Brooke Henderson Kicks Off the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open

Early on a blustery morning at the Earl Grey Golf Club, golf fans in Calgary were buzzing with excitement. It was the day of the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open, a much-anticipated event as the LPGA Tour made its return to Calgary for the first time since 2016.

As Brooke Henderson prepared for her round, a group of junior fans, proudly wearing matching red shirts that read ‘Brooke’s Brigade’, sprinted towards the tee-box. They were eager to catch a glimpse of their hero and even got a wave from Henderson right after her first swing of the day.

Henderson, the 26-year-old golf sensation from Smiths Falls, Ontario, aimed to start strong but finished her first round at even-par 72. She mixed in two birdies, two bogeys, and a series of pars, feeling like she fought hard throughout. “Not really the hot start that I wanted to get off to,” she remarked. “But it felt like we fought pretty hard on a tough course,” she added, hoping for a better second round.

While the day started crisp, the swirling winds added to the challenge. Henderson kicked off her round on the 11th hole, where she found herself in a rough spot right away, leading to an opening bogey. However, she steadied herself, producing 10 consecutive pars before finally sinking a birdie on the fourth hole. “I feel like I learned a lot out there,” she expressed, praising the fantastic support from the crowd.

Over in a different part of the leaderboard, American golfer Lauren Coughlin shined brightly with an impressive 4-under 68. Coughlin credited her caddie, Terry McNamara, for helping her keep her focus, especially after starting with eight straight pars. “It’s playing tough, they’ll come,” McNamara told her, and indeed, birdies followed.

Meanwhile, Brooke was not the only Canadian in the spotlight. Monet Chun also had a solid performance, and together they tied for the top Canadian spots on the leaderboard. Henderson’s sister, Brittany, caddied for her and was a key support throughout a challenging round.

Among the rising stars, amateur Katie Cranston from Oakville made headlines by starting with an eagle on the par 5, 550-yard first hole. Cranston finished her round at 1-over 71, recognizing the cheers from the spectators, especially her mom, who always seems to be cheering from the sidelines.

The tournament promises to bring more excitement as Henderson and other talented players get ready for the next round, hoping to capitalize on their learnings from the challenging first day on the course.