Ko Qualifies For Portland Classic

6/1/2016 6:06:00 PM | Women's Golf

Rising sophomore wins qualifier with 71

AURORA, Ore.- Rising sophomore Naomi Ko of the NC State women's golf team earned the right to compete in the prestigious Portland Classic on Wednesday, as she won the Portland Classic Amateur Open at Langdon Farms Golf Club in Aurora, Ore.

The Portland Classic is the LGPA's oldest non-major tournament, as the 72-hole tournament will feature the world's top women professional golfers June 30-July 3 at Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland, Ore.

"The 15th hole was a turning point for me after I made a birdie because I was able to make really good pars on 16 and 17. I was striking the ball very well, but the greens were very tricky so it took me a while to get the speed down on the front nine," said Ko referring to her under par round.

The winner of the Portland Classic Amateur Open earns a guaranteed spot in the tournament, as the Victoria, Canada, native shot a 71 (-1) to defeat 15 other players and garner her invite.