MAINEVILLE, Ohio — Jeeno Thitikul had a rocky closing stretch however did sufficient to broaden 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 underneath for the day and 17 underneath for the event, 4 photographs forward of Ko, earlier than dropping photographs on the following two holes. She closed with a birdie on the par-5 18th at TPC River’s Bend for a 54-hole complete of 16-under 200 in scorching, dry circumstances that triggered the golf course to get firmer.
“I’ve an 8-iron for the second shot into the par 5. I’m similar to, ‘How can I’ve 8-iron on a par 5 and the way can I drive like that?’” Thitikul mentioned. “It’s positively not my size. Identical to bouncing or possibly 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.
Prime-ranked Nelly Korda couldn’t make a cost. She shot 69 and was a part of a giant group at 10 underneath.
Thitikul, who’s No. 15 within the ladies’s world rating, teamed with Ruoning Yin to the win the Dow Championship this yr 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 mentioned. “If you may make as a lot as birdie as you may after which simply play your recreation, no matter it takes.”
The third-ranked Ko is making an attempt to increase a dream summer season that included her gold medal on the Paris Olympics — that victory received her into the LPGA Corridor of Fame — and her third main title within the AIG Girls’s Open at St. Andrews.
“I believe all in all I’ve been actually in keeping with my ball-striking. The placing has been probably the most common a part of my recreation this week. I’ve nonetheless been capable of make essential putts on the proper time,” Ko mentioned. “Typically whenever you do give your self so many alternatives you are feeling such as you’re not placing in addition to really you’re, so I used to be simply making an attempt to not get down on myself.”
Valenzuela, from Switzerland, has fared the perfect among the many 11 gamers who had been within the area 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 mentioned. “I believe it simply really energized me a ton.”
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