Canadian-Scot Henderson's record 65 to take lead

DALY CITY, California (AP) - Brooke Henderson is fearless and goes for it on shots when others might be more conservative, and that approach worked for the Canadian teen Friday morning in the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic.
Henderson shot a tournament-record 7-under 65 to take the lead on 135 halfway through the second round.
“That’s pretty cool,” said the 17-year-old Henderson, pictured, who is proud of her middle name "Mackenzie" which is a tribute to the Scottish blood in her veins.
That sizzling round put her at 9 under at Lake Merced Golf Club, where world No. 1 and defending champion Lydia Ko shot an even-par 72 to remain 5 under after taking the first-round lead Thursday. There were still afternoon rounds to play Friday, including local favorite Juli Inkster after her opening 68.
As Ko celebrated her 18th birthday, she cleared the way for a new teen star to shine.

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As the world No. 1 Lydia Ko turned 18 Friday, Canadian Brooke Henderson officially laid her claim to being the best 17-year-old in the world, blistering Lake Merced Golf Club for a 7-under 65 to climb into a two-shot lead heading into the weekend at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic 
 The former top-ranked amateur turned professional in December and is playing only the second LPGA Tour event of her professional career, but she looked like a seasoned vet on a day that saw her fire a bogey-free back-nine 31. 
Henderson’s 65 is the lowest score in the two-year history of this event, and she’s not afraid of the bullseye that comes with sleeping on a lead heading into the weekend.
“I think I’m ready,” Henderson said. “Yeah, 17 is young. As you’ve seen with Lydia Ko and Lexi Thompson and even Jessica Korda, there are a lot of great names that have been able to do it. I’m hoping that I’m one of them.”
Henderson needed only 25 putts in a second round that has her at 9-under for the tournament, two shots clear of Na Yeon Choi while Yueer Cindy Feng (-6) and Sakura Yokomine (-6) are three shots back of Henderson.
Ko, the defending champion here, opened the day with the overnight lead after a 5-under 67 Thursday but couldn’t step on the throttle on her birthday, posting a one birdie, one bogey even par round Friday.
“I really didn’t get anything going,” Ko said. “When that happens it’s really hard. You know, I would say the par-5s, you kind of need to take advantage of them. I didn’t position myself well in any of them, and that just makes it tough. Kind of feel like you’re already losing shots there.”
That’s atypical from Ko, though. At only four shots back of Henderson, she sits in prime position to potentially defend here come Sunday. Of Ko’s six wins on the LPGA Tour, she trailed heading into the weekend in four of them, including overcoming a five-shot deficit entering the weekend at 2014 CME Group Tour Championship.
But to do so here this weekend, Ko knows the challenge that lies ahead.
“I think last year I was making a lot of up and downs and I think those were really crucial,” Ko said. “Sometimes you’re going to hit a loose shot here and there or get some funky lies. TO make up and down, save those pars and get advantage of those par-5s, that’s really important. That’s what I did yesterday and that’s what I did last year.”
It may not prove to be a leaderboard for the taking for Ko, but it’s an inexperienced group compared to the norm.
Among the top eight on the leaderboard, only Ko, Na Yeon Choi and Julieta Granada have ever won on the LPGA Tour.
NUMBERS TO KNOW 2 – The position both Brooke Henderson and her sister, Brittany Henderson, finished Florida’s Natural Charity Classic a month ago on the Symetra Tour – Road to the LPGA 3 – Only three players in the top eight on the leaderboard have ever won on the LPGA Tour. 4 – Four of Lydia Ko’s six LPGA Tour wins have been after she trailed heading into the weekend. 17 – The age of leader Brooke Henderson. 25 – The amount of putts needed by Brooke Henderson Friday. 54 – Combined age of Brooke Henderson (17), Cindy Feng (19) and Lydia Ko (18) who sit at 1, T3 and T5 on the leaderboard respectively 79 – The number of players who made the cut at +5 on Friday.
SISTER ACT
Four weeks ago Brooke Henderson waited just off the 18th green at the Symetra Tour’s Florida’s Natural Charity Classic to comfort her older sister, Brittany, who had held the lead entering the final round but wasn’t able to hold on.
“She walked off the 18th green and was like, How did you do?’ And I’m like, We tied.” Brooke said.
Nearly seven years separate the two but not a place separated them on the scoreboard. Two Hendersons hanging on the scoreboard. Both with a two beside them under position as the co runner-ups.
“It was awesome. It’s sort of funny. 144 players and we both finished second,” Brooke said. “It was a great week. She led almost the entire way and I was nowhere to be found until the last day and made a few putts down the stretch.”
Currently, the sister duo lives together, practise together and frequently travel together to events. They even used to caddie for each other before both players turned professional. 
Brittany caddied for Brooke at the U.S. Women’s Open last year, where she finished in 10th as an amateur, and Brooke returned the favor at the LPGA’s Qualifying School this fall. This week, though, they are thousands of miles apart on opposite coasts. Brooke got in the field this week in San Francisco through a sponsor’s exemption and is currently in the lead by two entering the weekend. 
Brittany sits in a tie for sixth at the Guardian Retirement Championship at Sara Bay on the Symetra Tour – Road to the LPGA after a first-round 2-under 70.
“I love when she’s on my bag,” Brooke said. “She’s one of my best friends and she knows my game just as well as I do. Same goes for when I caddie for her. Her opinion means a lot to me. Just being able to lean on someone I think is very important.”
Throughout her five-month professional career - one Brooke left Canada and moved to Florida to start with her sister - Brooke’s leaned on her sister without a tinge of regret.
“For me I’m not on a steady tour, sort of a mixture of mini tour, Symetra and LPGA. So when I get the chance to come out here and play, I’m really happy to do that,” Brooke said. “It’s a great opportunity for me, so I really got to be able to capitalize when I do get those opportunities. Turning professional, I’m really glad I did. I think it’s the right move for me at this time.
“You know, I’m really loving where I am right now, and it’s awesome to wake up every day and do something I love.”
Like waking up on a Saturday morning with the lead.
“In my amateur career I loved when I had the lead,” Brooke said, “and I just want to continue to build it. This thing is far from over. There are tons of great players out there. The day is not even over yet. I’m excited for the position I’m in and really excited for the next couple days.”