While the CPKC Women’s Open was played on Canada’s west coast last week in Vancouver, the Portland Classic saw many of the world’s top-ranked players make the short trip to South Portland, Ore., for this year’s event. Come Thursday, Columbia Edgewater Country Club will host one of the strongest fields in recent years, with eight of the top 10 in the Rolex rankings joining it at the 52nd edition of the Portland Classic. Check out some special groups and tee times for the first round.
Thursday, 7:59am* – Charlie Hull/Lynn Grant/Rose Zhang
The trio of Charlie Hull, Lynn Grant and Rose Zhang are visiting the Columbia Edgewater for the first time this week and will begin their journey around the towering pines at 7:59 a.m. local time Thursday morning. Both Grant and Zhang, who won for the first time this season, will be making their competitive debuts in Portland, Hull competing in the event for the first time since 2018.
Hull has been one of the most popular players this season, having arrived in Portland with three runner-up finishes in the first eight months of the season. She has a total of four top-10 finishes on the year and will be well-rested heading into Portland, as she has skipped the last two tour stops and is making her first start since the AIG Women’s Open. Hull’s only start in Portland came back in 2018 when he finished 65th.
A Rolex first-time winner at the Dana Open earlier this summer, Grant has been a player to watch this year with three top 10s this season. She picked up one of those top 10 finishes last week at the CPKC Women’s Open, where she tied for sixth, and will try to build on that momentum at this week’s event in Portland, where she will make her tournament debut.
Like Grant, Zhang earned his breakthrough win on the LPGA Tour earlier this season. His first win came at the Mizuho Americas Open, one of three top-10 finishes by an LPGA Tour rookie this year. With back-to-back finishes outside the top 40, including a tie for 41st at last week’s CPKC Women’s Open, she will look to regain that form in Portland. As with many tournaments he’s playing in his first year on tour, Zhang is competing in the Portland Classic for the first time.
Thursday, 8:10am* – Nellie Korta/Lydia Go/In-Kyung Kim
Major champions Nellie Korta, Lydia Ko and In-Kyung Kim are grouped together for the opening rounds of the Portland Classic, with their first round starting at 8:10 a.m. local time on Thursday.
Korta is making just his second start in Portland, where he debuted last season with a 31st tie. The top-ranked American has had a stellar start to his season, making it seven top 10 so far this season. She will look to return to form at last week’s CPKC Women’s Open as she shot a 75 over the weekend to leave in a tie for 32nd.
Like Korda, Cove hasn’t had the season expected and his play is a far cry from what earned him the Rolex Player of the Year award last season. Coe comes into the Portland Classic after struggling with a weekend round of 82-73 at last week’s CPKC Women’s Open and a disappointing 71st. She will be looking for the spark that saw her win on the Ladies European Tour earlier this year and her top 10 finish on the LPGA Tour this season, which came at the Honda LPGA in Thailand in February. Coe is making his fourth start at Columbia Edgewater Country Club and first appearance since 2020.
Like his playing partners, Kim comes to Portland to get his game back on track. The AIG Women’s Open champion has made just three of nine cuts this season, but she could find some success this week in Portland, where she tied for 13th for the first time since 2016.
Thursday, 1:10pm – Andrea Lee/Lilia Wu/Athaya Didikul
The Portland Classic begins Thursday at 1:10 p.m. local time with a star-studded line-up featuring defending champion Andrea Lee, two-time major champion Lilia Wu and Rookie of the Year Athaya Didikul.
Lee earned her breakthrough win on the LPGA Tour at the 51st edition of the Portland Classic. Lee won in his third appearance in Portland, using his second-round 64 as the catalyst for victory in which he shot a final-round 66 to capture his first title. Coming off a tie for 13th at last week’s CPKC Women’s Open, the defending champion has been playing some of her best golf in recent weeks. Her two previous starts.
It’s hard not to like Wu’s chances this week in Portland. Not only is she the current world No. 1 in the Rolex rankings, but she has already won three times this season, including two major titles at The Chevron Championship and the AIG Women’s Open. Vu is making his second appearance in Portland, but made the most of his first start last year when he finished third. The American will be hoping to turn that great display into another victory come the weekend in 2022.
While Woo’s hits have been made much of this season, with eight top 10s so far this year, Tithikul has largely flown under the radar. She will be well rested on the Columbia Edgewater Tour as she makes her first start since the AIG Women’s Open, where she tied for 36th in the final major of the year. Tithikul will make his debut in Portland this week.
For a complete list of tee times for the Portland Classic, click here.
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