Pettersen Peaks in Portland
Thanks to a bogey-free second-round 64, two-time Cambia Portland Classic winner Suzann Pettersen will hold at least a share of the 36-hole lead at an event for the first time since the 2015 Ricoh Women’s British Open where she finished 5th. Pettersen needed just 24 total putts today (1.33 average) on her way to her lowest round since the second round of the 2014 Meijer LPGA Classic.
“I feel like when I putt well I can put a good score,” Pettersen said after her round. “Today I felt like I could make anything. That’s a nice feeling.” Pettersen is looking for her 16th career LPGA win and first since the 2015 Manulife LPGA Classic (24 starts between Manulife and the Portland LPGA Classic).
Going For It
Mariajo Uribe is well known for going after pins and her overall aggressive nature on the golf course. She has credited being more aggressive with her putter this week in particular, and currently ranks tied for sixth in the field in putts (53 in 36 holes). Uribe says her style of play is something that’s just natural and patterned off of former men’s No. 1 Tiger Woods.
“I grew up seeing Tiger play and he’s pretty aggressive. So probably that,” Uribe said when asked where her aggressiveness comes from. “And just the Colombian in me. Probably all the Colombians are pretty aggressive. It just comes naturally to me.”
Canadian Pride
Three of the eight Canadian players in the field celebrated Canada Day by making the cut this week. Brooke Henderson (tied for the lead), amateur Naomi Eun Young Ko (T62) and Alana Sharp (T62) all made the cut while Anne Catherine Tanguay, Samantha Ridgedale, A.J. Enthrone and Lori Kane missed the cut.
Cheers To The Weekend
The cutline fell at 1-over par 146 with a total of 76 players making the cut. Notables to miss the cut: University of Oregon Duck Caroline Inglis (+4), 2008 Safeway Classic winner Cristie Kerr (+4) and Lizette Salas (+2).
Five To Qualify For the Women's British Open
There are five (5) spots available this week at the Cambia Portland Classic Presented by JTBC for the 2016 RICOH Women’s British Open. To be included in the qualifier, players must have entered the tournament with the LGU prior to the entry deadline (June 28, 2016). The spots will be determined by the players with the five (5) lowest scores after 36 holes who are not in the RICOH Women’s British Open field from another category. The five (5) qualifiers will be notified as soon as they have been determined. So far, two spots in the field have been determined:
- Mariajo Uribe (67-67=134)
- Lee Lopez (71-68=139)
Six other players are tied for the final three spots and will have to utilize the tie-breaker procedure detailed below.
- Brianna Do (72-68=140)
- Jaye Marie Green (68-72=140)
- Casey Grice (73-67=140)
- Daniela Iacobelli (68-72=140)
- Kelly Shon (74-66=140)
- Cheyenne Woods (71-69=140)
TIE-BREAKER PROCEDURE:
In case of a tie for 5th position, a tie-breaker will be used as follows:
If the players are tied after the second round, the 3rd round score shall be the tie-breaker. If still tied, the 4th round score shall be the tie-breaker. If still tied, the winner will be determined based on the best score for the last nine holes. If still tied, the winner will be determined on the basis of the last six holes, last three holes and finally the 18th hole of the players’ final round.
Of Note
- Jennifer Rosales, Ilhee Lee (personal reasons), Wendy Ward (back injury), Natalie Gulbis (injury), Jaclyn Jansen and Joanna Klatten (injury) all withdrew from the Cambia Portland Classic Presented by JTBC.
- Mariah Stackhouse made the cut in her professional debut this week. The four-time All-American from Stanford fired a 1-under 143 after the first 36 holes.
- The Cambia Portland Classic is in its 45th year and is the longest-running non-major on the LPGA Tour.
Quote of the Day
“You know, it’s been a tough year, and so the fact that it’s kind of starting to turn, it’s one of those things that as a golfer you believe that’s going to happen. It’s nice to actually see it. But a few things have started to kind of click a little bit. Hopefully it keeps going. Hopefully the major lands at the perfect time for me.”
Angela Stanford on her preparation for the U.S. Women’s Open next week
)
)
)
)
