Tag: Cambia Portland Classic

Nobody can catch Jin Young Ko as former world No. 1 wins rain-shortened Cambia Portland Classic

Former world No. 1 Jin Young Ko jarred a long, curling birdie putt on the 18th green to put an exclamation point on her Cambia Portland Classic title.

Earlier this year, Jin Young Ko lost the world No. 1 ranking to Nelly Korda. On Sunday, Ko played like a No. 1, never letting anyone get close to her in the final round of the Cambia Portland Classic.

She capped her victory in style by jarring a long, curling birdie putt on the 18th green.

Rain fell intermittently on a grey day at Oregon Golf Club as the 50th anniversary of the LPGA’s Portland stop was cut from 72 holes to 54 holes because of massive amounts of rain that fell on Friday. Ko had a one-shot lead when Saturday’s third round was canceled and never wavered in the final round on Sunday. She took it from 8 under to 11 under with a final-round 69 to win by four shots over Australian Su Oh and fellow Korean Jeongeun Lee.

Ko had an impeccable card, with only three birdies at Nos. 7, 11 and 18 and had 16 pars to go along with those.

Aside from her top-10 finish in the Olympic women’s golf competition in August, Ko has been out of the spotlight for much of the late summer. She played the Amundi Evian Championship, but the Cambia Portland Classic marked her first start stateside since winning the Volunteers of America Classic to start July.

Her win in Portland marks only her second victory this season but her ninth career LPGA title.

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LPGA: Third round of the Cambia Portland Classic has been delayed due to massive downpour

The Oregon Golf Club, where the Cambia Portland Classic is being held, received over an inch and a half of rain overnight. 

Jin Young Ko stormed up the leaderboard yesterday with a second-round 67, but she’ll have to wait a day before trying to add to her lead. The Oregon Golf Club, where the Cambia Portland Classic is being held, received over an inch and a half of rain overnight, canceling Saturday’s play.

Tournament officials will monitor the rainfall at the golf course. The plan, as it stands right now, is to resume play early Sunday morning.

Before the tournament tees back off, it will be decided whether or not the event will be 54 or 72 holes. Playing golf on Monday is an option in order to complete the event.

When the ladies tee off, Jin Young Ko will hold a one-shot lead over Gemma Dryburgh, one of the 18-hole leaders. Nine total players are within four shots of the lead.

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Jin Young Ko leads, Laura Davies makes cut at Cambia Portland Classic

In her first tournament since competing in the Tokyo Summer Olympics, Jin Young Ko holds the 36-hole lead.

In her first tournament since competing in the Tokyo Summer Olympics, Jin Young Ko holds the 36-hole lead heading into the weekend at the LPGA’s Cambia Portland Classic.

Ko had six birdies and one bogey on her scorecard. She had six birdies Thursday as well but also had three bogeys in her opening round.

Ko, ranked second in the world, has one win this year, at the Volunteers of America Classic over the July 4th weekend. She is at 8 under so far in Portland.

The cut came in at 6 over, which safely put 57-year-old Laura Davies into the weekend. Davies shot a second-round 75 but is still 1 over for the tournament.

“I must admit in the practice the other day I found it really exhausting, but when you’re playing and trying to hit good shots, you don’t really notice the hills,” said Davies after Thursday’s round of the hilly Oregon Golf Club in West Linn, Oregon. Davies has made the cut in her last three tournaments. Fellow LPGA golfer Trish Johnson is working as Davies’ caddie this week.

Gemma Dryburgh is solo second after 36 holes at 7 under. Carlota Ciganda is solo third at 5 under. Jeongeun Lee and Jeongeun Lee6 are among seven golfers tied for fourth at 4 under.

The Cambia Portland Classic, the longest-running non-major tournament on the LPGA, was moved from Columbia Edgewater Country Club because of safety concerns about a homeless encampment in the area.

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Three tied atop the leaderboard at the Cambia Portland Classic on the LPGA Tour

Pajaree Anannarukarn, Gemma Dryburgh and Carlota Ciganda sit atop the leaderboard after the first round.

The Oregon Golf Club in West Linn, Oregon, is hosting the LPGA Tour this week for the Cambia Portland Classic.

Pajaree Anannarukarn, Gemma Dryburgh and Carlota Ciganda are tied atop the leaderboard after the first round.

Anannarukarn played a nearly flawless round with just one bogey on the card, offset by five birdies for an opening 4-under 68.

Dryburgh had a more up-and-down day compared to her fellow co-leaders. She carded three bogeys, but those were erased with five birdies and an eagle. The big bird came on the par 4 7th.

Ciganda made a boatload of birdies during her round today (seven), but they were neutralized by a bogey on two and a double on 14.

World No. 2 Jin Young Yo is just one shot back, sitting at 3 under. United States Solheim Cupper Jennifer Kupcho struggled throughout the day, ending her round with a 1-over 73.

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Homeless encampment drives Cambia Portland Classic to new venue for safety reasons

Tournament organizers felt it necessary to move this year’s Cambia Portland Classic for health and safety reasons.

The Cambia Portland Classic debuted in 1972. Kathy Whitworth won the first two editions, followed by JoAnne Carner and a who’s who of legends over the past five decades.

Columbia Edgewater Country Club has been the event’s home for the majority of that time. This year, the LPGA’s longest-running non-major event is set to celebrate 50 years in mid-September. Only it won’t be at Columbia Edgewater.

A large homeless encampment now surrounds the parking lot that nearly everyone who comes to the event utilizes, and tournament organizers felt it necessary to move the event for health and safety reasons.

LPGA officials informed players of the change earlier this week in a memo.

“It was a real tough decision,” said Tom Maletis, president of the Tournament Golf Foundation.

Next week, LPGA officials will make a site visit to Oregon Golf Club in West Linn, which is slated to host the event in 2021 with options for an extension.

A story in The Oregonian described the area near the club down Northeast 33rd Drive as “dotted with run-down RVs, trailers, tents, makeshift housing structures and mounds of rubble and garbage.” For a time, gunshots were heard almost nightly, Lisa Larson, who serves as vice chair at nearby Dignity Village, told The Oregonian.

Maletis said he worked with the Port of Portland and the City of Portland for months, hoping to get word that conditions would improve in time for the event.

“We couldn’t get any guarantees that the situation would be cleaned up,” he said.

Stacy Lewis, the 2017 Portland champ, said she was very surprised by the news earlier this week.

“I love that golf course,” said 2020 winner Georgia Hall, “and obviously I won ’round there. It’s a shame they have to move it, but I understand why.”

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Homeless encampment drives Cambia Portland Classic to new venue for safety reasons

Tournament organizers felt it necessary to move this year’s Cambia Portland Classic for health and safety reasons.

The Cambia Portland Classic debuted in 1972. Kathy Whitworth won the first two editions, followed by JoAnne Carner and a who’s who of legends over the past five decades.

Columbia Edgewater Country Club has been the event’s home for the majority of that time. This year, the LPGA’s longest-running non-major event is set to celebrate 50 years in mid-September. Only it won’t be at Columbia Edgewater.

A large homeless encampment now surrounds the parking lot that nearly everyone who comes to the event utilizes, and tournament organizers felt it necessary to move the event for health and safety reasons.

LPGA officials informed players of the change earlier this week in a memo.

“It was a real tough decision,” said Tom Maletis, president of the Tournament Golf Foundation.

Next week, LPGA officials will make a site visit to Oregon Golf Club in West Linn, which is slated to host the event in 2021 with options for an extension.

A story in The Oregonian described the area near the club down Northeast 33rd Drive as “dotted with run-down RVs, trailers, tents, makeshift housing structures and mounds of rubble and garbage.” For a time, gunshots were heard almost nightly, Lisa Larson, who serves as vice chair at nearby Dignity Village, told The Oregonian.

Maletis said he worked with the Port of Portland and the City of Portland for months, hoping to get word that conditions would improve in time for the event.

“We couldn’t get any guarantees that the situation would be cleaned up,” he said.

Stacy Lewis, the 2017 Portland champ, said she was very surprised by the news earlier this week.

“I love that golf course,” said 2020 winner Georgia Hall, “and obviously I won ’round there. It’s a shame they have to move it, but I understand why.”

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Georgia Hall claims first LPGA title on U.S. soil in Cambia Portland Classic playoff

Georgia Hall owns an LPGA major title but until Sunday, she had never logged a victory on U.S. soil.

Georgia Hall owns a major title but until Sunday, she had never logged an LPGA victory on U.S. soil. The 24-year-old can check it off her list after prevailing in a playoff with Ashleigh Buhai at the Cambia Portland Classic.

Hall turned in a final-round 68 but with bogey on her final hole, fell to 12 under and into the playoff with Buhai, who was looking for her first career LPGA title.

The pair went two extra holes at Columbia Edgewater Country Club before Buhai was eliminated with a bogey on the par-4 first hole.

“I was pretty nervous so I kind of took that into consideration, what club I was hitting because of the adrenaline. I’m really happy to get over the line and get my first American win,” said Hall.

Hall won the Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in 2018, becoming the first English major champion since Karen Stupples in 2004. In 2019, she was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire as part of the Queen’s birthday honors.

Scores: Cambia Portland Classic

Hall has worked hard on her chipping, particularly coming into the Portland event. She finished second two years ago on a course she thinks suits her game. She didn’t want that to happen again.

After winning her major title in August of 2018, Hall didn’t win another major event again until this week. She won two one-day Rose Ladies Series events in July.

“I kind of had a 50-50 year last year where my first half wasn’t very good, my second half was good,” she said. “It’s just kind of taking it one tournament at a time and not really focusing on too much of the future. My goal this year was to win in America and I’m really glad I’ve done that.”

Before the event, Hall was ranked No. 55 in the Rolex Rankings. The Portland victory should give her a rankings bump as well as a confidence bump.

“Obviously this will get my world ranking down quite a lot,” she said. “Now it’s kind of re-evaluate. Obviously I’d love to get another win, but I’m just going to let this all sink in. I’ve got a nice week off now so I’m just going to enjoy it and celebrate any chance I have, even though it’s hard because of COVID.”

Hall isn’t sure she properly enjoyed her Women’s British Open victory. She won’t make that mistake this time.

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Mel Reid rides perfect day to two-shot Cambia Portland Classic lead

Mel Reid strung together seven birdies for a 7-under 65 on Saturday that moved her into the lead with one round to go in Portland.

Mel Reid’s card from the second round of the Cambia Portland Classic doesn’t reveal a single mistake. Reid strung together seven birdies – four of which came consecutively mid-round – for a 7-under 65 on Saturday that moved her into the lead with one round to go at Columbia Edgewater Country Club.

Reid, an Englishwoman and three-time Solheim Cupper, is at 12 under after opening with 67. Interestingly, she has the defending champion on her heels. Hannah Green dropped three shots to Reid on Saturday, falling into second place on the leaderboard. She trails by two shots with her 10-under total.

“I got off to such a great start, so always hard to back up a low round,” Green said. “Really happy with my last putt. Holed a long bomb there, so gives me another positive momentum for tomorrow.”

Green obviously has good memories at Columbia Edgewater, and has worked to keep it positive this week.

“ I can remember when I made great putts and made birdies,” she said of this familiar territory.

The leaderboard is crowded with notably talent. Amy Yang and Amy Olson are tied for third at 9 under.

The four-woman tie for fifth another shot back includes Gaby Lopez, already a winner this season at Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions, and 2019 Women’s British Open winner Georgia Hall.

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LPGA: Stacy Lewis hoping experience makes the difference in shortened Portland event

As for the LPGA’s Cambia Portland Classic at Columbia Edgewater Country Club, Stacy Lewis won this event back in 2017.

In a season that’s already anomalous, this setting is surreal.

After surviving intense Sonoran Desert heat last week, LPGA players have dealt with deep, dark mornings as steady smoke layers flow over the Pacific Northwest from nearby wildfires.

Thursday finally brought a little light, but the Cambia Portland Classic at Columbia Edgewater Country Club has been shortened into 54 holes, meaning it was a practice day for players in advance of Friday’s first round.

Stacy Lewis knows Columbia, she won this event back in 2017, and feels her experience could make a tremendous difference in the condensed format.

“Experience is going to be huge this week. Just knowing how this golf course plays, and it’s just going to be how firm are the fairways or how firm are the greens, you know just trying to get a feel for that more than anything,” said Lewis, who goes off the back to open Friday’s first round at 11:21 ET with Ariya Jutanugarn and Brittany Lincicome.

“But fortunately, my game is in a good spot where I don’t feel like I need to go grind like crazy right now.  It’s just kind of getting the rust off of the last few days.”

Lewis is hoping to build off last week’s showing at the ANA Inspiration, where she finished alone in fifth, three shots behind eventual victor Mirim Lee.

Stacy Lewis is lifted by her caddie Travis Wilson on the 18th green after her victory during the final round of the LPGA Cambia Portland Classic at Columbia Edgewater Country Club on September 3, 2017 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

“Truthfully, I probably played better than the scores even showed,” she said of her score of 276, which earned her $128,524. “I just had a lot of putts that didn’t go in, but was able to really manage my game really good and hit the shots I wanted to hit, which is something that you know the last three or four years I haven’t been able to do.”

The first round will be shown on tape delay on the Golf Channel, starting at 9 p.m. ET on Friday night.

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LPGA reduces Portland Classic to 54 holes due to hazardous air quality

Due to the fires in the Pacific Northwest, the LPGA has cut the Cambia Portland Classic down to 54 holes.

The LPGA announced on Tuesday that this weekend’s Cambia Portland Classic will be reduced to a 54-hole event and will start on Friday at Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland, Oregon.

The change comes because wildfires are still burning in the Pacific Northwest, generating poor air quality in the region.

“As we have said throughout recent months, 2020 has been the year of health and safety, and this situation is no different,” said Heather Daly-Donofrio, the LPGA’s Chief Tour Operations Officer in a statement. “Our meteorologist says that it is unlikely that air-quality conditions will improve before midday Thursday, and we cannot risk the health of our players, staff, volunteers, broadcast crew and others at the golf course. This is not a choice we made lightly, but we are confident that this is the right decision. We are so appreciative of our partners at Cambia Health Solutions as they continue to support the LPGA Tour through this incredibly challenging 2020 season.”

The golf course was closed on Tuesday and player news conferences were canceled. Wednesday’s pro-am has been canceled as well.

Canadian Brooke Henderson, who finished T-2 at last week’s ANA Inspiration, has already withdrawn from the Portland Classic due to concerns about the hazardous air quality. Two of Henderson’s nine LPGA wins have come at this event.

Australia’s Hannah Green is the reigning champ.

Golf Channel will have tape-delayed coverage of the Cambia Portland Classic on Friday from 9-11 p.m. ET, Saturday from 9:30-11:30 p.m. ET; and Sunday from 8-10 p.m. ET. Coverage will be live-streamed on GolfChannel.com and the Golf Channel app on Friday and Saturday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. ET and Sunday from 4-7 p.m. ET.