Defending champ Henderson leads LPGA Portland Classic

Defending champion Brooke Henderson fired a two-under par 70 Saturday to seize a two-stroke lead after the third round of the LPGA Portland Classic.

The 18-year-old Canadian, who is ranked second in the world, stood on 13-under par 203 after 54 holes at 6,476-yard Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland, Oregon.

Colombia's Mariajo Uribe was second on 205 after a third-round 71 with Norway's Suzann Pettersen shooting a 74 with six bogeys and four birdies to fall to a share of third with American Austin Ernst on 207.

Henderson birdied the third and par-five seventh holes and began the back nine with another birdie, but she stumbled with a double bogey at the par-three 13th to fall back before a birdie at the par-three 16th boosted her lead.

Uribe opened with a bogey then birdied a trio of par-five holes, the fifth, seventh and 12th. The South American standout then took a double bogey at 13 as well but also bounced back with a birdie at 16.

Three Americans qualified for the British Women's Open as a result of their 54-hole showing on 140 -- Kelly Shon, Brianna Do and Cheyenne Woods, the 25-year-old niece of 14-time men's major champion Tiger Woods.

Henderson won her first LPGA title at this event last year, her eight-stroke romp making her the third-youngest winner in LPGA history and earning her an immediate spot on the tour.

Henderson won her first major title last month at the Women's PGA Championship, a birdie on the first playoff hole denying top-ranked Lydia Ko of New Zealand her third consecutive major title in a row.

Next week, Henderson could seek her second major title in a row at the US Women's Open.

Source: AFP