Lee5 leads the LPGA Portland Classic: Seeks her first title

Jeongeun Lee5 Leads Portland Classic with a Standout Round

PORTLAND, Ore. – Jeongeun Lee5 shot an impressive round of 67, six under par, this Friday, securing the lead at The Standard Portland Classic. Meanwhile, 65-year-old Juli Inkster failed to achieve her goal of becoming the oldest player to make the cut in LPGA Tour history. The 36-year-old South Korean golfer, Lee5, accumulated a total of 132 strokes, twelve under par, at Columbia Edgewater. With no victories on the LPGA Tour, Lee5 made birdies on the last five holes of her first round during the morning round.

When we play well, we hope it continues. Therefore, I want to concentrate and focus on the weekend. In the last two rounds I had great energy, good shots and good putts.

Jeongeun Lee5

Grace Kim, from Australia, and Gurleen Kaur, from the United States, were one stroke apart on the tree-lined course. Kim completed the round with 65 strokes, while Kaur signed a card of 68. Akie Iwai matched her best score with another round of 67, joining Pajaree Anannarukarn (67) and Ashleigh Buhai (68) with a total of ten under par. The amateur Kiara Romero shot 69 strokes, reaching eight under par. The University of Oregon star won the 2023 U.S. Girls’ Junior and the Big Ten title in 2025.

It feels really good to see my game matching some of these professionals, just feeling more comfortable playing in front of crowds and things like that. My first time playing in front of a big crowd, I felt a little nervous.

Kiara Romero

Two-time champion Brooke Henderson, who was one stroke back after a first-round 65, had a round of 73, falling to six under par. The Canadian star hasn’t won since January 2023 and has dropped to 52nd in the world. Adela Cernousek, first-round leader, followed her opening 64 with a round of 75, falling to five under par. Angel Yin, the highest-ranked player in the tournament at number 7, was two under par after a round of 70. Haeran Ryu, number 9, was also six under par, with a round of 72. Defending champion Moriya Jutanugarn missed the cut with rounds of 73 and 74. The tournament is the LPGA Tour’s oldest continuous event, excluding majors, and dates back to 1972.