Defending champion Brooke Henderson (-13) will enter the final round of the Cambia Portland Classic Presented by JTBC with a chance to become the first back-to-back winner of this event since Annika Sorenstam in 2002 and 2003. Mariajo Uribe (-11) sits two shots back as she looks for her first career LPGA win and former Cambia Portland Classic winners Austin Ernst (-9) and Suzann Pettersen (-9) are each within striking distance.
Henderson shot a 2-under 70 today and rebounded from a mishit off the tee that led to a double bogey on 13 with a huge birdie on 16. Despite the good score today, Henderson walked off 18 feeling like she left some chances out there.
“I played pretty awful today,” Henderson said. “Definitely want to play better tomorrow. I mean, I hit a lot of good shots. I just didn't capitalize on my chances. That was the first 12 holes for me. And then just really that one bad hole kind of changed things around a little bit.”
Henderson, Uribe and Ernst will be the final group to tee it off on Sunday and are scheduled to start at 11:15 a.m. PT.
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Mariajo Uribe was in the final group with Henderson and Petterson and took advantage of being in the same group with the two.
“I'm really excited,” Uribe said of her play after the third round. “It's nice to play with somebody like Brooke that's so young and aggressive. I love match play, so today I just went out with the mentality of playing match play against her and staying alive until 18, and we'll see what happens tomorrow.”
This is the third time Henderson has led heading into the final round with the lead and is looking for her third career LPGA win and second this season. Pettersen is looking for her 16th career LPGA win and her third in Portland.
Colombian Pride
Mariajo Uribe has a chance to become the first Colombian player since Marisa Baena at the HSBC Women’s World Match Play on July 3, 2005 to win an LPGA tournament. Uribe has 11 career top-10s and her best finish was third at the 2015 Manulife LPGA Classic.
“It would mean a lot,” Uribe said when asked what it would mean to win tomorrow. “I mean, a Colombian hasn't won on tour for a long time. Just being an Olympic year it would be good momentum. This year has been a little tough for me. The results haven't come.”
Uribe will once again be paired with Henderson and is relaxed thinking of the opportunity.
“Tomorrow I'm just going to think on my game; shoot a low round,” Uribe said. “I love playing with Brooke and she's been playing so good. If I win, I want it to be because I shoot a really good round not because anyone else struggle.”
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