Brooke Henderson struggles in 2nd round at Canadian Women's Open

A busy week seems to have taken its toll on Brooke Henderson, as the 17-year-old struggled with her putting and shot 3-over 75 during Friday's second round at the Canadian Pacific Women's Open golf tournament.

The score left her at 1 over, hovering around the projected cut on the 6,681-yard, par-72 Vancouver Golf Club course.

"It wasn't a great day out there but I ground it out pretty well," said the Smiths Falls, Ont., native.

"I just missed some shots. Other than that it could have been good. I hung in there and really played well on the back nine."

Henderson, who began the day on the 10th tee, had five bogeys, including back-to-back ones on No. 18 and No. 1. After finishing the No. 1 hole she walked off the green before the other two players in her group had finished.

Henderson battled back with a pair of birdies on the front nine. On the last hole of the day she had to chip onto the green, then sink a four-foot putt for par.

"It was a tricky up-and-down," she said. "I played really smart with that chip and was happy to make that putt."

It's been a busy week for the teenager, who was granted her Tour card on Tuesday after becoming the youngest Canadian to win an LPGA or PGA event with her victory last weekend at the Cambia Portland Classic.

Henderson has been dealing with extra media attention, playing before large galleries. When not facing a television camera she's been surrounded by autograph seekers of all ages.

"It's been busy," she said. "I've had a lot of attention and a lot of things that I've had to do over the last couple of days.

"That is not an excuse for how I played today. Hopefully I will get used to all that attention because hopefully I will be winning more often."

Henderson fed off the energy of a Canadian crowd that cheered her every shot.

"It's pretty cool that so many people are watching and wanting me to do so well," she said. "I think it is a much different atmosphere than if I was playing across the border. It's the same conditions, just a different crowd.

"It's fun. I have to really learn to enjoy it and just build off their energy. It is pretty cool that they are cheering for me."

The win in Portland moved Henderson to No. 17 in the world rankings and boosted her earnings over US$660,000.

The CP Women's Open has a purse of US$2.25-million, with the winner taking home US$337,500.

Kung matches course record 

 Candie Kung birdied four of her final six holes Friday to match the course record with an 8-under 64 and take the second-round lead in the Canadian Pacific Women's Open.

The 34-year-old Taiwanese player had an 11-under 133 total at Vancouver Golf Club. Playing the back nine first, she birdied the first two holes and eagled the par-5 13th. She added birdies on Nos. 4 and 6-8.

"I just went out there, played one shot at a time, and I knew that I was putting pretty good," Kung said. "I missed a few out there from about 10 feet. I was hitting them pretty close all day. And then made some key putts coming in."

She has four LPGA Tour victories, winning three times in 2003 and once in 2008.

"I've been working pretty hard lately," Kung said. "I guess it was a slump that I had back 2010, 2011, I just got caught up in life a little bit. Now I feel like I can get back into it again, play some golf, have some fun."

Two-time champion Lydia Ko and first-round leader Karine Icher of France were tied for second.

"I have not looked at the leaderboard," Kung said. "I really don't care who is behind me. ... I'm hitting it good, I'm putting it good, and let's see what happens."

The 18-year-old Ko birdied the final hole for a 68.

"I got maybe in trouble a couple of times but was able to recover well," Ko said. "I didn't really have that many really tough positions. It's good to finish well."

Ko won in 2012 at Vancouver Golf Club at 15 years, 4 months to become the LPGA Tour's youngest winner and fifth amateur champion. The New Zealander successfully defended her title in 2013 as an amateur in Edmonton, Alberta. She has two victories this year.

Icher followed her opening 65 with a 70.

"It's tough greens," Icher said. "They are super hilly. You have to choose the right club. With the wind it was more difficult today to find the right club. It's still a good day."

Top-ranked Inbee Park, the Women's British Open winner in her last start, was tied for eighth at 4 under after a 69. She has a tour-high four victories this season.

Michelle Wie missed the cut with rounds of 74 and 75. Struggling with a left ankle injury, she was playing her first tournament since withdrawing during the second round of the Women's British Open after slipping walking off a tee box.