Lee looking to take down Hall in a ‘match play’ situation

Minjee Lee made six birdies in her first 11 holes but couldn’t keep the momentum up through the most difficult part of the course at the Cambia Portland Classic. But she’s just two shots back of the lead held by Georgia Hall going into Sunday’s final round.

Lee, who is looking for second win of the year – like Hall – shot a 4-under-par 68 Saturday. She held a piece of the lead through the middle part of her round, but a late bogey, combined with two late birdies from Hall, sees the Englishwoman ahead going into Sunday’s finale.

Lee said it was just “one bad drive” on the par-4 17th that cost her a bogey. She ended up behind a root after her drive and admitted she was “scared” she was going to hit it. She ended up pitching out and saving her bogey.

Going into Sunday, Lee and Hall have separated themselves from the rest of the pack. Lee is four shots ahead of Marina Alex, who is alone in third at 12-under. Brittany Marchand and Ayako Uehara are two shots further back at 10-under.

Lee said she’s hopeful for a fast start Sunday.

“I don't know where the pin placements are going to be, and if they're tucked, they're really hard to get to, and especially if you're not in the fairway, then you really have to take your medicine and just play to the middle of the green. I think it just depends,” she said. “There's a lot of opportunities out here, so whenever I get a chance, I'll try and take advantage.”

Marchand looking for career-best finish

A rookie on the LPGA Tour in 2018, Brittany Marchand is hopeful Sunday will result in her best finish of 2018.

Marchand, perhaps buoyed by countrywoman Brooke Henderson’s triumph at the CP Women’s Open a week ago, shot a 2-under-par 70 Saturday. Although eight shots back of the lead held by Georgia Hall, another low one could result in a solid finish.

Marchand made four birdies on her front nine and had just one bad hole – she made a double bogey on the par-3 13th – and said her ball striking has been solid all week.

She said as well that her putting was the key to her success Saturday.

“I definitely felt uncomfortable putting the last couple weeks,” she explained. “Even British Open, too. I was happy to have (Monday Qualified) into it, and then I felt like I played the golf course well, just didn't putt well, and that kind of was the last two weeks, as well. So this week I've been way more comfortable over my putting, which has been great because it's obviously showing, and made some birdies.”

The Canadian’s previous best result was a tie for seventh at the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic. She’s 94th on the money list and a solid week will do wonders for her to lock up her LPGA Tour card for 2019.

“I knew that this meant a lot being like right on the cusp of keeping full status, but I tried my hardest not to think about it,” she said, admitting last week in Canada she put a little more pressure than usual on herself.

“I'm happy with myself this week, just tried to play as free as possible, eliminate all kind of technical thoughts, and I just wanted to have fun. I feel like I've been playing really well all year, and I had a little bit of a slip the last couple weeks, but I'm happy to feel comfortable again.”

Alex within striking distance

Although Marina Alex has kept up the same sizzling scoring like Thursday’s course-record 62 over the last two rounds, her Saturday 1-under-par 71 moved her into third-place alone and with a chance for a Sunday comeback.

Alex said Saturday her Thursday round was “definitely the best round of golf” she had never played.

“When you don't feel like you're doing that every day, you feel like you're not playing great, even though you're still doing just fine,” she admitted. “So it's just kind of tough mentally to just realize, ‘yeah, you're still playing good, it's just the first day was special.’ So I'm hoping I have another special one in the bag tomorrow.”

Alex, who made three birdies and two bogeys Saturday, sits just six shots back of the lead held by Georgia Hall.

She said it was tough to go at flags after the par-5 12th because of how firm the greens were. She hit a lot of solid putts, she said, they just either lipped out or barely missed.

She’ll take that confidence into Sunday as she looks for her first LPGA Tour win.

“I've been close on occasions. I think just the more chances I give myself consistently… I truly believe it'll happen. Whether it's tomorrow or not,” she said. “It would be great. If it's not, it's not. I'll still have more opportunities along the line this year and next year. I'm just going to go out and play the best that I can and just try and chase the girls ahead of me.”

Alex’s best finish on the season is a tie for second at the Bank of Hope Founders Cup.

Uehara keeping pace

Ayako Uehara hasn’t yet won on the LPGA Tour, but she’s no stranger to a big stage.

She finished eighth at the ANA Inspiration earlier this year, her best-career finish at a major.

And this week, she’s right in the thick of it at the Cambia Portland Classic heading into Sunday’s final round.

Uehara shot a 2-under-par 70 Saturday and is at 10-under through three rounds, tied with Brittany Marchand for fourth. She’s looking for her first top-5 finish since 2014.

Uehara admitted that because she has a low ball flight she’s had a tough go with how firm things are at Columbia Edgewater Country Club. But, she said, she’s been playing well this week.

“I think this week I'm doing okay and doing good. I need one more like smart play and then I want a good finish,” she said.

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