‘Incredible’ play by Alex secures Classic
MARINA Alex has rallied to win the Portland Classic for her first LPGA Tour title, closing with a seven-under 65 for a four-stroke victory over Georgia Hall.
Australian world No.7 Minjee Lee, two strokes behind playing partner and overnight leader Hall entering the final round, had a disastrous 77 to blow any chance of a second LPGA victory this season.
The 22-year-old could not find a birdie yesterday in her five-over round and finished fourth at 11 under. “It was very bad,” Lee said. “I didn’t really have my ‘A’ game on.”
Her compatriot Su Oh carded a three-under 69 to move up to a share of ninth at seven under — in a group which included American world No.5 Lexi Thompson (70) in her third event after a three-week break for emotional and mental fatigue.
Alex birdied the final five holes in a front-nine 30 to take the lead and added birdies on the par-5 12th and par-4 15th at the tree-lined Columbia Edgewater Country Club.
She made her only bogey of the day on the par-4 18th, leaving her at 19-under 269.
“My goal was eight under to give myself a chance but I even thought maybe that wouldn’t have been good enough,” Alex said. “It was just an incredible day. I’m proud.”
Alex matched the course record with a 62 on Thursday, then shot 71-71 to begin the final round six strokes behind Women’s British Open champion Hall: “It was tough to back up the first round with some good rounds,” she said.
Hall had a closing round of 75.
“The pin positions were really, really tough,” said Hall. “I was just trying to stay patient and do what I could to kind of stay in it. I mean, she shot, what, 7 under? That’s incredible.”
Japan’s Ayako Uehara was third at 13 under after a 69.