The stage is set for the 2019 Cambia Portland Classic at Columbia Edgewater Country Club with as many as seven of the world’s top ten players competing for the title at the longest-running non-major championship on the LPGA Tour schedule, which gets underway on Thursday August 29 at 7:15am.
In a truly world class 144-player field featuring current Rolex Ranking No. 1 Jin Young Ko as well as five former world no. 1 players, 21 major champions, seven past champions and seven of the world’s top ten, defending champion Marina Alex returns after a memorable victory, capturing her maiden LPGA title by four strokes from England’s Georgia Hall.
The 29-year-old from New Jersey said, “This place is special. I have always loved coming to Portland. I love coming to Edgewater, I think it is the best course we play all year.
As a first-time winner, Alex is back in Portland with a little more spotlight on her than she is previously accustomed.
“I've just never gotten exposure like this before, so it's kind of different to see yourself in the locker room and everywhere. The billboards are massive. It's something I'm getting used to. Jodi (Ewart Shadoff) is one of my really good friends, and her caddie took a selfie with my picture down in the front, and he sent it to me, and it's like a massive picture of myself. That was funny.”
Making her debut this week, fresh off her fourth victory of the season last week at the CP Women’s Open, is South Korea’s Jin Young Ko. The 24-year-old two-time major winner is on a 106-hole bogey-free streak dating back to the second hole of the third round of the AIG Women’s British Open at the start of the month and has more than one reason to explain why she is teeing it up this week.
“Many players told me about the great food and music here so I wanted to play here.
“Sue (my manager) told me Portland is a really great city and asked if she could go on vacation here so I came with her to play. After this week I will go hiking in Vancouver.”
Ko gets underway at 12:59pm from the first tee with Marina Alex and Jenifer Kupcho.
Of the 31 one nationalities represented this week, America boasts as many as 60 players with Lexi Thompson heading the challenge at Rolex Ranking No. 3. The major winner is back for a third consecutive year and was full of praise for the par 72 layout.
“The greens are rolling so quick and it’s a great golf course in general.
Thompson added, “It is definitely one of the best tournaments overall, just how it is run to how the community gets behind it.”
Thomspon is paired with America’s Jessica Korda and Japan’s Nasa Hataoka at 7:59am from the 10th tee.
Two-time Portland Classic winner Brooke Henderson is having a consistent year, recording two victories and 8 top 10s and reflected on the moment the tournament changed her life.
“Getting my win in 2015, it really made all of my dreams come true, my first win on the LPGA Tour, it got me my membership to the Tour, and it really made everything possible.”
The tournament will be televised by the Golf Channel and distributed globally to the LPGA’s international television partners.
Check out the Cambia Portland Classic’s social channels:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lpgaportlandclassic/
Twitter: @PortlandClassic
Instagram: @lpgaportlandclassic
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.PortlandClassic.com.
