Akie Iwai Shoots 64, 8-under, Leads the Standard Portland Classic

PORTLAND, Or. - Akie Iwai shot a 64, 8-under round on Saturday at the Standard Portland Classic at Columbia Edgewater Country Club, pushing her to 18-under for the tournament and a two shot lead heading into the final round.

Iwai would birdie hole 3, eagle hole 5, birdie 6 and 7, 10, 12, 13, and 18 to finish atop the leaderboard with one more round left in the tournament. She hit 16 out of 18 greens on Saturday, so her iron play was locked in.

“Really solid day. Every shot, every hole the ball went to the pin, yeah.” Iwai said. “No. 5, 200 to the pin, yeah, I hit 5-wood and left one meters. That's it.”

But lurking in second place is new major winner Grace Kim, who just won The Amundi Evian Championship in July, shot a 67, 5-under to sit at 16-under.

Kim had an eagle on her approach shot on the par-4 17th hole, along with four other birdies and a bogey on her round.

“Yeah, I mean, I think knowing that anyone can kind of just go low, obviously it being moving day as well. Just wanted to make sure I tried my best to get as many birdie chances as I could,” Kim said. “I think the middle six I got a little bit forceful and tried to get a lot of birdies rather than letting the birdies come to me, as I think I said yesterday. Eventually, we found our patience again and finished off strong.”

Kim hit 13 of 18 greens and hit 29 putts. Kim went 4-under in her last five holes.

“I think I was just -- I had a little pep talk to my putter as I was -- what hole was that, 15 or 14? Yeah, just kind of found my rhythm again with the putting stroke and did it again,” Kim said. “Got lucky with the second shot. It kind od bounced off the sidehill and, yeah, left myself a good 15-footer. Yeah, the hole-out obviously definitely helps.”

In third place is Linn Grant, who shot a 65 on Saturday which featured 6 birdies, an eagle, and bogey. Grant hit 14 of 18 greens and hit 27 putts. Grant is at 14-under, four shots off the lead. This is Gran’ts lowest round of season.

“I feel like my whole year this year I have been like trying to find my peace a little bit. I haven't – I wouldn't say I truly figured it out. I think no one does,” Grant said. “I think I'm heading in the right direction. So not like putting too much pressure when you go out; just try to see it as like I really enjoy playing golf and not just something that I have to do, which is like something really nice to have to do. But, yeah, just be more accepting, not get too frustrated when things doesn't go my way as is with golf usually too often.”

Gurleen Kaur is in fourth place at 13-under after shooting at 70, 2-under on Saturday.

“Yeah, a lot. I'm super excited. There is still tomorrow and I know that probably what, four, five back; not 100% sure. I think anybody's game still tomorrow. This course is known for being low and I know that if I get it going tomorrow I definitely have a chance so really excited.” Kaur said.

Haeran Ryu made a hole-in-one on No. 16 with a 5 iron to receive $50,000 towards a Toyota car.

“Yeah, I used meter so that hole was 161 meters and was slightly hurting wind, so I just tried little higher 5-iron,” Ryu said. “First it's perfectly going so wow, it looks good. And I don't see the ball, but the greenside -- the people start yelling us, wow, it's inside the hole. So yeah, it was so incredible.

Ryu is at 11-under after shooting at 67.

“Yeah, I thought, is that true, because this hole-in-one, it's third one in my life. Before twice it's not prize something to give, but this is any first one,” Ryu said.

With Ryu’s hole-in-one, there is money donated to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

Kiara Romero, who was in a tie for 11th entering Saturday, shot at 72, even par, to remain at 8-under for the tournament. Romero is tied for 25th entering the final round. She had three birdies and three bogeys on the day.

Caroline Inglis who is a member at Columbia Edgewater CC and native of Eugene, Oregon shot a 68, 4-under with four birides on her round to get her to 6-under for the event in a T-35.

The Standard Portland Classic is shaping up for a great Sunday finish, with many theatrics and drama to unfold as a champion will be crowned.