Georgia Hall wins Portland Classic in play-off

Images: Getty Images - By Harriet Shephard

Well, what a weekend.

We started off thinking that one British star would be topping the leaderboard over in Portland, and we ended up with a different one doing the honours.

Our very own Georgia Hall has done it again, and we’re so excited and happy we don’t know what to do with ourselves.

The 24-year-old Bournemouth player has gained her second win on the LPGA and her first on American soil at the 2020 Cambia Portland Classic in Oregon, and the trophy was so huge she could hardly lift it (bless her).
She’s also walked away a well-deserved $262,500 in prize money.

So, here’s what happened in the final day of this dramatic tournament that featured wildfire, lightening and a fierce battle for the top spot between about eight different nationalities.

Where was Georgia for the first few days?

You’ll be correct in thinking that for the first two rounds, most of the hype was around defending champion Hannah Green and Mel Reid.
This is because the 2018 British Open Champion was still four shots behind leader Mel going into the final round, but obviously she should not have been underestimated.

She shot two lots of treble bogies (holes 5 to 8 and again from 10 to 12) and this gave her a share of the lead with Australia’s Hannah Green.
From there she reeled off a steady stream of pars until she bogied the last.
But in this weird times of no fans and no leaderboards, Georgia looked visibly shocked to learn that this last bogey meant she went into a play-off with South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai.

Georgia had no idea she was leading until that point and she said she felt that this lack of awareness helped reduce the pressure on her.

“I actually thought one of the players from the group behind, the leading group (of Green, second-round leader and fellow Englishwoman Mel Reid, and Amy Yang), maybe was ahead of me and I was second,” she said.
“But then when I found out that I made bogey so therefore I have to get in a playoff, I was a little bit upset at that.

“I'm more just like an average board watcher. I think sometimes it's good to know; sometimes it isn't. In this instance I'm guessing I was leading in the last four or five holes, so I'm quite happy I didn't look.”

The play-off was then over after two holes. They both made par on 18 and then Georgia secured her win with another par on the second extra hole.
As Ashleigh missed her par putt on the par-4 1st Georgia broke down into tears.

“I was quite nervous the last six or seven holes, so it was a buildup of emotions,” she said. “And then bogeying the last and getting in a playoff, it was a buildup and then just really happy tears at the end.

“I think that (after) I won the British, I just wanted to win again really badly, especially in America. After a couple of years, obviously, I'd never won in America. I find it easier maybe to win in Europe or Great Britain. But I always knew it would be harder (the longer I went without a victory) so for me to win, it's a relief that I've won in America. I can bring that confidence to the next event.”

Even though no fans were there to cheer her on, her friends and players made up for it by creating a massive fuss that was lovely to see (a LOT of champagne and water was involved).

“It meant so much to me, because when I won the AIG Women's Open a lot of (other players) weren't there because they were traveling to the next tournament. So, to have my main friends stay to watch me and pour all that stuff on me, it really does mean a lot. I'm really grateful to them.”

What happened to Mel Reid?

Marking her 33rd Birthday in style, Mel shot a 7-under round of 65 in the second round. This meant that she had a two-stroke lead over defending champion Hannah Green into the final round.
She started strong on –12 but after she carded a 74 she finally finished T5 and –10.

It’s still a safe bet that she had a mighty celebration last night though.
With two top 10 finishes in two weeks (she was T7 at the ANA Inspiration) she is really on top form this year and have a very strong feeling that a win isn’t far away for the Derby-born player.

Was Sophia Popov there?

Yes! Finally, Sophia Popov was able to make her debut as a major champ.
Somewhat controversially, the 2020 AIG Women’s Open winner wasn’t able to take part in the ANA Inspiration, but she was out in full force in Portland.
She marked her first 2020 appearance as an LPGA member with a T24 finish at six under.

You can see the full leaderboard from the Cambia Portland Classic HERE.