Akie Iwai Holds Two-Stroke Lead at Portland Classic

Iwai seeks first LPGA win at Portland classic

Japanese golfer Akie Iwai seeks her first LPGA victory at the Portland Classic, having won six times on the Japan Tour.

Akie Iwai is dominating the Portland Classic, holding a two-stroke lead heading into the final round. The 23-year-old Japanese golfer shot an impressive 8-under par 64 on Saturday, making seven birdies and an eagle, while only bogeying once. This stellar performance puts her at 18-under 198 after 54 holes at Edgewater Country Club.

Iwai's round was marked by precise shots and effective putting, showcasing her skill and composure under pressure. With six wins already on the LPGA of Japan Tour, her transition to the international stage has been highly anticipated. Fans are eagerly waiting to see if she can maintain her momentum and clinch her first LPGA Tour championship.

Iwai's mental fortitude will be crucial as the tournament progresses, with fellow competitors vying for the same prestigious victory. Securing a win on the LPGA Tour would be a monumental achievement for Iwai, validating her talent and dedication.

When it's your day, it's your day 😮‍💨

Akie Iwai finishes with a birdie, despite hitting her drive into the trees, and takes the clubhouse lead at 18-under 💪 pic.twitter.com/CAbloqqRne

— LPGA (@LPGA) August 17, 2025

It seems there's some confusion - the text actually describes Grace Kim's performance differently. Let's rewrite the given paragraphs based on the correct information about the Evian Championship.

Grace Kim didn't make an eagle at the 17th hole to grab second; instead, she captured her first major title at the Evian Championship with a stunning finish. She made eagle, birdie, and another eagle over her final three holes to win the tournament. On the 18th hole, Kim hit a brilliant 4-hybrid shot to just two feet, setting up an eagle putt that forced a playoff with Jeeno Thitikul.

Chisato Iwai isn't mentioned in the context of this tournament. However, we do know that Grace Kim played aggressively and made crucial shots throughout the tournament. In a similar context, Kim said about her win, “I wasn't worried. Dropped the ball, and it kind of ended up in a pretty decent lie and just wanted to make sure I got it there. Just happened to have chipped it in. I don’t know if I can do it again.” When describing her aggressive style, Kim's approach can be likened to what Iwai said, “My style is aggressive. No change this week. Aim to the pin. Every shot. Every hole.”

Akie Iwai bounced back from a bogey at the second hole with a birdie at the third, and then her game took off. She eagled the par-five fifth hole and followed it up with back-to-back birdies at the sixth and par-five seventh holes. Iwai continued her strong play on the back nine, starting with birdies at the par-five 10th and 12th holes, and adding another at the par-three 13th. This impressive stretch took her to 17-under par and gave her a three-stroke lead.

Meanwhile, Grace Kim made a stunning charge in the final stretch, going four-under par over the last five holes. She carded birdies at the 14th and 15th holes, and her crowning moment came at the 17th hole, where she hit an incredible eagle shot. The ball landed in the rough, but Kim didn't see it bounce onto the green and roll into the hole for the eagle, as she had looked away. Despite being two strokes behind Iwai, Kim's late surge keeps the tournament exciting heading into the final round.

“I leaked my driver a little right,” Kim said. “I thought I was going to be in the rough, which it was, and I was trying to see if I could get a drop. I wasn't entirely over the sprinkler head boxes so I knew I just had to hit it.”

“It leaked right again and I was like, 'Oh please get through the rough,' and somehow it went in the hole so I guess it's a little bit of luck in there.”

Linn Grant secured third place with a score of 65, finishing one stroke ahead of Gurleen Kaur, Aditi Ashok, and Gina Kim. Grant reflected on her round, saying, “I had a good round out there. Tried to go out and just be, I wouldn't say happy, but just accepting of whatever today would bring. I played very mature and just had a lot of fun.”

GRACE KIM DOES IT AGAIN 🤯

A HOLE OUT FROM THE ROUGH FOR EAGLE 🦅 pic.twitter.com/Li6dZgfsZB

— LPGA (@LPGA) August 17, 2025

Grant's impressive performance included six birdies and a towering eagle at the 7th hole, marking her lowest round of the season. Meanwhile, Lee Jeong-eun's chances of winning slipped after a triple bogey at the par-four sixth hole, dropping her eight strokes behind the leader, Akie Iwai.

Current Standings:

• 1st Place: Akie Iwai (-18, 198) - 2 strokes ahead

• 2nd Place: Grace Kim (-16)

• 3rd Place: Linn Grant (-14)

The final round is heating up, with Grant and others vying for a top spot. Grant's focus on enjoying the game has seemingly paid off, and she'll look to maintain her momentum in the last round.