By: Max Bechtoldt
The Portland Classic is back for 2024 at Edgewater Country Club. One of the most loved and respected events of the season doesn’t have the field it is used to because of the Olympics taking place next week. Regardless, there are still solid players looking for a chance at a late-season win. Here are the five players most likely to win the Portland Classic:
No. 5. Allisen Corpuz – Corpuz hasn’t had the strongest year after her 2023 breakout, but against a field where she is one of the most accomplished players, I do like her chances. While her season has left a lot to be desired, she has had solid recent results, with four straight top-26 finishes dating back to the Meijer LPGA Classic. A good result will likely mathematically clinch Corpuz on the Solheim Cup team for the United States, and I do feel it coming.
No. 4. Mao Saigo – The leader in the Rookie of the Year standings is working with strong momentum at the current moment. Saigo has seven made cuts in a row, she’s finished in the top eight in three of them. Most recently, she had her best finish on tour, finishing runner-up in Canada last week. Saigo has had consistently good results, and continues to trend in the right direction.
No. 3. Andrea Lee – Andrea Lee won her first, and only, LPGA Tour event here in 2022. That is enough to give me confidence that she has a solid chance to grab a second-career win in Portland. Lee could use it, sitting as a bubble player on the United States Solheim Cup team. Lee hasn’t played great since her high finish at the U.S. Women’s Open, but that type of performance can come at any time.
No. 2. Chanettee Wannasean – Chanettee Wannasean absolutely dominated this event last season, shooting an incredible -26 and winning by four strokes. Her ability to play well on this course would be reason alone to put her in the top spot here, but also, she’s in great form. Despite missing the cut last week, she won her second event on the LPGA Tour the week before in Toledo. Wannasean has had good recent results, and plays well on this golf course.
No. 1. Lauren Coughlin – Why not ride with the hot hand. Coughlin is incredibly the highest ranked player in the field by the CME Standings. Much of that is because of her first-career win last weekend, but also because she has simply been really good in 2024. Coughlin has had three top-10 finishes in her last four individual starts and is playing better golf than anyone in the women’s game currently. No reason to believe with the pressure off, she can’t repeat.
