’t an easy shot, and I didn’t make the putt. Eighteen holes, I missed one hole.”

Hur won the 2009 tournament for her lone LPGA Tour victory.

“I think I hit only 10 greens today, but my putting was good. It saved me,” Hur said.

South Korea’s So Yeon Ryu and I.K. Kim and China’s Hi Yu Lin were a stroke back. Ryu, the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open winner last week, and Lin shot 70. Kim, the leader after each of the first two rounds, had a 74.

Colombia’s Mariajo Uribe, South Korea’s Eun Hee Ji, Denmark’s Line Vedel and Americans Austin Ernst and Laura Diaz were two strokes back on the crowded leaderboard at 9 under. Uribe shot 66, Ji 67, Vedel and Ernst 69, and Diaz 72.

Kim, who made 14 birdies during the first two rounds, took the lead after nine holes at 13 under, but slipped with bogeys on Nos. 11, 13 and 17.

“Just didn’t make putts,” Kim said. “I hit a lot of good tee shots. The greens were firm, and a lot of pins were in front, so I misadjusted and had a lot of downhill putts. I couldn’t be aggressive.”

Kim is trying to end a four-year winless streak on the LPGA Tour, although she won on the Ladies European Tour in July.

“I still have a chance, but I just not happy with how I kind of scored today,” Kim said.

Canada’s Rebecca Lee-Bentham is tied for 36th at 3-under 213.

Gigi Stoll, a senior at Beaverton High School who won the Portland Classic Amateur Open last week to earn a berth in the field, was even par after a 71.

South Korea’s Jeong Jang, who announced her retirement this week, was even par after a 75. Countrywoman Hee Won Han, also retiring, had a 74 to reach 2 over.

PORTLAND, Ore. – I.K. Kim increased her lead to three strokes Friday in the LPGA Tour’s Portland Classic, shooting a 5-under 67 to reach 12 under.

The South Korean player had seven birdies and two bogeys in her morning round in cloudy, calm conditions at Columbia Edgewater. She won the last of her three LPGA Tour titles in 2010, and had a victory this summer in a Ladies European Tour event in England.

“I’m really pleased how I played the last two days,” Kim said. “There is a lot of scores out there, so I think it will be a good week for all of us.”

Kim’s best LPGA Tour finish this year is a tie for 13th in the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic in April in California.

“I’m glad that I’ve been kind of going through all these things, and you know, it’s nice to win one,” Kim said.

Spain’s Carlota Ciganda and South Korea’s Mi Jung Hur shot 65 to join Laura Diaz at 9 under. Diaz had a 68.

Ciganda’s long-time coach, Rogelio Echeverria, died three weeks after a brief bout with stomach cancer.

“Like a month ago I was practicing with him. I can’t speak. He’s the one who taught me everything. I’m here because of him. He means everything to me,” Ciganda said. “I’m just going to play for him, and I would love to win just for him.”

South Korea’s So Yeon Ryu, the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open winner Sunday in London, Ont., was 8 under along with Mina Harigae, China’s Xi Yu Lin and South Africa’s Paula Reto. The fifth-ranked Ryu had a 66, Lin carded a 68, and Harigae and Reto shot 69.

Defending champion Suzann Pettersen was 6 under after a 67. She played her fnal nine hoiles in 5-under 41.

“I haven’t played my best the last two days. Really happy to be able to shoot 5 under on the back nine,” Pettersen said. “I don’t know if it’s just the fourth (consecutive) week that I’m tired, but grinding it out. I’m finding solutions out there.”

The fourth-ranked Norwegian player, also the 2011 winner, is trying to tie Nancy Lopez’s event record of three victories.

Juli Inkster and Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist also were in the group at 6 under. The 54-year-old Inkster, making her 28th appearance in the event, followed her opening 68 with a 70. Nordqvist, a two-time winner this year, also shot 70.

South Korea’s Jeong Jang was 3 under after a 71. The 34-year-old Jang, the 2005 Women’s British Open champion, announced her retirement this week and said the event will be her last.

Hee-Won Han, also playing her final event, had a 71 to make the cut on the number at 1 over. The 34-year-old South Korean player won the 2004 event and has six LPGA Tour victories.

Han and Jang are considered to be pioneers of the South Korean LPGA movement.

“My kids are growing up, and I thought it was perfect timing for retire. Be a mom,” Han said.

Gigi Stoll, a senior at Beaverton High School who won the Portland Classic Amateur Open last week to earn a spot in the field, had a 74 to make the cut at 1 over.

Charley Hull, the 18-year-old English player who got into the event on a sponsor exemption, missed the cut by a stroke with rounds of 70 and 76.

Paris, Ont,’s Jennifer Kirby leads the Canadians into the weekend. She’s sitting at 2-under 142 and is tied for 39th heading into weekend action.

Top-ranked Stacy Lewis, No. 2 Inbee Park and No. 3 Lydia Ko are skipping the tournament, giving them a two-week break before the Evian Championship in France.

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – The fourth and final round of LPGA stage I qualifying ended Friday with seven Canadians landing inside the cut to advance to the next round.

The following Canadians were among the 102 players that finished inside the cut of 298 (+10) at the Mission Hills Country Club:

SooBin Kim (Coquitlam, B.C.) – 284 (71-70-66-77)

Augusta James (Bath, Ont.) – 287 (74-71-72-70)

Anne-Catherine Tanguay (Quebec City, Que.) – 288 (75-70-71-72)

Nicole Zhang (Calgary) – 290 (71-73-72-74)

Angela Buzminski (Oshawa, Ont.) – 292 (80-73-71-68)

Kirby Dreher (Fort St. John, B.C.) – 293 (73-72-74-74)

Brittany Henderson (Smiths Falls, Ont.) – 296 (74-76-70-76)

Augusta James, Team Canada member and reigning Canadian Women’s Amateur champion, was pleased with her play during the first four rounds of qualifying.

“I played pretty well,” said James, who is entering her senior year at N.C. State. “I felt like I left a few shots out there which is good because it gives me some things to work on before World Am next week, my college tournaments and then Stage II.”

James, who was recently selected as one of three women to represent Canada at the World Amateur, gives the National Team program credit for helping her succeed.

“It’s been a phenomenal experience,” James said of her time with Team Canada. “I’ve been with the program for four years and the financial support and extensive coaching, IST staff and everything it’s been an incredible experience and I couldn’t be where I am today without it. They take you to so many events that you gain so much knowledge and experience from that it’s priceless.”

Medalist honours were awarded to Burbank Calif. native, Emily Tubert, who finished with a five stroke lead at 12-under par.

The second stage of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament will commence at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Fla., from Sept. 30 – Oct. 4. A minimum of the top 80 and ties from Stage II will advance into the Final Qualifying Tournament.

Stage III of LPGA Q-School will be contested over 90 holes Dec. 3-7, at the LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla. Top finishers in the final stage will earn 2015 LPGA membership.

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PORTLAND, Ore. – I.K. Kim birdied the first four holes on the back nine Thursday and finished with a 7-under 65 to take the first-round lead in the Portland Classic.

The South Korean player birdied seven of the first 13 holes and closed her afternoon round with five straight pars. She won the last of her three LPGA Tour titles in 2010.

Amelia Lewis and Jennifer Song were a shot back in ideal conditions at Columbia Edgewater.

Anna Nordqvist, a two-time winner this year, was another stroke back at 67 along with Mina Harigae, Julieta Granada, Laura Diaz, Alison Walshe, Emma Jandel and Paula Reto.

Juli Inkster, making her 28th appearance in the event at age 54, was in the group at 68. She won the 1999 tournament to wrap up a Hall of Fame spot. Also in that group at 68 is Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont.

So Yeon Ryu, coming off a victory Sunday in the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, was in a group at 70 that included Na Yeon Choi, 18-year-old English player Charley Hull and Yani Tseng. Hull, playing on a sponsor exemption, won a Ladies European Tour event in Morocco in March.

Defending champion Suzann Pettersen shot 71. She also won the 2011 event.

Gigi Stoll, a senior at Beaverton High School, won the Portland Classic Amateur Open last week to earn a spot in the field, also had a 71.

Top-ranked Stacy Lewis, No. 2 Inbee Park and No. 3 Lydia Ko are skipping the tournament, giving them a two-week break before the Evian Championship in France.

Kim nearly won the 2012 Kraft Nabisco Championship for her first major title, but missed a 14-inch putt on the final hole of regulation and lost to Sun Young Yoo in a playoff.

LONDON, Ont. – It took until the 70th hole of the week for So Yeon Ryu to finally feel some nerves.

Ryu set the course record in her first round, held a four-stroke advantage going into Sunday and led by six going into the back nine. A bogey on No. 15 and Na Yeon Choi’s birdie shrunk the lead to one.

“I thought, ‘Everybody’s nervous and Na Yeon’s nervous, definitely,’ so I just accepted my nervousness so I just tried to enjoy it,” Ryu said. “And I hit a great shot.”

Ryu’s birdie on the 16th hole Sunday restored her lead to two as she wrapped up her first victory in more than two years by capturing the US$2.25-million Canadian Pacific Women’s Open with a 23-under 265.

The 24-year-old South Korean bested the tournament record of 18 under but couldn’t break Annika Sorenstam’s LPGA Tour record of 27 under.

“I’m a bit disappointed I couldn’t reach Annika’s record, but it still feels good,” Ryu said minutes after getting soaked in champagne by friends Inbee Park and I.K. Kim. “I’ve been waiting so much (for) the champagne. I was ready to get champagne. I smell like champagne right now, but I’m still so happy.”

Ryu’s last win came at the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic in 2012. Since then, she put up 27 top-10 finishes and conceded blowing more than a few chances.

“One of my friends asked me, ‘So Yeon, do you want to finish top 10 every tournament or you just want to win one tournament and miss the cut every tournament?”’ Ryu said. “I said it’s a really hard question, but at this stage I really need to win.”

In earning the winner’s share – $337,500 – of the purse at London Hunt and Country Club, Ryu became the tournament’s first wire-to-wire champion since Michelle Wie in 2010. Ryu set a course record with a 9-under 63 Thursday and never fell from the top of the leaderboard.

Along the way, Ryu was remarkably consistent, finishing with 26 birdies and just three bogeys. Two of them, though, almost ruined her week.

With a six-stroke lead after nine holes, Ryu felt confident she could win, but a bogey on No. 10 and a birdie by Choi on 11 got her thinking. Another two-stroke swing on No. 15 gave Choi hope.

“When she misses that putt, I thought, ‘Maybe I could have a chance, too,”’ Choi said.

Choi, who shot a bogey-free 67 to get to a career-best 21 under, went into the bunker on No. 16. Ryu watched with relief as her friend missed a putt before she sank a birdie and went on to win by two strokes.

Park, like Ryu and Choi part of South Korea’s International Crown team, finished third at 18 under after winning last week’s LPGA Championship. Spain’s Azahara Munoz, who tied Ryu’s course record Saturday, was fourth at 17 under.

Brooke Henderson of Smith Falls, Ont., shot a 74 Sunday to finish as the low Canadian and low amateur at 2-under 286, two strokes better than Calgary’s Jennifer Ha. Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont., shot a 76 to drop to 3 over, and Sue Kim of Langley, B.C., shot a 78 to drop to 7 over.

Henderson, who received medals to commemorate being the low Canadian and low amateur, said of Ryu’s prize: “I look forward to being able to hold up this trophy some day.”

It was Ryu’s to enjoy Sunday night after holding off Choi, who herself hasn’t won since the 2012 U.S. Women’s Open. But the 26-year-old couldn’t feel bad about her performance given Ryu’s.

“Sometimes I finish runner-up and sometimes I have a lot of regrets, but this week not really,” Choi said. “She’s playing well, so I can’t control her score.”

Ryu set a goal of seven birdies so she could at least tie Sorenstam’s record. She wanted eight so that she could break it.

When that was out of reach, she was more than happy to have a long-awaited victory to fall back on.

“I had quite a lot of experience, especially failed experience,” Ryu said. “I think that experience helped me a lot. … I’ve been waiting so much. I really want to hug myself.”

LONDON, Ont. – It took until the 70th hole of the week for So Yeon Ryu to finally feel some nerves.

Ryu set the course record in her first round, held a four-stroke advantage going into Sunday and led by six going into the back nine. A bogey on No. 15 and Na Yeon Choi’s birdie shrunk the lead to one.

“I thought, ‘Everybody’s nervous and Na Yeon’s nervous, definitely,’ so I just accepted my nervousness so I just tried to enjoy it,” Ryu said. “And I hit a great shot.”

Ryu’s birdie on the 16th hole Sunday restored her lead to two as she wrapped up her first victory in more than two years by capturing the US$2.25-million Canadian Pacific Women’s Open with a 23-under 265.

The 24-year-old South Korean bested the tournament record of 18 under but couldn’t break Annika Sorenstam’s LPGA Tour record of 27 under.

“I’m a bit disappointed I couldn’t reach Annika’s record, but it still feels good,” Ryu said minutes after getting soaked in champagne by friends Inbee Park and I.K. Kim. “I’ve been waiting so much (for) the champagne. I was ready to get champagne. I smell like champagne right now, but I’m still so happy.”

Ryu’s last win came at the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic in 2012. Since then, she put up 27 top-10 finishes and conceded blowing more than a few chances.

“One of my friends asked me, ‘So Yeon, do you want to finish top 10 every tournament or you just want to win one tournament and miss the cut every tournament?”’ Ryu said. “I said it’s a really hard question, but at this stage I really need to win.”

In earning the winner’s share – $337,500 – of the purse at London Hunt and Country Club, Ryu became the tournament’s first wire-to-wire champion since Michelle Wie in 2010. Ryu set a course record with a 9-under 63 Thursday and never fell from the top of the leaderboard.

Along the way, Ryu was remarkably consistent, finishing with 26 birdies and just three bogeys. Two of them, though, almost ruined her week.

With a six-stroke lead after nine holes, Ryu felt confident she could win, but a bogey on No. 10 and a birdie by Choi on 11 got her thinking. Another two-stroke swing on No. 15 gave Choi hope.

“When she misses that putt, I thought, ‘Maybe I could have a chance, too,”’ Choi said.

Choi, who shot a bogey-free 67 to get to a career-best 21 under, went into the bunker on No. 16. Ryu watched with relief as her friend missed a putt before she sank a birdie and went on to win by two strokes.

Park, like Ryu and Choi part of South Korea’s International Crown team, finished third at 18 under after winning last week’s LPGA Championship. Spain’s Azahara Munoz, who tied Ryu’s course record Saturday, was fourth at 17 under.

Brooke Henderson of Smith Falls, Ont., shot a 74 Sunday to finish as the low Canadian and low amateur at 2-under 286, two strokes better than Calgary’s Jennifer Ha. Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont., shot a 76 to drop to 3 over, and Sue Kim of Langley, B.C., shot a 78 to drop to 7 over.

Henderson, who received medals to commemorate being the low Canadian and low amateur, said of Ryu’s prize: “I look forward to being able to hold up this trophy some day.”

It was Ryu’s to enjoy Sunday night after holding off Choi, who herself hasn’t won since the 2012 U.S. Women’s Open. But the 26-year-old couldn’t feel bad about her performance given Ryu’s.

“Sometimes I finish runner-up and sometimes I have a lot of regrets, but this week not really,” Choi said. “She’s playing well, so I can’t control her score.”

Ryu set a goal of seven birdies so she could at least tie Sorenstam’s record. She wanted eight so that she could break it.

When that was out of reach, she was more than happy to have a long-awaited victory to fall back on.

“I had quite a lot of experience, especially failed experience,” Ryu said. “I think that experience helped me a lot. … I’ve been waiting so much. I really want to hug myself.”

LONDON, Ont. – Brooke Henderson earned herself more than just a couple of commemorative coins as the low amateur and the low Canadian.

By making the cut at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, the 16-year-old phenom got to play with two LPGA major winners: teenage idol Lexi Thompson and legend Laura Davies. Finishing 2 under for the tournament was gravy compared to how Henderson believes she benefited from the weekend.

“You learn so much more being able to play the weekend because it is different than the first two days,” Henderson said Sunday. “You get to play with the best players. It’s a great experience and I’m very grateful to have been in the position.”

After missing the cut in this event the past two years, Henderson made it 4-for-4 getting to the weekend on the LPGA Tour in 2014. The Smiths Falls, Ont., native tied for 10th at the U.S. Women’s Open, 26th at the Kraft Nabisco Championship and 45th at the Manulife Financial LPGA Championship.

“I’ve played more LPGA Tour events over the last couple of years and I’m getting more comfortable,” Henderson said. “The more weekends I can play, the more experience I really do gain. I get to know the pros a little bit better and get to play with some new ones and really learn from them.”

With a 2-under 286, Henderson put up the best score by a Canadian at this tournament since Lorie Kane’s 5-under 283 in 2010. Though Kane missed the cut this time, the 49-year-old stuck around as part of her work with the title sponsor, Canadian Pacific, and followed Henderson for her final five holes Saturday.

“That support from such a veteran on the tour and such a role model of mine is amazing,” Henderson said.

Henderson finished two strokes ahead of fellow amateur Jennifer Ha of Calgary, who shot a 74 Sunday to finish at even par. Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont., who had the best round of any Canadian with a 67 Thursday, finished with a 76 to drop to 3 over, while Sue Kim of Langley, B.C. shot a 78 and finished at 7 over.

Ha, who goes “back to reality” by returning to school at Kent State University in Ohio on Monday, was glad just to be one of four Canadians to play the weekend.

“I mean, who can’t be happy with a made cut at a professional event in my home country?” Ha said. “I’ve never played an event like this and made the cut, so it was crazy.”

Ha said she felt the love from Canadian fans, but the biggest gallery all four days belonged to Henderson. She never wilted in the spotlight, which will likely only get brighter as her national and international profile increases.

Beginning Monday, Henderson will step out of that spotlight and to the side and bag of her sister, Brittany, who will be at qualifying school to try to get onto the LPGA Tour. Brooke Henderson flies to California on Monday to begin her caddying duties at Q-school.

“I love caddying for my sister, and she caddies for me a lot, so it’s nice to return the favour,” Henderson said. “It will be nice to go out and scout out the course for Q-school because hopefully I’ll be there in the next year or two.”

After that, Henderson will go to Japan to represent Canada along with Augusta James (Bath, Ont.) and Brittany Marchand (Orangeville, Ont.) at the World Amateur Team Championships. When she’s done there it’s back to school and a 17th birthday in September.

“It’ll be cool, nice to see my friends again and to get back to Smiths Falls will be nice,” Henderson said.

Brooke Henderson and Marlene Stewart Streit (Golf Canada/ Bernard Brault)