Brooke Henderson will take a five shot lead into the final round of the Cambia Portland Classic.

“I’m really excited,” Henderson said with a smile. “I’m looking forward to tomorrow, and I was trying to get it pretty deep under par today, and hopefully I can do the same thing tomorrow.”

Henderson, who entered the day with a one-shot lead, started with birdies on her first two holes and didn’t look back carding four additional birdies en route to a bogey free 65.

“It was a lot of fun, and I hit the ball really well,” Henderson said. “A couple shots I didn’t hit that well, I got some lucky breaks. I had a great group, and on a beautiful golf course, I can’t complain too much.”

The 17-year-old will be sleeping on the 54-hole lead for the second time in her young career as she also did at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic where she finished in solo third.

“It was interesting in San Francisco,” Henderson admitted. “I learned a lot about myself and my game, and I think I’ve come leaps and bounds from there early in the season, and like I said, I’m just really excited to play tomorrow and hopefully get a good number.”

The young Canadian will be looking to become the first Canuck to win on the LPGA Tour since Lorie Kane at the LPGA Takefuji Classic in 2001.

“I have such a great support system, and even as I walked off 18 there, it was Brit (Henderson, Brooke’s older sister) and Bunk was on my bag and Alena Sharp and Sarah (Bowman, Sharp’s caddy) were just there, which means a lot coming from a fellow Canadian and a great friend of mine,” Henderson explained. “You know, I’m very blessed to have the people around me that I do, and I think tonight if I can just relax a little bit and get set for tomorrow, good things will happen.”

Joining Henderson in the final group will be Morgan Pressel, who was also paired with Henderson in the final group in San Francisco, and Sandra Gal. Pressel sits five back at 13-under while Gal is at 12-under.

“Brooke is a great player,” Pressel said. “I mean, to Monday qualify and obviously be playing this well, she knows what’s at stake for her. She wants to get on Tour without having to go to Q-school, and she’s certainly putting herself in a great position to do that, and I would love to play together again tomorrow. She’s a great girl, and she has a lot of potential for sure."

Brooke Henderson Holds Five Stroke Lead Entering Final Round of Cambia Portland Classic

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