Brooke Henderson, a two-time champion, opened strong in the first round of The Standard Portland Classic with an impressive 7-under 65, which included birdies on all four par-5 holes.
This performance placed Henderson just one stroke behind the first-round leader, 22-year-old Adela Cernousek, who shot a remarkable 64.
At 27 years old, Henderson is seeking to break a winless streak that dates back to January 2023, during which she has fallen to 52nd in the world rankings.
“I love coming back to this place,” said Henderson, reflecting on her past success at Columbia Edgewater, where she clinched her first LPGA Tour title in 2015 and successfully defended it in 2016.
Starting her round with four consecutive birdies, Henderson quickly showcased her skills, achieving two birdies on par-5s early in the game.
On her second nine, she maintained her momentum by birdieing the par-5 fifth and seventh, as well as the par-4 ninth with excellent accuracy.
“It’s really important to hit a bunch of fairways this week,” Henderson emphasized, noting her success in staying on course with only two missed fairways during her round.
Next week, Henderson will return to her home country for the CPKC Women’s Open in Mississauga, Ontario, where she previously won the national championship in 2018.
Cernousek’s performance was highlighted by her impressive back nine, where she recorded 7-under 29, including an eagle on the par-4 seventh hole.
“I was hitting the ball very well,” Cernousek stated after her stellar performance, leading in the early stages of the tournament.
Positioned one stroke behind Henderson was Sung Hyun Park, who also impressed with eight birdies and a single bogey during her afternoon round on the tree-lined course.
Park, a seven-time tour winner, expressed her confidence in her recent ball-striking and putting.
“As of late, my ball-striking and putting are starting to feel quite comfortable, and that’s exactly what happened today,” Park said, pleased with her execution on the course.
In a tie for fourth place, Haeran Ryu shot a respectable 66, along with other competitors such as Perrine Delacour, Arpichaya Yubol, Ashleigh Buhai, and Linn Grant.
Ryu is currently ranked No. 9 in the world, and alongside No. 7 Angel Yin, who scored a 72, she is one of the only top 10 players participating in this event.
Amateur Kiara Romero, a standout from the University of Oregon and winner of the 2023 U.S. Girls’ Junior, delivered an impressive 67.
“Everything was rolling pretty smoothly,” Romero commented, revealing a bit of nerves but overall good play throughout her round.
Juli Inkster, the 65-year-old Hall of Famer, managed to birdie three of the par 5s during her round of 69.
“I actually thought I putted really well today,” referred Inkster, who was content with her performance alongside former champions Stacy Lewis and Hannah Green, who both scored 73, including defending champion Moriya Jutanugarn.
The Standard Portland Classic stands as the longest continuous event on the LPGA Tour, aside from the majors, dating back to 1972.
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