Brooke Henderson is putting up quite a defense in Portland.
The two-time LPGA Tour winner who captured her first win on Tour at the 2015 Cambia Portland Classic ran away from the field to win by eight-strokes last year. She’s off to an even hotter start this time around, bettering her opening round of 66 last year with a seven-under par, 65 on Thursday to take the early lead in round one at Columbia Edgewater Country Club. Henderson leads by two ahead of Demi Runas and Mariajo Uribe.
“Yeah. I mean, just walking around I remember some of the shots I hit. Some of the pin placements are kind of similar, so trying to think back to what the putts did and how they broke,” Henderson told the media. “Yeah, a lot of great memories.”
If missing her first cut as a professional and first cut of 2016 last week in Arkansas had any affect on the 18-year-old it didn’t show on day one. The Canadian started her day on the back nine and quickly birdied the first, going out in 33, feeling right at home in the cool temperatures.
“It was a good day,” Henderson said after her round. “You know, I started off with a birdie on the 1st hole and then nothing was really happening through the first 5, I guess. Just getting things rolling again and just being out here on this golf course in the Northwest, you know, in the beautiful temperature. I like wearing long sleeves and pants.”
She then carded four straight birdies on her inward nine, which she capped off with a 36-footer for birdie at the par 3, eighth hole to post 32 on the front and finish her round with a two-stroke lead.
Henderson picked up her second win on Tour and first major title three weeks ago at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship outside Seattle at Sahalee Country Club on a track Henderson describes as very similar to this week’s venue, which features towering trees and tightly lined fairways.
“I love tree-lined courses, and that's very much what this course is. And, again, with the bent grass, which is kind of what I grew up on. I just really like it. It suits my eye,” said Henderson. “Then winning here last year, that gives me those extra vibes and extra adrenaline which I think will help as the week goes on.”
The world No.2 holds a two-stroke lead ahead of Mariajo Uribe who posted her second lowest round of the season with a bogey-free, five-under par, 67 on Thursday. Although she hit just nine of 14 fairways and 12 of 18 greens, Uribe says it was on the green where she was able to score.
“I made the putts I had to make; when I missed the greens I saved the pars,” Uribe told the media. “So just like really steady round. Compared to the last few weeks I just made more putts. Tried to be a little more aggressive with my putting and it worked today. Looking forward for tomorrow.”
The Colombian had 26 putts in round one and says she was playing inspired after being grouped last week in Arkansas with Morgan Pressel, who entered the final round tied for the lead with Lydia Ko after posting opening rounds of 65-63.
“She putted so firm and they were going in, so that's something I used to do when I was an amateur. You just get onto tour and you just fall into bad habits. Working on it again,” said Uribe. “This week, I mean, it worked today, so hopefully for tomorrow I have a good round and looking good for the weekend.”
Uribe has had mixed success in Portland, where she has missed the cut in half of her six starts. Her best finish came in a share of ninth in 2014 but says she likes the area and the course.
“It's weird. It's like love-hate relationship. Two years ago I finished really good, top 10; last year I didn't make the cut,” Uribe said. “So just one of those weeks you just have to be hitting your driver good and putting yourself in good position from to the tee. I just like Portland. The weather is awesome and the food is great. When you feel good I think you play good. It's just a tournament that I like in general, so hopefully I have a good week.”
Tied with Uribe at five-under par is Demi Runas, who matched her low round of the season on Thursday with a 67. The 2015 rookie has limited status this season and is making just her ninth start of the year in Portland. The No.402 ranked player in the world missed the cut in this event last year. Daniela Iacobelli and Ayako Uehara, who held the round one lead last week in Arkansas after opening with a round of 62, are four-under par early on day one.
Click here for scores from the opening round of the Cambia Portland Classic.
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