HENDERSON PREPPED AND READY FOR MORE
Canadian star Brooke Henderson barely had a chance to catch her breath as her Cinderella story unfolded last week at the CP Women’s Open. She touched down in Portland just 24 hours after becoming the first Canadian to bring the national championship since 1973. Now looking ahead, Henderson is gearing up for another successful run at the Cambia Portland Classic, the LPGA’s last tournament before its fifth and final major, the Evian Championship.
“Yesterday I just took the day off and tried to rest up as best I could, and mentally prepare for this week,” said the 20-year-old, already a seven-time LPGA winner.
Henderson won the event as an amateur in 2015, which helped her earn her LPGA Tour card, before winning again as a LPGA rookie in 2016. Last year, when she had high hopes for a three-peat, Henderson fell to T15, 10 strokes behindStacy Lewis. This year, it’s a different story. Coming in with last week’s big win still fresh on her mind, Henderson expects to compete hard, but she also knows that she can’t let the win go to her head.
“I definitely would love to have a great finish this week,” said Henderson. “Coming off the win, I feel very confident and a lot of momentum. I also feel like it's easy to have kind of a setback week this week. I would love to just get off to a fast start tomorrow and try to put myself in good position for the weekend.”
Henderson will tee it up in the first round with Lizette Salas and Su Oh off the first tee at 1:32 p.m.
IN GEE CHUN SEARCHING FOR CONFIDENCE BOOST IN PORTLAND
In Gee Chun has finished runner-up 10 times in her LPGA career and she still vividly remembers her 2017 final round in Portland, where she lost to Stacy Lewis by one stroke.
“I remember everything,” said Chun, a two-time major champion. “I played such a good round but she played better than I did. But I really enjoyed playing with her and watching her play. I have really good memories here.”
Chun is searching for her first win of 2018 in Portland. She hopes a win this week will give her the momentum she’ll need to win another major in two weeks at The Evian Championship, an event she won with a record-setting four-round total of 21-under 263.
“If I win this week, I will get a lot of confidence from here,” said Chun, who will represent the Republic of Korea in October at the UL International Crown. “I always try to play and enjoy the course, so [I’m going to] focus on my game and see where I am later.”
She will tee off with 2018 major winners Pernilla Lindberg (ANA Inspiration) and Georgia Hall (Ricoh Women’s British Open) at 1:10 p.m. off the first tee.
ERNST SIBLING DUO GOING STRONG
Most people probably don’t want to show up at the office and go to work right next to their sibling. But 2014 Cambia Portland Classic winner Austin Ernst absolutely loves seeing a familiar face on the first tee. Her older brother, Drew Ernst, has looped for his little sister for more than five years.
“We have a great relationship. We get along really well. Probably better than when we were kids,” said Austin of her relationship with Drew, who had a brief pro golf career of his own before picking up his sister’s bag at the 2013 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G. “It's great having him caddie for me. He's a good player, and then obviously he knows me better than anybody. He just knows what to say, when to say it. Obviously the fact that he played golf helps. If I have a question, I can still lean on him and trust his advice.
Sister and brother celebrated together when Austin won the 2014 Cambia Portland Classic, and the duo hopes they can add another trophy to the Ernst family cache. Austin has never finished outside the top 25 in her five tournament appearances, with four top-10 results. She comes to Portland fresh off a T4 finish at last week’s CP Women’s Open.
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