Khang Takes Lead at LPGA Portland Classic with Late Birdie Soar

Megan Khang Takes One-Shot Lead at Portland Classic

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Megan Khang is on a hot streak, aiming for her second consecutive LPGA win. On Saturday, September 2, she birdied the 18th hole to secure a one-shot lead over the rising young talents Jang Hyo-joon and Chanettee Wannasaen in the Portland Classic.

Khang, who just clinched her first career win in Canada after 190 starts, played an impressive round with seven birdies, finishing with a six-under par 66. Five of her birdies came during the challenging back nine at Columbia Edgewater in Portland, Oregon.

20-year-old Jang, who has had a tumultuous rookie LPGA season due to injury, delivered a remarkable performance with 11 birdies, resulting in a stellar ten-under par 62. This outstanding round put her at 17-under 199.

Jang was joined by Thai rookie Chanettee, 19, who qualified on Monday. Chanettee played a solid round with eight birdies, finishing with a seven-under par 65.

Reflecting on her previous win, Khang admitted to feeling fatigue, but her increased confidence in her ability to win propelled her forward. “It’s not just if it was going to happen or when but it has happened, so it’s definitely a great feeling to have under the belt,” she said.

Khang’s round started slow with a pair of birdies and a bogey on the front nine. However, she picked up momentum on the back nine, sinking three consecutive birdies from holes 11 to 13. Another lengthy birdie on the 15th allowed her to share the lead. She finished strong with one more birdie on the 18th hole to take the lead.

Jang, on the other hand, had no inkling of her incredible round during her warm-up. However, after a rainy start to the week, she enjoyed playing in warm sunshine alongside her compatriot Kim Hyo-joo. Interestingly, Jang also played without the back pain that has plagued her for most of the year. Starting with four birdies in her first four holes, she continued to collect five more birdies and a tricky downhiller on the 18th to momentarily take the lead.

Chanettee, who had to go through Monday qualifying, attributed her increased confidence to making it through the cut. This boost propelled her to a strong performance, including eight birdies, amidst a season where she has missed nine cuts.

With the course still soft from the rain earlier in the week, the final round promises to be intense. Spain’s Carlota Ciganda sits alone in fourth place with a score of 201. Four players are tied for fifth place at 202, including China’s Lin Xiyu, Yin Ruoning, who won her first major title at the Women’s PGA Championship in June, as well as Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul and American Gina Kim.

France’s Perrine Delacour, who led after each of the first two rounds, had a disappointing day with a three-over 75, falling seven strokes behind. She is now part of a group of seven on 205, which includes defending champion Andrea Lee, world number two Nelly Korda, and South Korean Lee Mi-hyang, who had a remarkable nine birdies in the span of ten holes but had four bogeys later on.