Pettersen Rises into Share of Portland Classic Lead


Suzann Pettersen, the winner of the tournament in 2011 and '13 when it was called the Safeway Classic, fired a 5-under 67 to take a share of the 54-hole lead in the Portland Classic. The $1.3 million, 72-hole LPGA Tour event started Thursday.

Tied with the 33-year-old Norwegian at 11-under 205 are South Korean Mi Jung Hur and Spain's Carlota Ciganda, who each shot 70s at Columbia-Edgewater Country Club in Portland, Ore.

Sharing second only a stroke back at 10-under are another two players who had 70s: So Yeon Ryu - winner of last week's Canadian Women's Open, and China's Xi Yu Lin. I.K. Kim held the 36-hole lead off rounds of 65 and 67 but carded a 74 to drop into a tie for fourth.

Trailing by two stokes heading into Sunday's final round are Colombia's Mariajo Uribe (68), Korean Eun-Hee Ji (67), Denmark's Line Vedel (69), and Americans Austin Ernst (69) and Laura Diaz (72).

Juli Inkster, a winner in Portland in 1999, had a 72 and is among a big group of players at 6-under 210.

Not in the Rose City is No. 1 Stacy Lewis, the runner-up in the Portland event last year. Also missing are No. 3 Inbee Park; No. 4 Lydia Ko; No. 6 Lexi Thompson; No. 7 Cristie Kerr, who won in Portland in 2008; No. 10 Azahara Munoz; and Americans Paula Creamer and Natalie Gulbis. Michelle Wie, winner of the 2014 U.S. Women's Open, is still out with a finger injury.

For all the scores, visit www.lpga.com.