Portland, USA – Japan’s Akie Iwai delivered a commanding performance, firing a six-under-par 66 to win the Portland Classic by four strokes. This victory not only marks her maiden LPGA Tour title but also makes her the second twin sister to win on the US tour in their rookie season, joining her sister Chisato in the winners’ circle. Iwai started the day at Edgewater Country Club with a two-stroke lead and never faltered, finishing with an impressive 24-under par total of 264.
A Flawless Final Round and Sisterly Inspiration
Akie Iwai’s final round was a masterclass in consistency and composure, featuring six birdies and no bogeys.
Key Moments in Akie’s Round:
- Steady Start: After a solid start, Iwai began to pull away with back-to-back birdies at the fifth and sixth holes.
- Mid-Round Gains: She added two more birdies at the 11th and 14th, extending her lead.
- Clutch Finish: Demonstrating nerves of steel, she got up and down for par from off the green at the challenging 16th. She then capped her dominant day with another brace of birdies, curling in a testing putt at the 17th and draining an 18-footer at the 18th to close out her round in style.
Iwai became the 10th first-time LPGA winner this season and the fifth Japanese player to triumph. She admitted feeling pressure to join the growing list of Japanese winners, but stated she was even more inspired by her twin sister Chisato’s victory at the Riviera Maya Open in Mexico earlier in May. Following her win, Chisato was the first to rush the green, initiating the champagne-spray celebrations.
Chisato Iwai’s Charge and Gurleen Kaur’s Strong Finish
While Akie maintained her lead, her twin sister Chisato Iwai put on a spectacular charge. Starting the day seven shots adrift, Chisato exploded with an eight-under-par 64. Her round included eagles at the fifth and seventh holes, with a birdie at the sixth sandwiched in between. She then strung together four straight birdies from the ninth through the 12th, and rebounded from a bogey at 15 with one last birdie at 17. Chisato finished tied for third place on 19-under 269.
However, it was American Gurleen Kaur who secured outright second place. The former US collegiate standout delivered an impressive, bogey-free seven-under-par 65, finishing at 268. Kaur opened with three straight birdies and added four more on her back nine for her career-best LPGA round.
Final Leaderboard Insights
- Tied for Third: Chisato Iwai shared third place with Sweden’s Linn Grant, who rolled in her seventh birdie of a five-under 67 at the 18th to also finish at 19-under 269.
- Fifth Place: Australia’s Grace Kim, who recently captured her first major title at the Evian Championship, started the day two shots off the lead. She carded a two-under 70, leaving her in sole possession of fifth place on 270.
The Portland Classic not only crowned a new champion in Akie Iwai but also underscored the incredible talent emerging on the LPGA Tour, particularly from Japan.
Discussion about this post