Henderson wraps up strong career

Long before Jenny Henderson realized her potential as a golfer, University of Northern Colorado wrestling coach Jack Maughan did.

Maughan proved to be right.

Henderson finished her career at UNC this spring as one of the most accomplished golfers in UNC history. Henderson, who shares the school record for lowest round with a 69, became the first golfer in UNC history to be named a first-team all-Big Sky Conference selection after finishing her senior season with a 77.7 stroke average.

Maughan originally recruited Henderson when he was also the women's golf coach at UNC. However, Maughan knew her long before that.

Maughan's father Bucky, the North Dakota State wrestling coach, coached Henderson's father at NDSU.

Jack knew the Henderson family when she was still a child growing up in Fargo, N.D., and always joked with Henderson when she first starting playing golf that she would one day play for him at UNC.

"He was like 'Oh, Jenny, you are going to come play golf for me,' and I was like 'Maybe. I don't even know if I like golf yet,' " Henderson said.

That's because Henderson didn't start playing golf until she was in the seventh grade at Fargo South High in North Dakota where seventh graders can play on the varsity team.

Maughan joked it was the mentality of a wrestling coach who was coaching golf that made him believe Henderson would be a great golfer. She was such an outstanding athlete.

Not only was she a team captain and all-conference soccer player at Fargo South, but she also was the team leader and performer for 15 years with the Fargo-Moorhead Acro Team. The F-M Acro Team is a nationally renowned synchronized gymnastics team that performed at halftime of big sporting events such as NFL and NBA games.

"She was a part-time golfer (in high school) and look at the success she had as a part-time golfer along with her other abilities," Maughan said. "Well, if she focused all her attention on golf, well, she had unlimited potential."

Playing on a high school team loaded with talent, Henderson developed the confidence in her game.

She became a six-time all-state selection on a Fargo team that won six straight state titles. She won the individual state title her senior year and found a passion for the game.

"I think what made me really enjoy the sport is that it changes every single day," Henderson said. "It is not the same soccer practice over and over. You can play a golf course 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 times, and you'll be in different spots every single time that you play it."

Her game continued to get stronger at UNC. It was her last two years under UNC women's golf coach Brandon White when she really blossomed.

Henderson said the last two years have made her more aware of course management. White said it is Henderson's fighting spirit on the course that has helped her reach her full potential.

"She has got a great game when she is on," White said. "When she is not and when she is struggling a little bit, she always grinds it out to the end. She takes what she has every day and does the best with it."