Suzann Pettersen and Brooke Henderson, both at 11-under par, will sleep on a share of the 36-hole lead at the Cambia Portland Classic Presented by JTBC. While Henderson will be looking to defend her 2015 title, Pettersen is in the hunt for her third career victory in Portland. Seven-year veteran Mariajo Uribe is 1-shot off of the pace at 10-under par thanks to back-to-back 67s in the opening two rounds. Pettersen, Henderson and Uribe will be grouped together in Saturday's 3rd round and are scheduled to tee-off at 11:15 a.m. PT.
Click here for all 3rd round groups and tee-times
Not many have kept as busy as Brooke Henderson this year on the LPGA Tour. Henderson, who played in 17 of the 18 Tour events leading into the Cambia Portland Classic, has only missed one cut this season.
"I think I've had some kind of high points and low points over the last seven-week stretch." Henderson shared with the media following her second round. "I like to play a lot though. I considered taking a week off, then like what am I going to do? I am just going to go home and practice. I might as well go and play and just conserve energy where I can and just try and focus on the things that I need to."
Suzann Pettersen, the 2011 and 2013 winner of the Cambia Portland Classic, jumped out to a four-stroke lead on Friday with a bogey-free eight-under par, 64 to take the early lead on day two.
“Obviously there are certain courses you play well, but you can't take anything for granted out here. You still have to go out and execute, no matter how much you like the course,” Pettersen told the media. “I sure did find some magic on the greens today. I felt like I played I great yesterday. Maybe gave away a shot or two towards the end. Tried to take advantage of little softer greens this morning and little purer greens as well.”
The round of 64 is not only the lowest of the event so far but it's the lowest of the year for Pettersen who has had a relatively quiet season, posting three top-10s so far this year. The 15-time winner on Tour is looking for her first victory of the season, her last win coming at the 2015 Manulife LPGA Classic. Putting has kept Pettersen from breaking through this season, currently ranked 59th in putting average and 51st in putts per G.I.R. But she’s put in the time, joking with the media it’s been millions of hours of work. But with just 24 putts on Friday, it looked like all the hours are beginning to pay off.
“I mean, long game is good. I feel like when I putt well I can put a good score. Today I felt like I could make anything. That's a nice feel,” Pettersen said. “It's starting to show results. Yeah, just got a nice flow. I'm excited for the game to kind of come around for this time of year; next week as well. Just try and go out and play another two great rounds and then see where it takes me.”
Suzann Pettersen Round 2 Highlights (Video)
Click here for scores from the second round of the Cambia Portland Classic.
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