2021 Cambia Portland Classic, September 16-19

[18majors]

 

It's been almost two months since we have a LPGA tournament on US soil, I can't wait.  On top of that, we've a decent TV schedule to boot!

 

Race to the CME Globe: 500 Points

Format: 72 holes

Purse: $1,400,000

Par: 72

History: This event began in 1972.

Yardage: 6,478

 

TV Schedule (EDT):   September 16-19       3:00 - 6:00 PM

[18majors]

Instead of Columbia Edgewater Country Club where the tournament has been held previously; the tournament will be held at The Oregon Golf Club.  This is due to safety concerns:  LPGA's Cambia Portland Classic Changing Venue Due to Safety Concerns.

 

Edgewater is ranked #17 and Oregon Golf Club is #28 among golf courses in the state of Oregon, according to Top 100 Golf Courses:  Top 100 Golf Courses. 

 

Below is a description of the golf course:

"Sculpted from an expansive swath of farmland in the shadows of the Cascade Mountains, Oregon Golf Club’s par-72, 7,052-yard Peter Jacobsen-designed layout pays homage to the grand courses of Scotland. " 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 11, 2021 by 18majors

[18majors]

It's a weak field on paper, Jin Young Ko and Brooke Henderson are the only two Rolex Top-10 players.  Other notable players are Patty Tavatanakit and Ariya Jutuanugarn.

 

They haven't filled the field of 144 as of today, even though most players outside of current year Top-100 CME Points List are already in the field.  This's a critical week for players like Andrea Lee, Bianca Pagdanganan and Kelly Tan.

 

The current #100 on CME Points List is Ssu-Chia Cheng at 175.00; which is less than a T4 finish of 180.00.  Essentially, any player in the field can catapult into Top-100 with a good week.

[Lobby]

It was amazing to me when I read this week that Brooke Henderson had a recent birthday and was only 23 years old.

Some of these golf pros accomplish so much at such an early age.   So impressive.

[18majors]

14 minutes ago, Lobby said:

It was amazing to me when I read this week that Brooke Henderson had a recent birthday and was only 23 years old.

Some of these golf pros accomplish so much at such an early age.   So impressive.

 

 

This doesn't change your conclusion, just a fact check.

 

Brooke is 24, she's born September 10, 1997.

[pmcuk]

So who's inherited the "teen sensation" label now?

 

 

 

.

Edited September 11, 2021 by pmcuk

[18majors]

9 minutes ago, pmcuk said:

So who's inherited the "teen sensation" label now?

 

 

 

.

 

Atthaya Thitikul, 18, who won her 2nd LET title this year today.

[mallrat]

Oregon Golf Club is a HUGE departure from the design of CECC. It’s kind of a goat track in that there is a TON of elevation change. I’m not sure what that means for who will play well. 
 

CECC is in the middle of an area that is overrun with homeless right now and not a good situation. Not sure if you guys follow Christina Kim but looks like she came out a week early to head down to Bandon. 

[Argonne69]

4 hours ago, 18majors said:

 

Atthaya Thitikul, 18, who won her 2nd LET title this year today.

 

My first instinct was to go with Yealimi, but she turned 20 seven weeks ago. Atthaya is the correct pick.

 

[Golf Dino]

7 hours ago, 18majors said:

 

 

This doesn't change your conclusion, just a fact check.

 

Brooke is 24, she's born September 10, 1997.

 

Well he @Lobby did say" and was only 23 years old."  As in prior to her birthday yesterday.  

 

[fredogolfer]

10 hours ago, 18majors said:

It's a weak field on paper, Jin Young Ko and Brooke Henderson are the only two Rolex Top-10 players.  Other notable players are Patty Tavatanakit and Ariya Jutuanugarn.

 

They haven't filled the field of 144 as of today, even though most players outside of current year Top-100 CME Points List are already in the field.  This's a critical week for players like Andrea Lee, Bianca Pagdanganan and Kelly Tan.

 

The current #100 on CME Points List is Ssu-Chia Cheng at 175.00; which is less than a T4 finish of 180.00.  Essentially, any player in the field can catapult into Top-100 with a good week.

If fields aren’t going to fill , I would recommend the LPGA cut field sizes to 120 or even smaller. We are coming off  a 3 week break where most of the players on the LPGA saw little to no activity. No point in having such large fields if players aren’t showing up. This is the second time this season. It just doesn’t make sense when the narrative is to provide more opportunities for women and girls and they aren’t being taken. 

[KBong]

22 hours ago, mallrat said:

Oregon Golf Club is a HUGE departure from the design of CECC. It’s kind of a goat track in that there is a TON of elevation change. I’m not sure what that means for who will play well. 
 

CECC is in the middle of an area that is overrun with homeless right now and not a good situation. Not sure if you guys follow Christina Kim but looks like she came out a week early to head down to Bandon. 

The pros returning to Portland might be disappointed that Columbia Edgewater is not hosting.

CE is such a convenient venue...literally minutes from PDX....with so many great hotel choices nearby too.

 

I loved going to the nearby Sextant pub where many loops and lower ranked LPGA pros would frequent.

 

As a fan, I LUV's the parkland style CE course....easy to watch golf...parking adjacent to the course for a $5 donation to the Boys & Girls club. It was FANTASTIC when Safeway was the sponsor....not so much with Cambia.

 

I didn't like it when it was out at Pumpkin....I thought the Ghost trek was average at best...I've never see the Witch except on TV.

It also added 45 mins-1 hr to my drive.

I heard the Ghost is a swamp in the winter.

 

The only benefit in Hillsboro for me was staying in a flea bag motel (no wife in 2010) and I got to meet some LPGA loops and a really great LPGA volunteer.

[MagicClassic407]

Seeking Monday qualifier tee times............nada. Maybe they're letting them all in.

[Golf Dino]

1 hour ago, MagicClassic407 said:

Seeking Monday qualifier tee times............nada. Maybe they're letting them all in.

 

Would make sense if they need to fill up the field.  

[18majors]

LPGA finally remembers there's a tournament to play next week:

 

 

[KBong]

8 hours ago, MagicClassic407 said:

Seeking Monday qualifier tee times............nada. Maybe they're letting them all in.

For some strange reason...it's missing???

 

https://qs.lpga.com/

[18majors]

 

They're able to register only 132 players out of an intended field of 144:

 

 

 

[18majors]

 

Brooke Henderson has been uncharacteristically out of the spotlight for a long stretch of time; but she's never forgotten in Canada:

 

Brooke Henderson hoping for a better end to a bumpy 2021

 

 

 

[KBong]

11 hours ago, KBong said:

For some strange reason...it's missing???

 

https://qs.lpga.com/

It's now fixed....I guess the HS intern that runs lpga.com had homework to complete before any requests from The Invisible Woman, Mollie.

[KBong]

57 minutes ago, 18majors said:

 

Brooke Henderson has been uncharacteristically out of the spotlight

 

 

ECP has been dethroned by Leylah Fernandez.🤣

[Argonne69]

After this week there are back-to-back-to-back tournaments in Arkansas and the east coast. It's a bit surprising, but not shocking, that a number of players are skipping this week to avoid the long trip to the northwest for one event. It would make more sense to move the Portland event to June when they play the Mediheal. 

 

[18majors]

11 minutes ago, KBong said:

ECP has been dethroned by Leylah Fernandez.🤣

 

 

Leylah Fernandez?  The 19 years old who's won precisely one WTA title?

 

Brooke at 19 was a Major winner and multiple other titles.

 

 

[MagicClassic407]

1 hour ago, 18majors said:

 

They're able to register only 132 players out of an intended field of 144:

 

 

 

This is crazy since the Symetra Tour lists 120 entrants this week with a Reserve List of 58. Event is in Alabama so I guess geography plays into it.

 

[KBong]

5 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

It would make more sense to move the Portland event to June when they play the Mediheal. 

 

Or better yet...and for selfish reasons....get Seattle to hold an event just like they did up until the 90's when they had the Safeco Classic at Meridian Valley....it was a good event that I had attended several times.

Again for selfish reasons.....Symetra should reshuffle their spend/money and have an annual LPGA event at Sahalee (wishful thinking).

 

Many pros would play Portland & then head up to the Safeco on back to back weeks.

 

We get minimal good pro golf here in the PNW.

No regular PGA tour event....and I'm not really interested going to Seattle to watch the Champions tour on an annual basis.

 

Last good men's event for me was a practice Tues rd at the 2015 USO at Chambers.

I did attend the USSO in 2010 at Salhalee to see the course and I had yet to attend a USGA event....my 2 reasons to watch.

 

I went to the 2005 & 2011 men's Cdn Open here at Shaughnessy and I don't know if it will return before the club's lease expires in 2032.

 

I don't feel like driving down to Portland anymore to watch the LPGA....besides.... if I'm headed that way.....I need to drive 4 more hrs to Bandon to cross that off my bucket list.

I still can't believe it's not scratched off yet....I had some plans to go in Feb but the land border was closed.

Unfortunately as each year passes by....my desire to play Bandon lessens...I don't know why.

I'm a POSER...Chamber Bay is still on that list too.

I can go as a single...but won't be as much fun...the guys I play golf with never speak much of a cross border trip.

 

I do try to head out to any local Am events here to watch for a few hours if it's worth watching.

I really enjoyed watching a USGA Am qualifier and watching the guys hit 320+ WRX BOMB drives.🤣

[KBong]

35 minutes ago, MagicClassic407 said:

Event is in Alabama so I guess geography plays into it.

 

I assume you and hubby drive back and forth between FLA & OH.

Have you played any of the RTJ Trail courses?

 

In 1997, I played Cambrian Ridge and the Falls at Magnolia (1st week of Q Series).

It was so hot and humid, wifey and I decided to bail on golf the remaining 2 days and a local suggested we head to Red Neck Riviera (Gulf Shores) to go beaching instead.

I LUV GS....the food and the white sand beaches....and the biggest outlet mall I have been to in Foley, AL.

 

I loved the 'free' 9 hole par 3 course at Cambrian....I played the tips...some of the toughest par 3's I have played.

 

IMO....I don't think doing the RTJ Trail as a golf trip is a great idea because of all the driving in between golf complexes.

But many golf complexes have several 18 hole treks for a 2-3 day golf trip.

[HMHS]

2 hours ago, 18majors said:

 

They're able to register only 132 players out of an intended field of 144:

 

 

 

they can have one player alone (ok let's make it 3 - her, dottie and jaravee) and id be fine to give all the CME points to her, dottie and jaravee 😛 

 

seriously though, for players in the hunt for a card, this is gonna be their chance

[18majors]

48 minutes ago, Supermilo said:

they can have one player alone (ok let's make it 3 - her, dottie and jaravee) and id be fine to give all the CME points to her, dottie and jaravee 😛 

 

 

 

This is when "rubber meets the road!"

[Argonne69]

1 hour ago, KBong said:

I assume you and hubby drive back and forth between FLA & OH.

Have you played any of the RTJ Trail courses?

 

In 1997, I played Cambrian Ridge and the Falls at Magnolia (1st week of Q Series).

It was so hot and humid, wifey and I decided to bail on golf the remaining 2 days and a local suggested we head to Red Neck Riviera (Gulf Shores) to go beaching instead.

I LUV GS....the food and the white sand beaches....and the biggest outlet mall I have been to in Foley, AL.

 

I loved the 'free' 9 hole par 3 course at Cambrian....I played the tips...some of the toughest par 3's I have played.

 

IMO....I don't think doing the RTJ Trail as a golf trip is a great idea because of all the driving in between golf complexes.

But many golf complexes have several 18 hole treks for a 2-3 day golf trip.

 

The drive between the RTJ courses isn't bad. Usually an hour and a half to two hours. I've played the vast majority of the courses over three trips (Cambrian Ridge, Capital Hill Judge, Grand National Links, Grand National Lake, Ross Bridge, Hampton Cove River, Hampton Cove Highlands, Lakewood Azalea, Magnolia Grove Crossings, Magnolia Grove Falls, Oxmoor Valley Ridge, Oxmoor Valley Valley, The Shoals Fighting Joe, and The Shoals Schoolmaster. 

 

[18majors]

Nice to know!

 

 

[KBong]

1 hour ago, Argonne69 said:

 

The drive between the RTJ courses isn't bad. Usually an hour and a half to two hours. I've played the vast majority of the courses over three trips (Cambrian Ridge, Capital Hill Judge, Grand National Links, Grand National Lake, Ross Bridge, Hampton Cove River, Hampton Cove Highlands, Lakewood Azalea, Magnolia Grove Crossings, Magnolia Grove Falls, Oxmoor Valley Ridge, Oxmoor Valley Valley, The Shoals Fighting Joe, and The Shoals Schoolmaster. 

 

LOL.

Where haven't you golfed in the US?.....Alaska???

 

I imagine Grand National has the best courses in the RTJ trail.

Edited September 13, 2021 by KBong