Andrea Lee started the day with a share of the lead at 13-under in the AmazingCre Portland Classic and opened her final round with back-to-back bogeys in the first three holes but soon recovered with three consecutive birdies from the 5th.
She made five more on the back nine to reach 19-under and win her first LPGA Tour title.
Year 51 at the @PortlandClassic.
Thank you ❤️ pic.twitter.com/q2RV4Zqw0e
— LPGA (@LPGA) September 19, 2022
“All the hard work has paid off. It's been my dream to win on the LPGA Tour, and the fact that I accomplished that today is just pretty surreal. Some of the past champions (of the Portland Classic) are legends of the game. I'm extremely honored to join that list of names," said the American.
“My junior career and my amateur career have always been kind of smooth sailing I would say. I kind of expected a lot out of myself coming into the LPGA and turning professional. Put a lot of pressure on myself to do really well off the bat. That wasn't the case at all. 2020 was a decent year, but then 2021 was a struggle. Just learned from all those experiences last year, and I really have grown as a golfer and really proud of the way that I managed to use all those experiences to get that win today.”
Clutch sand save on 17 by @andrea_lee54 to maintain a two-shot lead! 👏
Watch the finish of the @PortlandClassic now! pic.twitter.com/EUiGNeoWNm
— LPGA (@LPGA) September 18, 2022
Ecuadorian Daniela Darquea closed with a 66 to finish second at 18-under, her best finish on the LPGA Tour. Her previous best was a tie for fifth at the 2018 Dana Open and she lost full status on the LPGA Tour coming into 2022 but has used her Epson Tour membership to help improve her game and build her confidence at the five LPGA events she has played this season. She was debating whether to even play in Portland this week or play on the Epson Tour and feels she made the right choice.
“It was rough at the beginning of the year, losing the card, going back to Epson. I know I have the game to be here. I just need to keep the mental game going as it is.”
Five players finished third at 17-under, including third-round co-leaders Ayaka Furue (68) and Lilia Vu (68).
