Date: October 02, 2017
Author: Mark Hayes

Oh’s late trouble proves costly

As all around her came and went, Brooke Henderson stayed the course to win the New Zealand Women's Open today.

In a weather-marred event forced into a fifth day at Windross Farm Golf Course in Auckland, the Canadian was simply superb in riding out today's windy conditions with a closing 69 to win by five strokes at 17 under.

Melbourne's Su Oh had pushed her way into contention for a podium finish, but endured a double-bogey up the par-five closing hole to fall to a share of fifth at nine under.

China's Jing Yan did nothing spectacular, but made a lot of pars to shoot 71 and finish runner-up at 12 under.

Early leader Belen Mozo, of Spain, suffered through a nightmare final round, with six bogeys and a double en route to a 78 that dropped her down to nine under alongside Oh in fifth.

Sarah Kemp, of New South Wales, was another to let slip a golden chance for a big pay day with six bogeys and a double in her final 11 holes after climbing as high as nine under.

After winning the Anita Boon pro-am last week, Kemp had to content herself with a T41 finish at one under despite being three under through five holes today.

Local hero Lydia Ko chipped in for eagle on the par-four 15th today to vault to 10 under, also with the podium in sight.

But the Kiwi doubled-bogeyed the short 17th when she lost her ball left and then tripled the last including an air swing from a tough lie beside a greenside bunker to plummet from fourth to T22 at five under.

But Henderson was supreme, hitting all 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens to become the fifth player with multiple wins in 2017.

Remarkably, she is the only woman with multiple LPGA Tour victories in both 2016 and 2017.

And despite a rash of different winners, Henderson, just weeks after her 20th birthday, is the tour's youngest winner this year.

Of the other Aussies to make the cut, Sarah Jane Smith finished T50 at +1, Katherine Kirk T66 at +5, Stacey Peters T72 at +8 and Whitney Hillier 77th at +11.

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