Ko Clinches Third LPGA Title of the Year at Kroger Queen City Tournament | Sports

MAINEVILLE, Ohio — Lydia Ko prolonged her wonderful summer time run when she turned a two-shot deficit right into a rout by closing with a 9-under 63 to win the Kroger Queen City Championship for her third LPGA Tour title of the season.

Ko gained for the third time in her final 4 begins, which incorporates her Olympic gold medal that gave the 27-year-old from New Zealand sufficient factors for the LPGA Hall of Fame.

It additionally contains one other main in the Women's British Open, this one at St. Andrews.

“It's been pretty surreal,” Ko mentioned after her five-shot victory at the TPC River's Bend over Jeeno Thitikul, who closed with a 70 and easily could not sustain.

Thitikul was two pictures forward after eight holes of the last spherical. Three holes later, the Thai was chasing the hottest participant in ladies's golf.

Thitikul made bogey on the par-4 ninth. Ko made a 10-foot birdie putt on the tenth gap to tie for the lead, after which pulled forward by two pictures with a 12-foot eagle putt on the par-5 eleventh.

Ko seized management for good with a pair of two-shot swings — she made birdie and Thitikul made bogey on the thirteenth and fifteenth holes.

Thitikul two-putted for birdie on the par-5 closing gap to at least end alone in second, one shot forward of Haeran Ryu (67).

“It's just like insane — it's super insane. Her putter was on fire today,” Thitikul mentioned of taking part in alongside Ko. “I respect her as like my older sister, as a legend, and also as my role model. It was such a really good experience watching her in my eyes on the same tee box, on the same greens, just like VIP seat.”

Nelly Korda, the No. 1 participant in ladies's golf who nonetheless has a snug lead in the Race to CME Globe together with her six victories this 12 months, had a 68 and tied for fifth, 9 pictures behind.

Ko, who completed at 23-under 265, now has 22 profession LPGA victories. It was the fifth time she has at least three wins in the identical season on the LPGA, her greatest 12 months coming with 5 wins when she was 18 and reached No. 1 in the world.

Ko additionally gained the season opener in Florida in January, however there have been occasions early in the summer time when she puzzled if she would ever get the last victory wanted for the LPGA Hall of Fame.

She took care of that with Olympic gold in Paris, gained at St. Andrews for her third main and, after a three-week break, picked up as if nothing had modified.

“I had the most unbelievable three weeks in Europe. And now after having another three weeks off here, not entirely sure what it's going to be like,” Ko mentioned.

She was two pictures behind Thitikul going into the last spherical and was anticipating Thitikul to maintain going robust. The Thai did, however she fell again with bogeys on the ninth, thirteenth and fifteenth holes and Ko was on her technique to one other victory.

Ko had the low spherical of the week at the TPC River's Bend, which was used this 12 months whereas Kenwood Country Club goes by some course enhancements.

“To have a round like this to cap off a win is pretty special,” she mentioned.

Ko subsequent week heads to South Korea to play in the Hana Financial Group Championship. It will probably be an opportunity for her to achieve 30 profession titles worldwide, together with victories on the Korea LPGA, the Ladies European Tour and the ALPG Tour in Australia.