Brooke Henderson leads Portland Classic heading into final round
18-year-old finishes 3rd round strong after early struggles
Brooke Henderson continued her mastery of Columbia Edgewater Country Club, shooting a 70 Saturday to take a two-stroke lead after three rounds of the Cambia Portland Classic.
The 18-year-old defending champion, who claimed her first LPGA Tour win a year ago in Portland, was at 13-under 203 heading into Sunday's final round. Henderson leads Colombia's Mariajo Uribe, who is 11-under after a 71.
The Smiths Falls, Ont. native, who three weeks ago won the Women's PGA Championship, has shared or held the outright Portland lead the past six rounds. Henderson was aiming to become the first back-to-back Portland winner since Annika Sorenstam in 2002-03.
Norway's Suzann Pettersen, tied for the lead with Henderson after the second round, faded to 9-under following a 74. Pettersen was the only player among the top 15 players who didn't break par Saturday. Also at 9-under was 2014 Portland champion Austin Ernst following a 69.
Pettersen was bidding to become the Portland Classic's second three-time winner, joining Nancy Lopez (1985, 1987, 1992). Pettersen has history in Portland, rallying during the final round to win the 2011 and 2013 tournaments. In 2011, Pettersen erased a nine-stroke deficit on the final day to beat Na Yeon Choi in a playoff.
Rough start, strong finish
All wasn't well Saturday for Henderson, who shot 69 or better in each of her first seven Portland Classic rounds at Columbia Edgewater, including last year's Monday qualifier. Though she had four birdies, she was often scrambling to make par, and her card included a double bogey.
"I played pretty awful today. Definitely want to play better tomorrow. I mean, I hit a lot of good shots. I just didn't capitalize on my chances. That was the first 12 holes for me," Henderson said.
The tournament's complexion changed at the par-3, 160-yard 13th, when Henderson and Uribe each hit their tee shots in the water and made double bogey. Pettersen suddenly was back in it, trailing Henderson by just a shot.
"I didn't take my time on the tee shot...I just mishit it," Henderson said.
But Henderson collected herself and made four pars and a birdie, at the par-3 16th, during her final five holes.