A Rose City Original
The Standard Portland Classic: Golf, community and a celebration of women on the LPGA stage
By Bob Sherwin • CG Staff Writer
The LPGA’s Portland Classic is more than just a tournament. One of the longest-standing women’s golf events on the schedule — older than three of the sport’s five majors — it has endured through the decades of ebbs and flows, drawing thousands, raising millions for charity while establishing one abiding attraction.
It is a celebration of women.
The Portland Classic, now in the middle of the three-year sponsorship deal with Portland-based The Standard Insurance Co., began in 1972. Only the U.S. Women’s Open, which became a major in 1950, and the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, in 1955, have longer tenures. It’s the longest-running non-major on the LPGA schedule and the only tournament owned and operated by a non-profit organization, Tournament Golf Foundation (TGF).
TGF was established in 1972 with the intention of bringing women’s professional golf to Portland. The Rose City folks have embraced it from the start.
“I would say, yes to that (it’s a celebration), and probably even more specific to female athleticism,” said Lynn Clary, one of two co-directors of the tournament along with her business partner Monica Olson.
“Portland loves golf and Portland loves community events such as this,” Clary added. “Over time, it also has been one of the most well-attended LPGA events.”
The Standard stepped up last year with a three-year sponsorship deal to keep the tournament on its steady course. The 55th edition of The Standard Portland Classic will be held Aug. 13-16 at Columbia Edgewater Country Club. Edgewater, which opened in 1925, has hosted the event 38 times.
“They’ve (Edgewater) been an awesome partner. They really love this tournament,” Olson said. “The members have been very supportive.”
Over the years, some members have hosted players at their homes for the tournament week and have remained friends over the years. LPGA member Caroline Inglis has played in the tournament. She retired last year and is a mainstay Columbia Edgewater member.
In a players-only poll last year, Columbia Edgewater was voted the second-best course on the LPGA schedule. The first was Dundonald Links in Ayrshire, Scotland.
“I guess that makes us the No. 1 course in the U.S.,” said Olson, who operates Little Bird Media Solutions with Clary. “They love the course itself. They love our city. They like the hospitality and how they are treated when they are here.”
Olson said last year the event drew “the highest attendance we have seen in years.”
THE VENUE
Columbia Edgewater CC
Beyond its suitability and popularity with the professional players, Columbia Edgewater is the ideal course because of the influence of women among its membership. The Women of Columbia (WOC) is one of six governing committees that help the Board of Directors ensure the club’s success. The Crest Room, located in the heart of the women’s locker room, is an ideal social gathering spot for women during the week, and the year.
Edgewater’s 18-hole layout is called The Macan Course to honor the architect, A.V. Macan. His parkland-style design is apparent with the abundance of trees that demand accuracy off the tee and strategically placed approach shots to heavily contoured greens. It measures 6,823 yards from the tournament tees, with 54 bunkers.
There also is a nine-hole Mason Course that will be used Saturday morning to recognize promising young girls in golf, 17 and under.
“Some of the players come over and give autographs after they’ve completed their round,” Olson said.
There will be additional players from ‘the next generation’ who have earned the right to be in the field. Maris Jose Marin, who won the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in April, has been guaranteed a spot. Also, the winners of the U.S. Women’s Amateur, The Women’s Amateur Championship, and the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship have been invited to compete with the pros.
Yet another amateur can gain an exemption into the tournament at the Amateur Open, hosted by Columbia Edgewater on July 1. The second- and third-place finishers will also earn a spot. That’s six amateurs, and possibly two more, who will have the chance to tee it up with the best players in the world.
THE GALLERY
Great viewpoints to stake out
After 50-some years of tournament play, the locals know how and where to view the competition. For those golf fans venturing south from Tacoma/Seattle, north from Salem/Eugene or west from Spokane/Bend, Olson suggests the best vantage points to watch these professionals.
The best view is to pay a little extra for a special ticket for the grandstands around the 18th green.
“It’s the premium viewing spot.”
Not only do you see all the action passing by, including what could be the dramatic final pairings, but you get unique access that allows you to move about, sample the food items as well as catch play on other holes before returning for the finale.
At the par-4, 403-yard 15th hole, there are more grandstands along with an innovative popup sports bar. Or more specifically, a Sports Bra. It is patterned after Portland’s first of its kind in the country. The Sports Bra puts a premium on women/girls sports, playing all women sports on the TVs as well as selling women’s sports teams/players collectables. The Sports Bra was founded by Portland’s Jenny Nguyen and already has franchised out to a downtown spot in Indianapolis, with expansion plans for Boston, Las Vegas, St. Louis and Portland, Maine.
To start the day, Olson says it’s “pretty cool” to stick around the first hole to watch various starts. “You’re right there, anticipating everyone teeing off. It’s very viewable, right by the clubhouse.
“Another great location is between No. 17 and No. 2,” Olson added. “You can see play on both 17 and 2 clearly. Plus, there’s a bar and food there.”
STAR TALENT
Players to watch in 2026
Last year, the Classic was won by Japan’s Akie Iwai, a Tour rookie with her first career victory. She took the title by four strokes over American Gurleen Kaur. Akie has a twin sister Chissy, also a LPGA member and an eight-time winner on the LPGA Tour of Japan.
A most unexpected Classic winner was Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen in 2023. The 19-year-old Tour rookie earned the right to play by winning the Monday qualifier. She would go on to shoot a final-round 63 for a four-round tournament record of 26-under 262. She won by four strokes. After her resounding win, she then missed the cut in nine of the final 12 events that season.
Wannasaen was the first qualifier to win on the LPGA Tour since Canadian Brooke Henderson in 2015. Henderson also won the Classic twice, 2015-2016. She is one of four women who have won the tournament twice. The others are: Suzann Pettersen (2011, 2013), Annika Sörenstam (2002, 2003), and Nancy Lopez (1987, 1992).
The tournament also makes the connection between the fans and the LPGA Tour pioneers. Nancy Lopez, 69, a 48-time winner on the Tour, has been invited back to the Classic to serve as a tournament “ambassador.”
The LPGA Tour player field for The Standard Portland Classic will not officially be known until at least a week before the August event, but the organizers are hopeful that three of the Tour’s most popular and talented players — American Nelly Korda, South Korean Hyo Joo Kim and Thailand’s Jeeno Thitkul — will join the field. Korda has played in the tournament twice, in 2022 and 2023, while Kim played in the event in 2023 and 2025, and Thitkul played in Portland in 2023-2024.
All three have entered the field, well in advance, but as the summer continues circumstances could change their schedule plans. It is noted, however, that this will be one of the last tournaments of the LPGA schedule to earn Solheim Cup points.
GET TICKETS!
Visit PortlandClassic.com for tickets, packages, hospitality opportunities and news.