Past Champs, Tourney Trivia and Facts from the Portland Classic
About the LPGA Portland Classic:
The Portland Classic (traditionally known as the Safeway Classic) is a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour. It is one of the longest-running events on the current LPGA schedule, usually played in August or September. It is always played in the Portland, Oregon, area. It is a 72-hole tournament as of 2013 (every year prior to 2013 was 54 holes).
The original name of the tournament was Portland Ladies Classic.
Safeway, a major grocery store chain, became title sponsor in 1996 but ended its sponsorship following the 2013 tournament. Cambia Health Solutions became presenting sponsor beginning in 2015.
2015 Tournament
Brooke Henderson became the third player in LPGA history to win before turning 18, and she did it by eight shots - and by setting the tournament scoring record at 267. Henderson also did it after Monday qualifying, the second time in LPGA history a Monday qualifier went on to win. Henderson took a 5-shot lead into the final round, then expanded that lead to the 8-stroke win. She also became the first Canadian winner since Lorie Kane in 2001.
2014 Portland Classic
In 2013, Austin Ernst tied the tournament's 18-hole scoring record, but didn't win. In 2014, she didn't set any scoring records - but did win. Ernst's first career LPGA victory came on the first hole of a playoff against I.K. Kim. The two finished 72 holes at 14-under 274, but Ernst won with a par on the first extra hole.
LPGA tournament site
LPGA Portland Classic Records:
- 18 holes: 62 - Annika Sorenstam, 2002; Beth Daniel, 2003; Austin Ernst, 2013
- 54 holes: 199 - Annika Sorenstam, 2002
- 72 holes: 267 - Brooke Henderson, 2015
LPGA Portland Classic Golf Course:
The tournament returned to Columbia Edgewater Country Club in 2013, after spending the years 2009-2012 on the Ghost Creek Course of Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club. For most of the tournament's history, prior to 2009, it was played at Columbia Edgewater. Other Portland-area courses to host the event are Riverside Golf and Country Club and Portland Golf Club.
LPGA Portland Classic Trivia and Notes:
- The Portland Classic was first played in 1972, and Kathy Whitworth was the first winner. Whitworth won again in 1973. The only other golfer to win it back-to-back is Annika Sorenstam, who did so in 2002-03.
- Nancy Lopez is the only 3-time winner. Lopez's wins came in 1985, 1987 and 1992.
- From 1977-82, the tournament was an unofficial money event, not an official LPGA Tour event. However, tournaments did take place in those years, and they were 2-person team tournaments. The winners, from 1977 forward through 1982, were JoAnne Carner/Judy Rankin, Kathy Whitworth/Donna Caponi, Jo Ann Washam/Nancy Lopez, Kathy Whitworth/Donna Caponi, Kathy Whitworth/Donna Caponi and Sandra Haynie/Kathy McMullen.
- When Missie McGeorge won the 1994 tournament (then called the Ping-Cellular One LPGA Golf Championship), it was her 295th start on the LPGA Tour and her first win. At the time, that was the record for longest time on the LPGA Tour before winning.
- In 2001, the tournament - which was then played in September - was canceled following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
- In the 2006 Safeway Classic, Nina Reis recorded three eagles during the first round. That mark shares the LPGA record for most eagles in one round.
- 17-year-old Brooke Henderson earned her LPGA Tour membership by winning the 2015 tournament. She did so after Monday qualifying, becoming the first Monday qualifier since Laurel Kean in 2000 (and the second in tour history) to then go on to win the tournament.
LPGA Portland Classic Winners:
(p-won playoff)
2015 - Brooke Henderson, 267
2014 - Austin Ernst-p, 274
2013 - Suzann Pettersen, 268
(tournaments prior to 2013 were 54 holes in duration)
2012 - Mika Miyazato, 203
2011 - Suzann Pettersen, 207
2010 - Ai Miyazato, 205
2009 - Mi Jung Hur, 203
2008 - Cristie Kerr, 203
2007 - Lorena Ochoa, 204
2006 - Pat Hurst, 206
2005 - Soo-Yun Kang, 201
2004 - Hee-Won Han, 207
2003 - Annika Sorenstam, 201
2002 - Annika Sorenstam, 199
2001 - Not played
2000 - Mi Hyun Kim, 215
1999 - Juli Inkster, 207
1998 - Danielle Ammaccapane, 204
1997 - Christa Johnson, 206
1996 - Dottie Pepper, 202
1995 - Alison Nicholas, 207
1994 - Missie McGeorge, 207
1993 - Donna Andrews, 208
1992 - Nancy Lopez, 209
1991 - Michelle Estill, 208
1990 - Patty Sheehan, 208
1989 - Muffin Spencer-Devlin, 214
1988 - Betsy King, 213
1987 - Nancy Lopez, 210
1986 - Ayako Okamoto, 207
1985 - Nancy Lopez, 215
1984 - Amy Alcott, 212
1983 - JoAnne Carner, 212
1977-82 - Not an official LPGA event (see note above)
1976 - Donna Caponi, 217
1975 - JoAnn Washam, 215
1974 - JoAnne Carner, 211
1973 - Kathy Whitworth, 144
1972 - Kathy Whitworth, 212
Source...