Two-time Cambia Portland Classic Champion Suzann Pettersen will be looking for a trifecta this week at Columbia Edgewater.
“I’m excited to be back,” Pettersen said with a smile. “It’s always fun to be here in Portland. I have a lot of friends here, obviously, with Nike being their headquarters and it’s fun to catch up with everybody. Almost feels like a home ground.”
After spending some time at the Nike headquarters yesterday, Pettersen was back to business on Tuesday getting in a practice round and rounding her game into form on the range.
“I feel great. My game is really good,” Pettersen said. “I’ve been playing good pretty much all year. It’s really starting to come together.”
The 2013 and 2011 champ is hoping that her game will lead her to her second victory of the 2015 season at a course she enjoys.
“If you hit the ball well here, you can give yourself a lot of looks,” Pettersen explained. “The greens are pure. They’re small but they’re very true. You can really take advantage of the par 5's. But, overall, it’s a good, classic golf course. I mean, if what you see is what you like, you’re in good shape.”
STOLL READY FOR ANOTHER SHOT AT CAMBIA PORTLAND CLASSIC
Amateur Gigi Stoll makes her second-consecutive appearance in the Cambia Portland Classic this week after shooting a 63 in the amateur qualifier to earn this year’s amateur sponsor exemption.
Stoll put on a strong performance in 2014, making the cut and finishing tied for 52nd. Equipped with another year of experience, Stoll looks to repeat and build on those results this year.
“Yeah, definitely making the cut was a big deal last year and really important to me,” Stoll said. “Just coming out here, I have higher expectations now that I’ve made the cut. Honestly right now it’s just to play better golf than I did last year; that is my big expectation.”
In addition to feeling more comfortable playing in an LPGA event for her third time, Stoll will be able to watch and learn from the world’s best golfers. To be more specific: World No. 3 Stacy Lewis. Stoll will be playing with Lewis in Wednesday’s Pro-Am and looks to take away some insight.
“I’m really excited just to see her habits and how she plays up close. That will be a lot of fun,” Stoll said. “Just the little things like how she practices short game and putting and just little things.”
BROOKE HENDERSON MONDAY QUALIFIES, JOINS SISTER BRITTANY IN THE FIELD
Ranked 32nd in the Rolex World Golf Rankings, Brooke Henderson earned her way into the field at the Cambia Portland Classic by virtue of shooting a 4-under, 68 in the Monday qualifier yesterday at Columbia Edgewater.
“I’m really excited,” Henderson said. “I’m happy I’m playing instead of caddying.”
While that response may seem odd, it is because had she not Monday qualified, Brooke would have been caddying for her sister Brittany who was in the field thanks to a sponsor's invite.
“It’s really cool,” said Brittany. “Luckily I’ve been able to play in quite a few events with her playing on the Epson Tour a little bit. It’s been really great to have a travel companion. It’s amazing she qualified here again. I don’t know her percentage for Monday qualifiers but it’s pretty good.”
SOLHEIM CUP SQUADS STARTING TO TAKE SHAPE
While it may be two more weeks until the final Solheim Cup squads are announced, the teams are already starting to take shape. Sunday Team Europe announced its first four members - Suzann Pettersen, Gwladys Nocera, Charley Hull and Melissa Reid.
“It’s fun to be a part of. It’s great to see the buzz it’s creating,” Pettersen said of being one of the first four to qualify. “It was great to see Mel Reid play her way on to the team. Not absolutely sure she would have gotten on to the team relying on a pick. So that just shows a lot of character right there to kind of play really well those last two weeks and kind of grab enough points. So it will be a good team. It will be less rookies than in the past, I think. But we’re all excited. I think it’s going to be a great venue. I think you’re going to see a Solheim you’ve never really seen before, so always fun to be on European soil.”
The 2015 Solheim Cup will be held at Golf Club St. Leon-Rot in Germany September 18th to 20th.
Below is a breakdown of when players will be announced to their respective teams.
European Team:
August 9: First four players confirmed from LET points list following the conclusion of the Tipsport Golf Masters in the Czech Republic.
August 24: Next four players confirmed from the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
August 25: Captain Carin Koch announces her four captain's picks live on the Sky Sports Sportswomen TV show, from 11.30am-12.00pm BST.
United States Team:
August 24: Captain Juli Inkster will announce her team, including the 10 qualifiers and her two captain's picks during a one-hour Golf Central special on Golf Channel from 7-8 p.m. EST (12am-1am BST) live from Golf Channel’s Orlando studios.
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