It didn’t quite work out that way. Satoshi Koidaira defeated Si Woo Kim on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff for his first PGA Tour title. RBC is no doubt honored to have the Japanese touring pro its 2018 champion and thrilled how well the entire tournament week went in South Carolina.

There was, however, some corporate solace in what happened the night before.

Some 4,750 miles away on the island of Oahu, another Team RBC member, Brooke Henderson, was orchestrating her sixth career LPGA Tour title at the LOTTE Championship.

The four-shot victory, her first since the McKayson New Zealand Women’s Open last October, leaves the Smith Falls, Ont., native just two wins shy of Sandra Post’s eight career titles, the current career victory ceiling for Canadian women on the LPGA.

Mike Weir, by the way, the 2003 Masters champion, has the same number of PGA Tour titles, as does the late George Knudson. Having just turned the tender age of 20 on September 10, it’s reasonable, if not probable, to believe Henderson, now 13th on the Rolex World Women’s Ranking, will break the all-time professional wins record for a Canadian on either the LPGA or PGA tour. It seems only a matter of time.

That suits DePaoli just fine. Before weather forced the PGA Tour to move up tee times at the RBC Heritage Sunday, I reached out to her on Henderson’s win.

She, like many Canadian golf fans, had been glued to Golf Channel’s coverage of the tournament Saturday night at Ko Olina Golf Club and was happy to share some thoughts on her Team RBC player and the new LOTTE champion.

“On the golf course Brooke has this no-fear mentality,” wrote DePaoli in an email. “She works hard, very hard, on her game and she is as tenacious as they come. You saw what she did with the two drivers she hit on that hole on the back nine [one off the fairway]. Her win in Hawaii is really a testament to her skill and that work ethic she has. I think you know and appreciate how proud we are to have her represent Team RBC.”

I am. So are many people.

Henderson’s striking talent and the dedication she has for her craft have been shining through since her days as a junior golfer and during her formative years as a member of Canada’s national team. That pedigree and the upside she possessed then are big reasons RBC had Henderson on its corporate radar not soon after she turned professional.

The bank announced her signing along with Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin on the same day in February 2015.

But DePaoli’s respect for Henderson runs just as deep outside the ropes. As RBC’s chief of marketing, she is full of admiration for how the LPGA Tour star conducts herself; how she gives back to fans, community and country; and how she understands her obligation as a professional athlete in a world where all too often it is taken for granted or forgotten about entirely.

That’s where a measure of that pride comes from with DePaoli. Entitlement, as she points out, is a word both foreign and foul to Henderson.

“To me she is tremendous ambassador for Canada, a role model for young women and someone who has never lost her sense of humility and gratitude despite being on the game’s greatest talents worldwide,” she added.

That also makes Henderson a dream portfolio to someone with marketing responsibilities and acumen. Not only is she easy to work, with she’s a pleasure to be around.

What an amazing week in Hawaii @LPGALOTTE! Great teamwork with Brit to get back in the winner’s circle! ?????? #blessed #humboldtstrong ?? pic.twitter.com/ZVWptwOLeU — Brooke Henderson (@BrookeHenderson) April 15, 2018

“Brooke’s marketability is really driven by her popularity with fans and her ability to connect with everyday people,” wrote DePaoli on Henderson’s promotional upside. “That to me is largely driven by the fact that she is selfless, an increasingly rare trait in today’s world. Dedicating her victory to Humboldt and the tragedy there is just one example of how she possesses the ability to go beyond herself and think of others.”

It was clear from her post round comments to Golf Channel and in the media room a short time later that what happened on that Saskatchewan highway April 6th had touched the former hockey goalie. She along with the other Canadian players in the field last week on Oahu — at the urging of Alena Sharp’s caddie, Sarah Bowman — wore green and gold ribbons to honor the 16 Humboldt players, coaches or staff members who died, the 13 who were injured and the entire community of Humboldt.

“It’s extremely sad, a terrible tragedy what happened up there,” said Henderson. “I know it kind of affected my whole country. Everybody really took it personally. For all the survivors that are still fighting through it and all the ones who passed away I want to show them that we’re here for them and we’re supporting them. They’re always going to be in our thoughts and prayers.”

Added DePaoli: “Brooke draws attention to people and causes that are important to her.”

Only three full years into her professional career Henderson’s endorsement portfolio, carefully watched over by her management firm International Management Group (IMG), is an impressive one for combined quality and quantity.

Along with RBC for financial services, it includes PING, Titleist and Skechers for equipment as well as brand alignment and promotional considerations with BMW, MasterCard, Rolex, Canadian Pacific, Golf Town, BioSteel and Google Android Wear.

Her endorsement potential is only going to grow as Henderson’s LPGA Tour career continues along its current path of success.

“Also appealing from a business point-of-view,” said DePaoli, “is that even though she participates in one of the most individual sports she never fails to acknowledge the team effort in any athletes success. Her team is the support of her sister, family, the fans and, of course, the support she has with us at Team RBC.”

No surprise there. The 2018 Lotte Championship winner knows there is never an ‘I’ in ‘Team’.