Friday - CP Women's Open - Brooke Makes Cut - In Gee Chun Leads

You knew Brooke Henderson, the 19-year-old Smiths Falls, Ont. wanted to make the cut at the CP Women's Open. You could see it in her eyes as I followed her group around her finals holes Friday. It had a lot to do with the throngs of fan following her pulling for her on each hole. The pressure was on and she rose to the occasion gutting out a two-putt for birdie at No. 9 (her final hole of the day) to move within the +1 cut line and ensure she would make the weekend.

“At the end, Cristie Kerr, she hugged me and said, ‘More pressure than a major there,“ said a clearly exhausted Henderson after her round. “I said, ‘Yeah, it was.’ “

It all came down to the par-5 ninth. Brooke needed to birdie or better to make the weekend. From 200 yards out, Henderson selected a Ping 7-wood and calmly stock one to 25 feet.

“Just the perfect club, and I was yelling for it to drop,” said Henderson, who gave herself 25 feet for eagle to make the cut. “I pushed it a little bit right, but drew it in so it listened. To have that for eagle when I need to make the cut with a birdie, it was a really nice feeling.”

The fans were 10-12 deep watching Brooke make birdie how can that not push her forward for a great weekend.

“I’m really grateful for everybody that’s coming out,” said Henderson, who will tee off at 8:50 a.m. on Saturday with Brittany Altomare. “Hopefully tomorrow I can make a few more birdies, make a few more putts. Now that the cut is over with, we’ll be able to do that a little bit better.”

In Gee Chun ended up atop the leaderboard, with no wins to show on her resume she's had plenty of 2nd place finishes(4). Including losing in a playoff at the Manulife LPGA Classic earlier this year.

“I (had) a lot of seconds this year, but I think they were good memories for me and a good experience,” said Chun, who sits at 8-under par. “I think I’m ready to win.”

“I had a hard time seeing the putting line, so I asked my caddie, and he picked good lines,” she said. “I trusted my line and made it.”

Chasing Chun is a trio of Americans: Mo Martin, Brittany Lincicome and Marina Alex.