Andrea Lee seized the lead on Saturday at the Portland Classic, aiming for her second win in three years at the tournament. She shot a 5-under 67 to hold a one-stroke lead over Dewi Weber and Alexa Pano. Lee recovered from an early bogey by birdieing five of the next eight holes, reaching 19 under with a birdie on the par-5 12th and finishing with six pars. She emphasized the importance of sticking to her game plan and staying patient to capitalize on scoring opportunities.
Weber, who led after the second round with a 62, made a chip-in birdie on the par-4 17th in her 70 round. She is vying for her first LPGA Tour victory and hopes to prove a point to the Dutch Olympic committee, which chose not to send her to Paris. Pano, who shot a 66, is also in contention after winning her first LPGA Tour title last year.
Other players in the mix include Angel Yin and Polly Mack at 17 under, with Moriya Jutanugarn, Nataliya Guseva, and So Mi Lee one stroke behind. Lauren Coughlin, the recent CPKC Women’s Open champion, is at 15 under. The field lacks top-ranked players due to the upcoming Olympics, with Aditi Ashok of India being the only Olympian present.
Defending champion Chanettee Wannasaen is at 10 under after a solid round, while the rest of the competition aims to keep up with Lee’s lead in the final round. The players are focused on making birdies and playing consistent golf on the challenging course. The tournament promises an exciting finish with several contenders within striking distance of the lead.