All wasn’t well Saturday for Henderson, who shot 69 or better in each of her first seven Portland Classic rounds at Columbia Edgewater, including last year’s Monday qualifier. “But I made a couple putts down the stretch”. In doing so, she became the first back-to-back victor in Portland since the great Annika Sorenstam did it in 2002 and 2003. “Just kind of get in and out”, Henderson said. “They were two incredible women that did awesome things out on the golf course, and in their lives”.
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This year, the 18-year-old Henderson came into Portland off her first major title, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship three weeks ago in Seattle. This time she had challengers who faltered late in an otherwise tight race. But Uribe hit her third shot 50 feet past the hole and made double bogey, while Henderson was able to get up and down to save par, making an eight-foot putt.
Moment of anxiety for Henderson at the 17th as this punch of hers from the bunker runs clear over the green.
The Northern Irishman could have taken the overall lead at the Le Golf National course – which is hosting the 2018 Ryder Cup – but a poor tee shot on the 18th hole led to a bogey.
The camaraderie Ive shared with my teammates the past four years, especially these last two with such good performances all the way through postseason, its a lot fun, the communications major said. Tried to be a little more aggressive with my putting and it worked today.
It would seem unlikely that any LPGA golfer, at just 18 years of age, could be labelled dominant at any one event, but Brooke Henderson is certainly making a case for it at the Cambia Portland Classic.
Going into the hole, Henderson had been at 14 under, and Uribe – who challenged Henderson all day – was at 12 under.
Ernst played her second consecutive bogey-free round, this time a 69, and tied Pettersen in third place. Instead, she made a clutch par. “Then winning here, that gives me those extra vibes and adrenaline, which I think will help as the week goes on”.
For her third LPGA victory, Henderson wrote a very different script from her runaway victory here past year, and from her victory in the Women’s PGA Championship last month, when she made a late charge to tie Lydia Ko, then won on the first playoff hole with a dramatic birdie.
Henderson’s final two rounds became a collection of par saves after hitting many wayward drives and approach shots.
Angela Stanford, Demi Runas and Mariajo Uribe each shot 67 to trail Henderson. But as golf’s biggest stars often do, she was able to do what she needed to grab the win. “Definitely want to play better tomorrow”. Even with a four-shot deficit, the 24-year-old fourth-year LPGA Tour member is eager to start the chase.
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Runas, whose best career finish is a tie for 25th, and Uribe are looking for their first LPGA victories. “For the way I struck the ball, I scored extremely well”, Henderson said. After a Henderson bogey on the 13th shaved her lead to one, she put it away on the 17th with a nerve-testing putt for par while Uribe had to settle for a double bogey.
