Defending champion Brooke Henderson on Saturday fired a two-under-par 70 to seize a two-stroke lead after the third round of the Portland Classic.
The 18-year-old Canadian, ranked second in the world, stood on 13-under-par 203 after 54 holes at 6,476-yard Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland, Oregon.
“I definitely want to play better on Sunday,” Henderson said.
Colombia’s Mariajo Uribe was second on 205 after a third-round 71, with Norway’s Suzann Pettersen shooting a 74 with six bogeys and four birdies to fall to a share of third with the US’ Austin Ernst on 207.
Henderson birdied the third and par-five seventh holes and began the back nine with another birdie. However, she stumbled with a double-bogey at the par-three 13th to fall back, before a birdie at the par-three 16th boosted her lead.
“I didn’t take my time on the tee shot,” Henderson said of the double-bogey. “I set my target and didn’t really commit to it. I just mishit it. After that, I just tried to regroup and was able to make one more birdie [at No. 16] coming in.”
Uribe opened with a bogey, then birdied a trio of par-five holes — the fifth, seventh and 12th. The South American standout then took a double-bogey at 13 as well, but also bounced back with a birdie at 16.
“I’ve been putting well all week,” said Uribe, who has never won in six years on the tour.
“My ball-striking hasn’t been great and today was definitely not good, but I was able to save it,” she said, referring to her putting.
“It’s nice to play with somebody like Brooke, who is so young and aggressive. I love match play, so today I went out with the mentality of playing against her and staying alive until 18,” she added.
Three US golfers qualified for the British Women’s Open as a result of their 54-hole showing on 140 — Kelly Shon, Brianna Do and Cheyenne Woods, the 25-year-old niece of Tiger Woods.
Taiwan’s Hsu Wei-ling was on two-under 214 after a 73, while Kaohsiung-born Candie Kung was a shot further back after carding the same score. Min Lee shot a 72 to be even-par after three rounds, while fellow Taiwanese Yani Tseng was on three-over 219 after a 74.
Henderson won her first LPGA title at this event last year. Her eight-stroke romp made her the third-youngest winner in LPGA history and earned her an immediate spot on the tour.
Henderson won her first major title last month at the Women’s PGA Championship. A birdie on the first playoff hole denied top-ranked Lydia Ko of New Zealand her third consecutive major title in a row.
Next week Henderson could seek her second major title in a row at the US Women’s Open.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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