Marina Alex overcame a six-stroke deficit with a final-round 65 to capture her maiden LPGA title at the Cambia Portland Classic.
The 28-year-old New Jersey native finished her final day at Columbia Edgewater Country Club with eight birdies against one bogey en route to a four-day total of 19-under par, four strokes clear of 54-hole leader Georgia Hall, who stumbled to a 3-over 75.
Alex opened with a tournament-record-tying 10-under 62, and closed by erasing a six-stroke deficit – the largest of the 2018 LPGA season.
“It’s been a lot of hard work,” said Alex, who has defending Portland champion Stacy Lewis’ caddie Travis Wilson on the bag while Lewis is on maternity leave.
“I haven’t been in a ton of contention situations. A few here and there. But I really just didn’t know how to handle them, and I learned the best that I can. I’m just really happy.”
Japan’s Ayako Uehara (69) finished alone in third at 13-under par with Australian Minjee Lee, who struggled to a 77, securing the fourth-place spot at 11 under.
American Megan Khang (69) rounded out the top five finishers at 10 under-par.
