The LPGA Tour resumed play after the Solheim Cup at the Oregon Golf Club in West Linn, Oregon for the Cambia Portland Classic. The event, which began in 1972, is a 72-hole event played on a par 72 layout of 6478 yards. Last year, Georgia Hall won on the second hole of a playoff with a par, defeating Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa. The purse was $1.4 million with 500 points towards the Race to the CME Globe for the winner.
First Round
The early lead was set by PajareeAnannarukarn, Gemma Dryburgh, and Carlota Ciganda, who each posted rounds of 68. A group of six were just a shot off the pace, including Perrine Delacour and Jin Young Ko. A surprise at two-under par was 57-year-old Laura Davies. Also, at two-under was Jeongeun Lee6. Among a logjam of 13 players at one-under were 20-year-old Yealimi Noh, Nasa Hataoka, and Emma Talley. Altogether, 42 players shot even par or better.
Among a group of 14 players at one-over and still in the mix were Jennifer Kupcho, Hannah Green, and Stacy Lewis. The biggest surprise of round one was the play of 19th ranked Ariya Jutanugarn, who shot an 81, including a triple bogey on the par 3 eighth. Other notables included Ryann O’Toole (two-over), Patty Tavatanakit, Moriya Jutanugarn, and Brittany Altomare (all four-over)
Second Round
Jin Young Ko vaulted to top of the leaderboard after posting a 67 that included six birdies. At eight-under par, she held a one-shot lead over Gemma Dryburgh, who got into position after birdies on the last three holes. Carlota Ciganda was only two shots back, and among six at four-under included Jeongeun Lee, Jeongeun Lee6, and PajareeAnannarukarn. Still with a reasonable shot at the halfway-point were four at two-under, which included Esther Henseleit of Germarny, and Perrine Delacour. Patty Tavatanakit got into a group at one-under par with three biridies over the last four holes.
Making the cut, but well off the pace at one-over included Jennifer Kupcho, Nasa Hataoka, and Laura Davies. Brooke Henderson shot herself out of contention with a four-over par stretch from 5 through 8. She was ten shots back at two-over par. Nine players were at three-over, including Yealimi Noh, who suffered a triple bogey on the par four 6th. Only 19 players finished under par after 36 holes.
Among the notables missing the cut were Moriya Jutanugarn and Stacy Lewis (seven –over), Brittany Altomare (eight-over), and Ariya Jutanugarn (15-over after a round of 78).
Third Round
Saturday’s scheduled third was suspended due to inclement weather. Therefore, the tournament was reduced to 54 holes, with the third and final round played on Sunday.
A steady round of 69 which included no bogeys gave Jin Young Ko a four-stroke win over Jeongeun Lee and Su Oh, who also posted rounds of 69. Also shooting rounds of 69 were Perrine Delacour and Patty Tavatankit, who were at five-under and four-under, respectively. Also at four-under but unable to make a move was Carlota Ciganda who posted a round of 73. Seven players were eight shots back, including Jeongeun Lee6, PajareeAnannarukarn, Jennifer Kupcho, and Gemma Dryburgh, who stumbled to a round of 76. Sarah Schmelzel led a group at two-under after a solid round of 69. Mina Harigae and Nasa Hataoka were the big names at one-under. Jenny Shin dropped from the mix after a round of 76 put her back to even.
Notables over par included Bronte Law (two-over), Lauren Stephenson, Yealimi Noh, Brooke Henderson, and Ryann O’Toole (three-over), Jenny Coleman and Laura Davies (four-over), Austin Ernst (five-over), and Hannah Green (seven-over).
The victory for Ko was her second of the second of the season and her ninth career LPGA victory. Ko is currently second in the Rolex World Golf Rankings and fourth in the CME Race to the Globe.
Coming Up
The LPGA Tour heads to the Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas for the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G. This 54-hole event, which began in 2007, is played on a par 71 layout of 6438 yards. Austine Ernst is the defending champion of the tournament which has a purse of $2.3 million and 500 points to the Race to the CME Globe for the winner.
