The Portland Classic is a women's professional golf tournament in Oregon on the LPGA Tour. Founded 52 years ago in 1972, the annual event in the Portland area is the oldest continuous event on the LPGA Tour. Tournament Golf Foundation has owned the tournament since its beginning and also managed the Safeway International tournament on the LPGA Tour. It became a 72-hole event in 2013, after decades at 54 holes.
 | |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Established | 1972 |
| Course(s) | Columbia Edgewater Country Club |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 6,478 yards (5,923 m) (in 2014) |
| Tour(s) | LPGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play – 72 holes |
| Prize fund | $1.5 million |
| Month played | August/September |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate | 199 Annika Sörenstam (2002) - 54 holes 262 Chanettee Wannasaen (2023) - 72 holes |
| To par | −17 Annika Sörenstam (2002) - 54 holes −26 Chanettee Wannasaen (2023) - 72 holes |
| Current champion | |
 Chanettee Wannasaen | |
Proceeds from the tournament are donated to local children's charities; over $19 million has been donated since 1972.[1] The tournament has had a variety of sponsors during its history.
Tournament names edit
- 1972: Portland Ladies Classic
- 1973: Portland Ladies Open
- 1974–1975: Portland Ladies Classic
- 1976: Portland Classic
- 1977: LPGA National Team Championship
- 1978: Ping Classic Team Championship
- 1979–1982: Portland Ping Team Championship
- 1983–1985: Portland Ping Championship
- 1986–1989: Cellular One-Ping Golf Championship
- 1990: Ping-Cellular One Golf Championship
- 1991–1994: Ping-Cellular One LPGA Golf Championship
- 1995: Ping-AT&T Wireless Services LPGA Golf Championship
- 1996–2000: Safeway LPGA Golf Championship
- 2001–2002: Safeway Classic
- 2003–2008: Safeway Classic Presented by Pepsi
- 2009–2013: Safeway Classic Presented by Coca-Cola
- 2014: Portland Classic Presented by Cambia Health Solutions
- 2015: Cambia Portland Classic
- 2016–2017: Cambia Portland Classic Presented by JTBC
- 2018–2021: Cambia Portland Classic
- 2022: AmazingCre Portland Classic
- 2023–present: Portland Classic
History edit
The event began as the Portland Ladies Classic in 1972, played at the Portland Golf Club (PGC) in Raleigh Hills for its first two editions. It moved to the Columbia Edgewater Country Club, west of the airport, then returned to PGC in 1975. From 1977 to 1982, the tournament was a team event and its prize money was unofficial. It returned to Columbia Edgewater in 1977, then went to the adjacent Riverside Golf & Country Club in 1980. The three courses rotated as hosts for the tournament until 1990, when Columbia Edgewater became the site for the next 18 editions. In 1978, Ping became a title sponsor. From 1986 to 1995, Cellular One and AT&T Wireless Services also were title sponsors, and in 1996 Safeway took over as the sole title sponsor. The event was moved up on the schedule in 2005, from September to August, and the purse reached $1.7 million in 2007.
In 2009, the tournament moved to the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club near North Plains, and drew a tournament record crowd of 87,800 at the Ghost Creek Course.[2] In 2009 and 2010, the course par was increased to 72 for the tournament, as the ninth hole was modified to a par-5; the result was three consecutive reachable par-5's (8,9, & 10) which slowed the pace of play. In 2011, the eighth hole was lengthened and the ninth was returned to a par-4, resulting in a par-71 course (same as public play).[3] The ninth hole was returned to a par-5 in 2012 for a par-72 layout.
In 2013, the tournament moved back to the Columbia Edgewater in Portland and expanded to 72 holes, with a reduced purse of $1.3 million. Safeway dropped its sponsorship after 2013, and Portland-based Cambia Health Solutions became the presenting sponsor.[4]
In 2015, 17-year-old Brooke Henderson Monday-qualified and won the event by eight shots, the largest victory margin on tour since 2012, and became the tour's third-youngest winner.[5] She was only the second Monday qualifier to win on tour[5] and the first in fifteen years, since Laurel Kean in 2000.[6] Henderson was also the first Canadian to win on the LPGA Tour in fourteen years, since Lorie Kane in 2001,[5][6] and was granted immediate tour membership.[7]
In 2017, Stacy Lewis, a native of Houston, Texas pledged her winnings to relief efforts for Hurricane Harvey pre-tournament. Lewis went on to win the event donating her entire $195,000 purse to hurricane relief efforts.[8]
The 2020 tournament was reduced to 54-holes due to poor air quality caused by wildfires.[9]
The 2021 tournament moved to Oregon Golf Club in West Linn, Oregon. It was reduced to 54 holes due to rain and course conditions.[10]
In 2022, the tournament moved back to Columbia Edgewater Country Club
Venues edit
As of the 2023 tournament, the Classic has been held at 5 different venues:
- Portland Golf Club 1972–1973, 1975–1976, 1979
- Columbia Edgewater Country Club 1974, 1977–1978, 1982–1983, 1986–1988, 1990–2008, 2013–2020, 2022-2023
- Riverside Golf & Country Club 1980–1981, 1984–1985, 1989
- Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club (Ghost Creek Course) 2009–2012
- Oregon Golf Club 2021
Winners edit
| Year | Date | Champion | Winning score |
To par | Margin of victory |
Venue | Purse ($) |
Winner's share ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Sep 3 | Chanettee Wannasaen |
262 | −26 | 4 strokes | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 1,500,000 | 225,000 |
| 2022 | Sep 18 |  Andrea Lee |
269 | −19 | 1 stroke | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 1,500,000 | 225,000 |
| 2021 | Sep 19 |  Ko Jin-young |
205^ | −11 | 4 strokes | Oregon Golf Club | 1,400,000 | 210,000 |
| 2020 | Sep 20 |  Georgia Hall |
204^ | −12 | Playoff | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 1,750,000 | 262,500 |
| 2019 | Sep 1 |  Hannah Green |
267 | −21 | 1 stroke | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 1,300,000 | 195,000 |
| 2018 | Sep 2 | Marina Alex |
269 | −19 | 4 strokes | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 1,300,000 | 195,000 |
| 2017 | Sep 3 | Stacy Lewis |
268 | −20 | 1 stroke | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 1,300,000 | 195,000 |
| 2016 | Jul 3 |  Brooke Henderson (2) |
274 | −14 | 4 strokes | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 1,300,000 | 195,000 |
| 2015 | Aug 16 | Brooke Henderson |
267 | −21 | 8 strokes | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 1,300,000 | 195,000 |
| 2014 | Aug 31 | Austin Ernst |
274 | −14 | Playoff | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 1,300,000 | 195,000 |
| 2013 | Sep 1 |  Suzann Pettersen (2) |
268 | −20 | 2 strokes | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 1,300,000 | 195,000 |
| 2012 | Aug 19 |  Mika Miyazato |
203 | −13 | 2 strokes | Pumpkin Ridge G.C. (Ghost Cr.) | 1,500,000 | 225,000 |
| 2011 | Aug 21 | Suzann Pettersen |
207 | −6 | Playoff | Pumpkin Ridge G.C. (Ghost Cr.) | 1,500,000 | 225,000 |
| 2010 | Aug 22 | Ai Miyazato |
205 | −11 | 2 strokes | Pumpkin Ridge G.C. (Ghost Cr.) | 1,500,000 | 225,000 |
| 2009 | Aug 30 | M. J. Hur |
203 | −13 | Playoff | Pumpkin Ridge G.C. (Ghost Cr.) | 1,700,000 | 255,000 |
| 2008 | Aug 24 | Cristie Kerr |
203 | −13 | Playoff | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 1,700,000 | 255,000 |
| 2007 | Aug 26 |  Lorena Ochoa |
204 | −12 | 5 strokes | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 1,700,000 | 255,000 |
| 2006 | Aug 20 | Pat Hurst |
206 | −10 | 1 stroke | Columbia Edgewater C.C | 1,400,000 | 210,000 |
| 2005 | Aug 21 | Kang Soo-yun |
201 | −15 | 4 strokes | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 1,400,000 | 210,000 |
| 2004 | Sep 19 | Hee-Won Han |
207 | −9 | Playoff | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 1,200,000 | 180,000 |
| 2003 | Sep 28 |  Annika Sörenstam (2) |
201 | −15 | 1 stroke | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 1,200,000 | 180,000 |
| 2002 | Sep 15 | Annika Sörenstam |
199 | −17 | 1 stroke | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 1,000,000 | 150,000 |
| 2001 | Tournament canceled because of the September 11 attacks [11] | |||||||
| 2000 | Sep 24 | Mi Hyun Kim |
215 | −1 | Playoff | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 800,000 | 120,000 |
| 1999 | Sep 26 | Juli Inkster |
207 | −9 | 6 strokes | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 800,000 | 120,000 |
| 1998 | Sep 6 | Danielle Ammaccapane |
204 | −12 | 1 stroke | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 600,000 | 90,000 |
| 1997 | Sep 7 | Christa Johnson |
206 | −10 | 1 stroke | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 550,000 | 82,500 |
| 1996 | Sep 8 | Dottie Pepper |
202 | −14 | 2 strokes | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 550,000 | 82,500 |
| 1995 | Sep 10 | Alison Nicholas |
207 | −9 | 1 stroke | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 500,000 | 75,000 |
| 1994 | Sep 11 | Missie McGeorge |
207 | −9 | 1 stroke | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 500,000 | 75,000 |
| 1993 | Sep 12 | Donna Andrews |
208 | −8 | 1 stroke | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 450,000 | 67,500 |
| 1992 | Sep 13 | Nancy Lopez (3) |
209 | −7 | Playoff | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 450,000 | 67,500 |
| 1991 | Sep 8 | Michelle Estill |
208 | −8 | 1 stroke | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 400,000 | 60,000 |
| 1990 | Sep 9 | Patty Sheehan |
208 | −8 | 1 stroke | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 350,000 | 52,500 |
| 1989 | Sep 10 | Muffin Spencer-Devlin |
214 | −2 | 1 stroke | Riverside G.& C.C. | 300,000 | 45,000 |
| 1988 | Sep 11 | Betsy King |
213 | −3 | 1 stroke | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 250,000 | 37,500 |
| 1987 | Sep 13 | Nancy Lopez (2) |
210 | −6 | 1 stroke | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 225,000 | 33,750 |
| 1986 | Sep 7 | Ayako Okamoto |
207 | −9 | 6 strokes | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 200,000 | 30,000 |
| 1985 | Sep 8 | Nancy Lopez |
215 | −1 | Playoff | Riverside G. & C.C. | 175,000 | 26,250 |
| 1984 | Sep 9 | Amy Alcott |
212 | −4 | 1 stroke | Riverside G. & C.C. | 150,000 | 22,500 |
| 1983 | Sep 11 | JoAnne Carner |
212 | −4 | Playoff | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 150,000 | 22,500 |
| Tournament played from 1977 through 1982 as unofficial team event | ||||||||
| 1982 | Sep 19 | Sandra Haynie & Kathy McMullen |
196 | −20 | 2 strokes | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 120,000 | 21,600 |
| 1981 | Oct 4 | Donna Caponi & Kathy Whitworth |
203 | −16 | Playoff | Riverside G. & C.C. | 120,000 | 21,000 |
| 1980 | Oct 5 | Donna Caponi & Kathy Whitworth |
195 | −24 | 4 strokes | Riverside G. & C.C. | 115,000 | 21,000 |
| 1979 | Sep 16 | Nancy Lopez & Jo Ann Washam |
198 | −21 | 1 stroke | Portland Golf Club | 110,000 | 20,000 |
| 1978 | Sep 24 | Donna Caponi & Kathy Whitworth |
203 | −16 | Playoff | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 100,000 | 20,000 |
| 1977 | Sep 18 | JoAnne Carner & Judy Rankin |
202 | −17 | Playoff | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 60,000 | 9,000 |
| 1976 | Sep 19 | Donna Caponi |
217 | −2 | Playoff | Portland Golf Club | 45,000 | 6,400 |
| 1975 | Sep 21 | Jo Ann Washam |
215 | −1 | 1 stroke | Portland Golf Club | 40,000 | 5,700 |
| 1974 | Sep 29 | JoAnne Carner |
211 | −5 | 2 strokes | Columbia Edgewater C.C. | 35,000 | 5,000 |
| 1973 | Sep 23 | Kathy Whitworth |
144^ | −2 | 2 strokes | Portland Golf Club | 30,000 | 4,500 |
| 1972 | Oct 1 | Kathy Whitworth |
212 | −7 | 4 strokes | Portland Golf Club | 30,000 | 3,750 |
^ rain-shortened tournament
Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Tournament record edit
| Year | Player | Score | To par | Round | Course |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Annika Sörenstam | 62 | −10 | 2nd | Columbia Edgewater Country Club |
| 2003 | Beth Daniel | 62 | −10 | 1st | Columbia Edgewater Country Club |
| 2009 | Beth Bader | 64 | −8 | 1st | Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, Ghost Creek Course |
| 2010 | Oh Ji-young | 64 | −8 | 2nd | Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, Ghost Creek Course |
| 2010 | Song-Hee Kim | 64 | −8 | 2nd | Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, Ghost Creek Course |
| 2011 | Suzann Pettersen | 64 | −7 | 3rd | Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, Ghost Creek Course |
| 2019 | Kim Sei-young | 61 | −11 | 2nd | Columbia Edgewater Country Club |
See also edit
- WinCo Foods Portland Open, a current event on the Korn Ferry Tour
- Portland Open Invitational, a former event on the PGA Tour
References edit
- ^ "Safeway Classic again generates $1 Million for Local Children's Charities Safeway Classic to Celebrate 40 Years of LPGA Golf in Portland 2011 Tournament Dates Set". LPGA. November 8, 2010. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
- ^ Mishler, Randy (August 30, 2009). "Safeway Classic's big number: 87,800 fans at Pumpkin Ridge". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
- ^ Tokito, Mike (August 15, 2011). "Safeway Classic notes: Tour ponders out-of-bounds stakes for already revamped ninth hole". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
- ^ Hayes, Elizabeth (May 20, 2014). "After Safeway exits LPGA tournament, a Portland company saves the day". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
- ^ a b c "Brooke Henderson, almost 18, wins LPGA Tour Portland Classic". ESPN. Associated Press. August 16, 2015.
- ^ a b "2015 Canadian Pacific Women's Open, Tournament Preview". LPGA. August 17, 2015. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
- ^ "Statement on Brooke Henderson being granted LPGA Tour membership". LPGA. August 18, 2015. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
- ^ Puterbaugh, Travis (August 29, 2018). "Hurricane Relief: Stacy Lewis and the Cambia Portland Classic". World Golf Hall of Fame.
- ^ "2020 Cambia Portland Classic Reduced To 54 Holes". LPGA. September 15, 2020.
- ^ "2021 Cambia Portland Classic Reduced To 54 Holes". LPGA. September 18, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
- ^ Hall, Landon (September 13, 2001). "LPGA follows form, cancels Oregon tournament". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved August 30, 2013.