Tag: 2023 Portland Classic

2023 Portland Classic prize money payouts for each LPGA player

It pays to play well on the LPGA.

For the 10th time this season the LPGA has a first-time winner.

Chanettee Wannasaen, a 19-year-old rookie who Monday qualified for this week’s 2023 Portland Classic at Columbia Edgewater Country Country Club, shocked the field with a four-shot win at 26 under following a bogey-free 9-under 63 on Sunday. She’s the third Monday qualifier to win on the LPGA and the second to do so at the Portland Classic, joining Brooke Henderson in 2015.

After missing the cut in her last nine starts on tour, Wannasaen will take home the top prize of $225,000 for her efforts, while second-place Xiyu Lin will leave with $140,305.

Check out how much money each LPGA player earned this week at the 2023 Portland Classic.

Portland Classic prize money payouts

Position Player Score Earnings
1 Chanettee Wannasaen -26 $225,000
2 Xiyu Lin -22 $140,305
T3 Ruoning Yin -20 $81,297
T3 Gina Kim -20 $81,297
T3 Carlota Ciganda -20 $81,297
6 Megan Khang -19 $51,851
T7 Ariya Jutanugarn -18 $38,536
T7 Linn Grant -18 $38,536
T7 Atthaya Thitikul -18 $38,536
T10 Andrea Lee -17 $29,958
T10 Hyo Joon Jang -17 $29,958
T12 Alexa Pano -16 $26,040
T12 Olivia Cowan -16 $26,040
T14 Lilia Vu -15 $21,739
T14 Georgia Hall -15 $21,739
T14 Nelly Korda -15 $21,739
T14 Danielle Kang -15 $21,739
T18 Mi Hyang Lee -14 $18,333
T18 Perrine Delacour -14 $18,333
T18 Pavarisa Yoktuan -14 $18,333
T21 Jasmine Suwannapura -13 $15,840
T21 Xiaowen Yin -13 $15,840
T21 Hyo Joo Kim -13 $15,840
T21 Sarah Kemp -13 $15,840
T21 Nanna Koerstz Madsen -13 $15,840
T26 Pernilla Lindberg -12 $12,348
T26 Charley Hull -12 $12,348
T26 Ayaka Furue -12 $12,348
T26 Dewi Weber -12 $12,348
T26 Jennifer Kupcho -12 $12,348
T26 Grace Kim -12 $12,348
T26 Angela Stanford -12 $12,348
T26 Madelene Sagstrom -12 $12,348
T34 Ally Ewing -11 $9,075
T34 Ashleigh Buhai -11 $9,075
T34 Brooke Henderson -11 $9,075
T34 Mina Harigae -11 $9,075
T34 Pornanong Phatlum -11 $9,075
T34 Muni He -11 $9,075
T34 Lauren Hartlage -11 $9,075
T41 Polly Mack -10 $7,221
T41 Elizabeth Szokol -10 $7,221
T41 Hinako Shibuno -10 $7,221
T41 Jeongeun Lee6 -10 $7,221
T45 Pauline Roussin -9 $6,183
T45 Amelia Lewis -9 $6,183
T45 Jenny Shin -9 $6,183
T45 Moriya Jutanugarn -9 $6,183
T49 Caroline Inglis -8 $5,319
T49 Yan Liu -8 $5,319
T49 Brittany Lincicome -8 $5,319
T49 Patty Tavatanakit -8 $5,319
T53 Bianca Pagdanganan -7 $4,686
T53 Riley Rennell -7 $4,686
T53 Lauren Stephenson -7 $4,686
T53 Jodi Ewart Shadoff -7 $4,686
T57 Samantha Wagner -6 $4,225
T57 Maria Fassi -6 $4,225
T59 Albane Valenzuela -5 $3,780
T59 Emily Kristine Pedersen -5 $3,780
T59 Gabriella Then -5 $3,780
T59 Morgane Metraux -5 $3,780
T59 Yuka Saso -5 $3,780
T64 Ryann O’Toole -4 $3,495
T64 Sung Hyun Park -4 $3,495
T66 Christina Kim -3 $3,342
T66 Yu-Sang Hou -3 $3,342
68 Jennifer Song -1 $3,226

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Monday qualifier and 19-year-old LPGA rookie Chanettee Wannasaen wins 2023 Portland Classic

Wannasaen had missed her last nine cuts entering this week in Portland.

Women’s golf is loaded with young, rising talent as yet another teenager has won on the LPGA in 2023.

Five players were within four shots of the lead as the final group made the turn to the back nine on Sunday at the 2023 Portland Classic, but none of them caught Chanettee Wannasaen.

The 19-year-old rookie was a Monday qualifier for this week’s event at Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Oregon but left with the trophy after a memorable week in the Pacific Northwest. Wannasaen shot her season-low round of 66 on Friday and went one better with a Saturday 65 before a blistering bogey-free 9-under 63 on Sunday sealed the deal at 26 under for her first LPGA win, the 10th player to accomplish the feat this season.

A native of Chiang Mai, Thailand, Wannasaen last won in June of 2022 at the Trust Golf Links Series – Ramside Hall on the Ladies European Tour Access Series after a pair of wins earlier in the year on the Thai LPGA Tour at the Singha Pattaya Ladies Open and Thai LPGA Championship. She made the cut in her first two LPGA starts in February and March of this year at the LPGA Drive On Championship (T-57) and Honda LPGA Thailand (T-51), respectively, but hadn’t made a cut in nine starts since.

“I miss cut about like nine events in LPGA tournament this year,” said Wannasaen on Saturday. “That get me more confident.”

That confidence showed on Sunday as the teenager played the final round with ease and handled the pressure with the confidence of a multi-major champion. After a par-par start, Wannasaen caught fire with a five-hole stretch of birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie on Nos. 3-7 to take a three-shot lead with nine holes to play. Wannasaen added three more birdies on the back at Nos. 13, 14 and 17 to cruise to a four-shot win.

Wannasaen is just the third player to Monday qualify and then win the same week on the LPGA, joining Laurel Kean at the 2000 State Farm LPGA Classic and Brooke Henderson, who also Monday qualified for the Portland Classic at Columbia Edgewater Country Club and went on to win the event in 2015. Yealimi Noh almost joined Kean, Noh and now Wannasaen at the 2019 Portland Classic, but the then-18-year-old blew a three-shot lead on Sunday as Hannah Green went on to win by a single shot.

Ranked No. 367 in the world, Wannasaen is the third-lowest ranked player to win on the LPGA. The previous two, Rose Zhang (482) and Alexa Pano (402), happened earlier this summer.

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With the pressure off, Megan Khang is enjoying ‘The Ultimatum’ in Portland

If Khang is going through her own version of the show this week, she’s certainly passing with flying colors.

As you might expect, after grinding through nearly 200 starts on the LPGA before earning her first victory last weekend in Vancouver at the CPKC Women’s Open, Megan Khang needed to exhale a bit this week while settling into her surroundings at the Portland Classic.

Khang is rooming with Nelly Korda, who surprised her friend with balloons at the house, but other than the original celebration, the Massachusetts product has laid low all week, sneaking in nightly episodes of the Netflix show “The Ultimatum.” The show, hosted by Nick Lachey and his wife Vanessa, is something of a social experiment, seeing how individuals react when being thrown into new situations.

If Khang is going through her own version of the show this week, learning how to play with an LPGA title under her belt, she’s certainly passing with flying colors.

On Friday, Khang fired her second straight 66 at Columbia Edgewater Country Club and she went to the clubhouse alone atop the leaderboard after 36 holes, poised to double her win total after finally opening the floodgates.

Khang closed the day with a bogey, her first of the tournament, but the round was still good enough to put her in prime position at the midway point. She coasted into the media tent after the round with the poise of a winner, although she insisted the final hole helped to keep her in check.

“Honestly I think it’s just I feel kind of mellowed out because I bogeyed the last hole. No one likes bogeying the last, but definitely gives you something more to work on,” she said. “It’s been kind of like a long week it feels like, but overall I think I’ve kind of just come to this week kind of going, hey, my game is in a good place. Mentally a little tired, but sometimes that can be a good thing. Just not over-exhausting myself out there and take it one shot at time and relax when I can out there. It’s a long week.”

Among those pushing Khang is Madelene Sagstrom, who missed the cut in four of her previous five starts. While Khang has posted consecutive rounds of 66, Sagstrom has back-to-back 67s and sits just two strokes behind the leader.

“I must say I just really haven’t made any mistakes. I’ve been keeping it in play. I haven’t really had my ‘A’ game coming in here. I’ve been struggling a little bit on the course,” Sagstrom said. “So we kind of set up a little different game plan this week. Just trying to hit the fairway however it gets there and just go more center of the green. I think that is more how I was playing last year and it seems to be working.

“Giving myself some good chances. Took them when I needed to. Really just haven’t made too many mistakes.”

As for Khang’s approach for the weekend, it’s about as exciting as social calendar this week.

“It’s going to sound like a broken record, fairways and greens, and we’ll see how the course dries out,” she said. “We’ll see where we stand and just kind of take it from there.”

And as for her new Netflix fix, why is she hooked?

“It’s so dramatic and it’s wicked funny,” she said.

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Nelly Korda surprised Megan Khang after her first LPGA win (and now she’s shining in Portland)

Knowing she was sharing a house with Khang this week for the Portland Classic, Korda planned a surprise.

With eight wins on the LPGA and three more on the Ladies European Tour, Nelly Korda knows a thing or two about celebrating victories. So when her dear friend Megan Khang finally broke through and earned her first victory last week at the CPKC Women’s Open in her 191st career start, Korda thought a special celebration was in order.

Knowing she was sharing a house with Khang this week for the Portland Classic, Korda planned a surprise for her friend’s room to go along with a gift sent by Khang’s boyfriend.

“I came to this week a little late and I’m sharing the house with Nelly,” Khang explained, “and she was showing me my room and totally caught me off guard. She had balloons done for my room and my boyfriend had sent flowers.

“I had no idea that was going to happen. I think I like cried for the first time. I was like, ‘Wow, this is crazy,’ and it really hit.”

After enjoying a little celebration with her friend, however, it was back to business on Thursday for Korda at Columbia Edgewater Country Club as she finished the day with three straight birdies to get to 7 under, just two shots behind leader Perrine Delacour after the opening round of play.

Thursday brought a little rain, but that didn’t impact Korda, who had birdies on the day to go with just one bogey.

“I think the golf course is just in general playing a little softer than it was last year. I just knew with the amount of rain we were getting throughout the day that I could just be a little bit more aggressive,” Korda said. “So making sure that I was flying to the right numbers and taking dead aim at flags was possible.

“I think (the rain is) good. It boosts your confidence in a sense when you’re hitting it good. Obviously, it’s tough to play in the rain and there is a lot more going on, as in trying to stay dry and it’s a little bit more hectic, but overall it didn’t really dump on us. It stayed consistent throughout the day.”

Korda didn’t touch a club for several weeks this spring after lower back pain resulted in a forced break. When the 25-year-old returned to work, it was with a new swing instructor, Jason Baile, the director of instruction at Jupiter Hills Club in Florida. She hasn’t won since returning, but she’s playing well with two top-11 finishes in the most recent majors, the Amundi Evian Championship and the AIG Women’s Open can attest.

“It’s been an interesting time since my injury. You know, I came back — I played really well before it, and then when I came back it was very hard to get into the groove of things,” Korda said. “I came back to pretty much four majors in a row, so definitely tough golf courses, firm golf courses where it’s kind of hard to get your confidence back.

“But one step at a time I think. I’m pushing in the right direction.”

With the Solheim Cup right around the corner, Korda is concerned with fine-tuning her game, but her focus is solely on playing well in Portland.

This will be Korda’s third appearance at the biennial event against the Europeans and has a 5-2-1 record in her previous starts. But that’s in the future.

“I’m just really focusing on this week, and once I get to that week I’ll focus on that week,” she said. “I’m just trying to take it one round at time, play some consistent golf, and hopefully I can take that into Spain.”

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After first going silent on Juli Inkster, Jenny Bae now leans on star as she prepares for LPGA debut

For all her accomplishments, Bae’s phone etiquette went out the window when Hall of Famer Inkster was on the line.

It’s not like the ring of her phone came as a total surprise; Jenny Bae was tipped off in advance. Her coach at the University of Georgia mentioned to the senior star that a call from seven-time major champion Juli Inkster could be coming and she should be prepared.

Bae had a record-setting 2022-23 season, finishing in the top five on eight different occasions, and Bulldogs coach Josh Brewer hinted that something special could be in the works.

“He said make sure you keep the phone on, and you’re wide awake. You’re going to get one of the biggest important phone calls of your entire life tomorrow morning at 9,” Bae recalled. “I was like, oh, okay. So I was freaking out the entire night. Woke up super early. Just couldn’t sleep. I got the phone call and she says, ‘Hi, I’m Juli Inkster,’ and she announced the award and I think I was quiet for about 30 seconds or so.”

Bae had been selected as the 2023 recipient of the Inkster Award presented by Workday, an honor that recognizes the highest-ranked women’s Division I collegiate golfer in her final year of eligibility for the 2022-23 college golf season. A fifth-year senior, she finished the season as the fifth-ranked women’s college golfer in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings and fourth in the Golfstat rankings.

But for all her accomplishments, Bae’s phone etiquette went out the window when Hall of Famer Inkster was on the other end of the line. On Wednesday, in advance of the LPGA’s Portland Classic, the award’s namesake wondered if she’d even properly connected with the rising star.

“I was like, are you there?” Inkster said.

“I was so in shock,” Bae added. “I was like, is this really Juli Inkster on the phone with me right now telling me I just got the biggest award of the year? I was super excited, super pumped. After our phone call, I called my coach, my parents, guess what just happened and who just called me. That day, I can say, is one of my best mornings I’ve ever had in my life.”

The honor was well-deserved for Bae, who captured titles at the Illini Invitational and the Athens Regional, where she posted the two lowest scores in Georgia history. She compiled a 70.75 season stroke average, the lowest single-season stroke average in Georgia history. She also finished runner-up at the 2023 Augusta National Women’s Amateur, falling to Rose Zhang on the second playoff hole.

As a result of winning the award, she received an exemption for this week’s event, which takes place at Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland, and Bae will automatically advance to the second stage of LPGA Q-School from Oct. 16-20 at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Florida.

And while this week’s LPGA debut will certainly test her nerves, Bae has plenty of experience to draw on. On top of her stellar collegiate career, she’s added a pair of wins on the Epson Tour this summer.

Juli Inkster walks on the 17th green during the second round of the 2013 U.S. Women’s Open at Sebonack Golf Club on June 28, 2013 in Southampton, New York. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

Inkster, who has 31 LPGA titles and a pair of U.S. Opens under her belt, said she thinks the Georgia product is well-equipped to play with the world’s best this week. When asked if she offered Bae much advice, Inkster insisted she simply told the 22-year-old to savor the experience.

“She’s done a great job all right,” Inkster said. “I think she knows what she’s doing. I think Georgia really prepared her for the next stage. But also right now it’s maybe a little overwhelming, but it’ll settle in. The main thing is right now I’m sure she’s trying to soak in everything, play in everything, practice, but my philosophy is you really need that time to get away from the game and have other outside activities that keep your mind fresh.

“So my thing is, yeah, when you’re out there, you play, you play, you play, but then you’re home you need time to rest, you need downtime. Then you get back to working. It’s not about the quantity it’s more about the quality. That’s kind of what I try to stress to these players just starting out.”

As for her first taste of the LPGA, Bae knows that Portland will offer a special test where many of the game’s greats have previously thrived.

A total of 10 past champions of the event are LPGA Hall of Famers, including Inkster. The others are Judy Rankin, Donna Caponi, Amy Alcott, Nancy Lopez, Betsy King, Patty Sheehan, Dottie Pepper, Annika Sorenstam and Lorena Ochoa.

But she insists she’ll keep Inkster’s advice top of mind.

“I think as expectations go, I’m just going to go out there and try my best on every hole and shot that I have. Just being able to have the opportunity to participate in this tournament is a huge accomplishment for me,” Bae said.

“I think I’m just going to go out there and try to enjoy myself as much as I can.”

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Georgia senior Jenny Bae named recipient of 2023 Inkster Award, earns LPGA exemption

Bae will receive an exemption into the LPGA’s 2023 Portland Classic.

Georgia senior Jenny Bae has been named the recipient of the 2023 Inkster Award presented by Workday.

The Inkster Award recognizes the highest ranked women’s Division I  collegiate golfer in her final year of eligibility for the 2022-23 college golf season.

Bae, a fifth-year senior, finished the season as the fifth-ranked women’s college golfer in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings and fourth in the Golfstat rankings.

As a result of winning the 2023 Inkster Award, Bae will receive an exemption into the 2023 Portland Classic on the LPGA, taking place Aug. 31-Sept. 3 at Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland, Oregon.

Additionally, Bae will automatically advance to the second stage of LPGA Q-School from Oct. 16-20 at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Florida.

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Bae will also join Juli Inkster, who the award is named after, for a two-day mentorship retreat in Northern California. Workday will provide $50,000 to the Juli Inkster Foundation to help support Bae’s transition to her professional golf career. The $50,000 will support Bae’s mentorship retreat with Inkster and assist with Bae’s travel expenses.

Inkster, a World Golf Hall-of-Fame member and LPGA legend, was a three-time All-American at San Jose State. She elected not to turn professional until finishing her four-year commitment to her school, winning 17 individual titles during her college career.

“Juli Inkster is an inspiration and such a role model on and off the course, her Hall-of-Fame career speaks for itself,” Bae said in a release. “To receive this award from Juli and to have her as my mentor is an honor beyond words.”

Inkster added: “Jenny had a remarkable career at Georgia, persevered through the challenges of the global pandemic to earn her college degree and excelled on the golf course with an amazing senior season,” said Inkster. “That says a lot about not only her performance on the course but also about her goals and passions away from it and putting education as a priority. I look forward to mentoring Jenny as she navigates the next stage in her professional and personal journeys.”

Bae finished 14th last week at the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. She had a record-setting 2022-23 season, finishing in the top five an astounding eight times, including victories at the Illini Invitational and the Athens Regional, where she scored the two lowest scores in Georgia history. She compiled a 70.75 season stroke average, the lowest single-season stroke average in Georgia history. She also finished runner-up at the 2023 Augusta National Women’s Amateur, falling to Rose Zhang on the second playoff hole.

Last weekend, Bae made her professional debut on the Epson Tour, competing in the Nova Mission Inn Resort and Club Championship in Howey-In-The-Hills, Florida.

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