There might not be anyone who has ever been happier with a runner-up finish than Daniela Darquea on Sunday in Portland. The 27-year-old native of Quito, Ecuador, has bounced between the LPGA and Epson Tours after a difficult 2021 season that saw her make just five of 18 cuts. In fact, the AmazingCre Portland Classic was just her fifth LPGA Tour start of 2022, with two top-15s and two missed cuts.
“It was rough at the beginning of the year, losing the card, going back to Epson,” Darquea said. “Literally I had probably one or two chances in Dow that I started playing pretty well out here. Had a few good events and then all of a sudden I was like, okay, should I pick the Epson? Should I pick the LPGA?”
This week, she chose to make the trip West to Portland. And she made the most of the opportunity. Darquea closed with three consecutive birdies at Columbia Edgewater Country Club to reach -18 and leave with a solo second finish. Her $139,217 paycheck is more than she’s ever made in a single season and is nearly half of her career earnings. And although the money is nice, Darquea focused on the confidence boost she will take from her career best finish on the LPGA Tour, remembering the struggles of the past and the promise of the future.
“You have no idea how much I learned this year, this past two years,” she said with relief vividly etched onto her face. “Last year was such a struggle, and now being able to stay in the moment, stay calm, like execute the shots, take it one shot at a time, if I get in trouble, get out of trouble quickly, it’s big. It’s very important. Obviously I’m excited for what is to come.”