**GOLF TOURNAMENT UPDATE**
In the scorching heat of Ohio, Jeeno Thitikul showcased her exceptional skills, extending her lead over legendary golfer Lydia Ko at the Kroger Queen City Championship. With a thrilling 4-under 68 on Saturday, Thitikul now holds a two-shot advantage.
Thitikul’s impressive performance was marked by a remarkable 20-foot birdie putt on the 15th hole, which propelled her to 5 under for the day and 17 under for the tournament. Although she faltered slightly on the next two holes, she recovered with a birdie on the par-5 18th at TPC River’s Bend, finishing with a 54-hole total of 16-under 200.
“I was surprised to have an 8-iron for the second shot into the par 5,” Thitikul reflected. “It’s not my length, but the ball just bounced and kicked off really well.”
Ko, who shot 69, trails Thitikul by two shots, while Yan Liu (68) and Albane Valenzuela (68) are three shots behind. Haeran Ryu (70) is also in contention, four shots off the lead. Top-ranked Nelly Korda struggled to make an impact, shooting 69 and finding herself part of a large group at 10 under.
Thitikul, currently ranked 15th in the women’s world ranking, is seeking her first individual victory in nearly two years. “Every player chasing the leaderboard can go really low,” she emphasized. “You need to make as many birdies as possible and just play your game.”
Ko, meanwhile, is looking to extend her remarkable summer, which has seen her win gold at the Paris Olympics and claim her third major title at the Women’s British Open at St. Andrews. “I’ve been really consistent with my ball-striking,” Ko said. “The putting has been the most average part of my game this week, but I’ve still been able to make crucial putts at the right time.”
Valenzuela, who represented Switzerland in the Solheim Cup, has been the standout performer among the 11 players who participated in the event last week. “Playing in the Solheim was a dream come true, and the crowds on Sunday were crazy,” she exclaimed. “It energized me a ton.”
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