MAINEVILLE, Ohio — Jeeno Thitikul had a rocky closing stretch however did sufficient to increase her lead over Corridor of Famer Lydia Ko, ending with a birdie for a 4-under 68 on Saturday and a two-shot benefit within the Kroger Queen Metropolis Championship.
Thitikul holed a 20-footer from the perimeter for birdie on the par-4 fifteenth gap to achieve 5 beneath for the day and 17 beneath for the event, 4 photographs forward of Ko, earlier than dropping photographs on the subsequent two holes. She closed with a birdie on the par-5 18th at TPC River’s Bend for a 54-hole whole of 16-under 200 in scorching, dry situations that prompted the golf course to get firmer.
“I’ve an 8-iron for the second shot into the par 5. I’m identical to, ‘How can I’ve 8-iron on a par 5 and the way can I drive like that?’” Thitikul stated. “It’s positively not my size. Similar to bouncing or perhaps simply kick off very well.”
Ko shot 69. Yan Liu (68) was three photographs behind, and Albane Valenzuela (68) and Haeran Ryu (70) had been 4 again.
High-ranked Nelly Korda couldn’t make a cost. She shot 69 and was a part of an enormous group at 10 beneath.
Thitikul, who’s No. 15 within the girls’s world rating, teamed with Ruoning Yin to the win the Dow Championship this 12 months however doesn’t have a person victory in almost two years.
“Each participant who chasing for the leaderboard can go actually low,” the Thai participant stated. “If you may make as a lot as birdie as you may after which simply play your sport, no matter it takes.”
The third-ranked Ko is attempting to increase a dream summer time that included her gold medal on the Paris Olympics — that victory obtained her into the LPGA Corridor of Fame — and her third main title within the AIG Ladies’s Open at St. Andrews.
“I feel all in all I’ve been actually in keeping with my ball-striking. The placing has been essentially the most common a part of my sport this week. I’ve nonetheless been capable of make essential putts on the proper time,” Ko stated. “Typically once you do give your self so many alternatives you’re feeling such as you’re not placing in addition to really you might be, so I used to be simply attempting to not get down on myself.”
Valenzuela, from Switzerland, has fared the very best among the many 11 gamers who had been within the discipline final week when america beat Europe within the Solheim Cup.
“It was such a blessing. Enjoying within the Solheim was a dream come true and the crowds on Sunday had been loopy,” she stated. “I feel it simply really energized me a ton.”
