There was a quiet poise to Brooke Henderson on that Sunday morning last summer in Regina ahead of her final round at the CP WomenB次元官网网址檚 Open.

She had experienced big moments before: her first LPGA Tour win as a 17-year-old in 2015, her first major victory a year later, her first appearance at the Olympics.

This tournament was different.

No Canadian had won the national open since Jocelyne Bourassa in 1973. Supporters who crammed the galleries could sense something special was happening.

Henderson would deliver in emphatic fashion, firing a closing-round 65 for a four-shot victory.

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B次元官网网址淭he 18th hole, standing on that green, surrounded by family and friends and hundreds of fans and spectators cheering me on B次元官网网址� it was sort of a surreal moment,B次元官网网址� Henderson said. B次元官网网址淭o finally hold that trophy that IB次元官网网址檝e dreamed about since I was a little girl, it gives me chills just thinking back on it.B次元官网网址�

It was one of two tournament titles and 11 top-10 finishes for Henderson last season. On Wednesday, she was rewarded for her stellar campaign by being named a repeat winner of the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award as The Canadian Press female athlete of the year.

Henderson, who has won the award in three of the last four years, picked up 30 of 54 votes (55.6 per cent) in a poll of broadcasters and editors from across the country.

B次元官网网址淓specially this year being an Olympic year with all the great athletes that competed in the Winter Olympics, itB次元官网网址檚 a big honour and IB次元官网网址檓 just really proud to take home this award again,B次元官网网址� Henderson said.

Figure skater Kaetlyn Osmond and short-track speedskater Kim Boutin tied for second place with 10 votes each (18.5 per cent).

The winner of the Lionel Conacher Award as CanadaB次元官网网址檚 male athlete of the year will be named Thursday and the team of the year will be named Friday.

With wet weather in the forecast, Henderson had an early start for her final round at the CP WomenB次元官网网址檚 Open. Showing no sign of nerves or timidity, she lashed her opening drive down the fairway and birdied the hole for a two-stroke lead.

Angel Yin, Sung Hyun Park, Su Oh and others tried to make charges that day but Henderson wouldnB次元官网网址檛 buckle. In fact, the Canadian found another gear.

Henderson pulled away with four straight birdies on the back nine and tapped in a birdie putt on the 18th hole to send the crowd into a tizzy. Her seventh career LPGA Tour victory moved her one behind Sandra PostB次元官网网址檚 record for all-time wins by a Canadian.

B次元官网网址淭he blinders were on,B次元官网网址� Post said. B次元官网网址淪he was looking at the finish line and she just looked like it was hers. She wasnB次元官网网址檛 nervous. It was hers.B次元官网网址�

It was an emotional summer for Henderson and her family. Her maternal grandfather died in early June and her paternal grandfather died in early August.

Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ont., remained steady and consistent throughout the year. She won the Lotte Championship last April in Hawaii, earned US$1.47 million over the season and finished ninth in the world rankings.

B次元官网网址淏ig performances on the biggest stage amongst stiff competition in one of the highest-profile sports in the world,B次元官网网址� said Edmonton-based Postmedia editor Craig Ellingson.

Henderson was fourth in scoring average (69.99) on the LPGA Tour, eighth in driving distance (268-yard average) and fourth in greens in regulation (74.5 per cent).

Her short game statistics were middle of the pack. Henderson was 72nd in putting average (29.7 putts per round) and 87th in sand saves (43.7 per cent).

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 easy to get down on yourself when things arenB次元官网网址檛 going perfectly,B次元官网网址� Henderson said. B次元官网网址淚 feel like I stayed really patient through the majority of the year. When things were not very good, they always turned around. You just have to wait them out and I did that.

B次元官网网址淓ven going into the CP WomenB次元官网网址檚 Open, I was in contention a few times and wasnB次元官网网址檛 able to get the job done. But I feel like I learned from those experiences and then when I put myself in position in Regina, I wasnB次元官网网址檛 going to let it go that time. I was able to seal the deal.B次元官网网址�

Bobbie Rosenfeld, an Olympic medallist in track and field and a multi-sport athlete, was named CanadaB次元官网网址檚 best female athlete of the half-century in 1950.

The first winner of the Rosenfeld award was golfer Ada Mackenzie in 1933. Marlene Stewart Streit leads all golfers by taking the honour on five occasions (1952, B次元官网网址�53, B次元官网网址�56, B次元官网网址�57, B次元官网网址�63).

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press

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