Teenager Brooke Henderson of Canada continued to play like a veteran, shooting a bogey-free 6-under-par 65 to take a one-stroke lead over Juli Inkster and Inbee Park of South Korea midway through the Volunteers of America North Texas Shootout at TPC Las Colinas in Irving, Texas.
The 17-year-old Henderson, playing in her third LPGA Tour event as a pro, had stretches of three birdies in four holes on both nines after getting into the field through Monday qualifying following a strong showing in the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic at Lake Merced Golf Club in San Francisco.
“I hit it really well all day and made a few putts,” said Henderson, who finished third last week, one shot out of the playoff in which Lydia Ko beat Morgan Pressel. “I struggled with my driver a little on the back nine, but was able to hit it out of the trees and make the shots I needed to keep it going.
“I’m happy with where I am. I was in the same position last week, but I’m hoping to have a better finish and a little different outcome.”
Inkster, who was tied for the first-round lead with a 66, made a late bogey on her way to a 69, while Park, formerly No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, birdied three of the last four holes to record a 66.
Lexi Thompson posted a 69 and was two strokes back in a tie for fourth with Mi Hwang Lee of South Korea, who had a 66, Karine Icher of France, who wound up at 69, and Hee Young Park of South Korea, who came in at 67.
Cristie Kerr, who also had a share of the first-round lead, came back with a 71 and was another shot behind in a tie for eighth with Amy Yang of South Korea, who shot 69, Sandra Gal of Germany, who had a 70, and Ha Na Jang of South Korea, who finished at 69.
Stacy Lewis, the defending champion and local favorite, struggled to a 73 and was tied for 46th, and the top-ranked Ko bounced back from an opening 75 with a bogey-free 68 to make the cut in a tie for 63rd.
