LPGA RETURNS TO PORTLAND

The LPGA returns to the City of Roses for the 44th year for the longest-running non-major event on Tour. The Cambia Portland Classic Presented by Cambia Health Solutions will host a field vying for a $1.3 million purse at a familiar venue as well. The 72-hole event will be staged at Columbia Edgewater Country Club, marking the 29th year the venue has hosted the world’s best female golfers.

The event only trails the U.S. Women’s Open, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and ANA Inspiration as the longest-running event on Tour. Through 2014, the tournament has raised over $17 million for a variety of local organizations, including the American Red Cross, the Forest Park Conservancy, Friendly House, the Girl Scouts of Oregon and SW Washington, Returning Veterans Project and Special Olympics Oregon.

AUSTIN ERNST DEFENDS HER FIRST LPGA TITLE

In 2014, leading by two heading into the final two holes, Austin Ernst made bogey on back-to-back holes to post 14-under-par forcing her into a playoff. The nerves and disappointment could have crushed her in the playoff, but instead, she calmly called her dad - a PGA professional - and got some advice. Whatever he said proved magical as Ernst blasted a drive straight down the middle and hit a cloud-scraping 7-iron 25 feet behind the hole before delicately lagging her birdie putt, which nearly went in, down six inches behind the hole for par. She then waited as I.K. Kim was unable to make her 8-foot par putt to force another trip down the 18th hole. Ernst grabbed her brother, who doubles as her caddie, and celebrated her first LPGA Tour win.

“I’m very confident when I step on this golf course,” Ernst said following her round. “I love it. I don’t know what it is that fits my eye.”

In 2015, Ernst who is 56th in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, has tallied two top-10 finishes and currently sits 37th on the money list.

SEVEN FORMER CHAMPIONS IN THE FIELD

Including defending champ Austin Ernst, there are seven players in this week’s Cambia Portland Classic field who have won the event in the past.

Austin Ernst (2014), Suzann Pettersen (2013 and 2011), Mika Miyazato (2012), Ai Miyazato (2010), Mi Jung Hur (2009), Cristie Kerr (2008) and Pat Hurst (2006)

LOCAL AM GIGI STOLL BACK FOR MORE

Gigi Stoll, an amateur from Beaverton, will be in the field at the Cambia Portland Classic for the second consecutive year.

“It was awesome just walking down the fairway, seeing all my friends and just having the big applause,” Stoll said following her final round in 2014. “It was just everything I could imagine.”

Stoll, who shot 63 to win the amateur qualifier and earn the amateur sponsor’s exemption, made the cut last year and finished tied for 52nd.

PORTLAND CLASSIC FIELD FEATURES 7 FORMER US WOMEN’S AM CHAMPIONS

Portland will be the center of women’s golf this week as the U.S. Women’s Amateur is also taking place in the City of Roses.

The Portland Classic field features seven golfers - Pat Hurst (1990) , Danielle Kang (2010 and 11), Lydia Ko (2012), Jane Park (2004), Morgan Pressel (2005), Jennifer Song (2009) and Mariajo Uribe (2007) - who captured the prestigious amateur title on their way to the LPGA.

SOLHEIM CUP RACE HEADS DOWN HOME STRETCH

The Cambia Portland Classic will mark the second to last event of the season where U.S. born players can earn points towards competing on the 2015 Solheim Cup team in Germany.

All players ranked between sixth and 25 on the current points standings are in the field this week and with captain Juli Inkster down the road broadcasting the Women’s Am for Fox you can bet those on the bubble will be looking to make an impression this week at Columbia Edgewater.

Currently, the top-6 players in the rankings can not fall below the cutline of the top-8, but things can change with 60 points on the line for the winner. For a complete breakdown of Solheim Cup points please visit - http://www.solheimcupusa.com/events/us-solheim-cup-points.aspx

REMEMBERING LOUISE SUGGS

Louise Suggs, one of the 13 Founders of the LPGA, passed away on Friday, Aug. 7, in Sarasota. She was 91 years old.

Over the course of her illustrious career, Suggs won 61 professional tournaments, including 11 major championships. But perhaps her greatest legacy in golf was that she was one of the founding members of the LPGA Tour in 1950. The 13 Founders were involved in all aspects of professional golf – they played, organized tournaments, established rules and by-laws and supervised membership.

LPGA players and staff will be wearing pins and ribbons to honor Suggs’ memory this week at the Cambia Portland Classic.

Storylines at This Week's Cambia Portland Classic

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