Over the next month, epsontour.com will introduce you to 2015 Epson Tour rookies. In our first edition, we highlight Smith Falls, Ontario native Brittany Henderson, who advanced to Stage III of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament in December. Henderson was the 2013 Big South Player of the Year at Coastal Carolina.
Brittany Henderson and her family, that includes sister Brooke, who was the No. 1 amateur in the world before turning professional in December, vacationed in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina when they were young. It influenced her decision to play golf at Coastal Carolina, which is in Conway, S.C., 15 minutes from the beach.
Although going to college near the beach is nice, she decided to play for the Chanticleers (over Florida State) because of the Professional Golf Management Program. There are only 19 PGM programs in the country.
“I’ve always loved golf and I knew I wanted to be in the industry after school whether it is the playing side or the teaching side or running a golf course,” said Henderson, who started playing golf at nine and began competitive golf at 11. “I really do love teaching, I started doing that as my internships every summer.”
In fact, this past summer, once her eligibility was up, she worked as a teaching professional at her home course – Smith Falls Golf & Country Club.
Henderson graduated in December of 2013 because the PGM program is four and a half years. Therefore, she didn’t go to Qualifying Tournament in 2013 and played just a few Canadian Tour events and some state opens in 2014.
She spent most of her time practicing and working at Smith Falls Golf & Country Club.
“I’m excited to be playing now on the Epson Tour full-time now,” said the 24-year-old Henderson. “I think it is going to be really good to have a set schedule this year and play all the events you guys have set up for us.”
Henderson earned her Epson Tour status by advancing to Final Stage of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament in 2014. She did so with her younger sister Brooke as her caddie.
You can't write or talk about Brittany without talking about Brooke and she has no problem with that.
“My sister and I are sort of in this together,” said Brittany. “She’s going to be playing a few LPGA events this year and hopefully I will too and we’ll be able to chase our dream together, which is nice.”
Brooke, who is only 17-years-old, wasn’t old enough to play LPGA Qualifying Tournament in 2014 and therefore doesn’t have any status. She could get sponsor exemptions into Epson Tour and LPGA Tour events.
“We are really close, she is probably my best friend,” said Brittany. “It’s awesome to have someone like her that I can trust and do everything with.”
They really do everything together, including carrying each other’s bag. Brittany carried Brooke’s bag at the 2014 U.S. Amateur Championships.
“On the course, we have a reciprocal caddie agreement where whenever possible she will caddie for me and I will caddie for her,” said Brittany. “We don’t fight much on the course so it works out pretty well.”
Brittany says that Brooke will “probably” be on her bag when she begins the Epson Tour season in February.
“If she is not playing in anything that week, I am sure she will try to help me out as much as she can,” said Brittany.
The relationship works so well because they are both incredibly competitive. They practice together often and sometimes they put wagers on the table to push each other.
“Even when we are out having fun on the course together, we play for who is going to pay for supper that night,” said Brittany. “I hate to lose.”
In 2015, Brittany will be focusing on her game, which she says is very similar to Brooke’s, and trying to realize a life long dream of playing on the LPGA Tour.
“I want to win or hopefully have some high finishes to put myself in a good position to be in the top 10 on Epson Tour (Volvik Race for the Card money list) at the end of the year,” explained Brittany. “Ever since I started playing competitively, the LPGA has been in the back of mind."
Although Henderson will be a rookie on the Epson Tour, she will know a lot of the players. She played on the Canadian National team with fellow professionals Maude-Aimee Leblanc, Sara-Maude Juneau and Sue Kim.
If her time at Coastal Carolina is any indication, expect Henderson to enjoy success. She was a four-time All-Big South honoree and competed in four NCAA Regionals.
She takes a step closer to her dream in 2015.
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