We use our own and third-party cookies to deliver content to you throughout your experience online. It is possible that some cookies may continue to collect information after you've left our site. By using our site, you consent to cookies. Learn more here.
Little did she know it but Georgia Hall was leading the Cambia Portland Classic in Oregon by one shot as she headed down the final hole. Whether it would have made any difference had she known, we will never know but in the end, it was a happy ending for Hall.
Not sure it will fit on the mantelpiece!
Hall’s bogey at the last put her in a playoff with Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa who had stormed through the field with a closing seven-under-par 65. The pair finished on twelve-under-par one shot clear of American Yealimi Noh and Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn. Hall and Buhai both parred the first extra hole but on returning to the 18th hole for a second time, it was Hall who kept her nerve. The 24-year-old from England got up and down from the right of the green to save par, a mark Buhai could not match.
Ashleigh surveys her missed put at the second playoff hole
Commenting on the lack of leaderboards Hall said “ I'm more just like an average board watcher. I mean, they're always in your face so you can't not look at them. I think sometimes it's good to know; sometimes it isn't.” “I actually thought one of the players from the group behind, the leading group maybe was ahead of me and I was second,” Hall 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.” The leading group was Hall’s fellow countrywoman and overnight leader Mel Reid along with Hannah Green and Amy Yang. As it happened all three were struggling and only Reid would finish in the top ten, a final round two-over-par 74 earning her a share of fifth place on ten-under.
Excuse me, I'm tea total!
It was an eventful week with all practice rounds cancelled and the tournament reduced to 54 holes because of poor air quality due to the wildfires in the region. The smoke eased enough to allow play on Friday and following some welcome rain the air quality improved. With the rain came a further headache for the organisers as the opening two rounds were disrupted due to the risk of lightning. It was a welcome return to the winner's circle for Hall who had stayed in the UK this summer to compete in the Rose Ladies Series. The 2016 Women’s Open champion and member of the victorious 2019 European Solheim Cup team Hall had been searching for her next big win.
“I won the British and I just wanted to win again really badly, especially in America,” said Hall after her win. “I always knew it would maybe be harder, so for me to win it’s a relief that I’ve won in America and I can bring that confidence on to the next event.”
