New Zealand star Lydia Ko was crowned winner of the US$2 million Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G on Sunday afternoon, claiming her third LPGA Tour title of the 2024 season and the 22nd of her glittering career.
Ko signed off with a superb nine-under-par 63 at TPC River’s Bend for a 23-under-par 265 total, five shots ahead of overnight leader Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand.
Having captured the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews in her last tour start in August, Ko’s latest triumph in Maineville, Ohio, marked the first time she has won in back-to-back LPGA Tour appearances since 2016.
“It’s been pretty surreal. I had the most unbelievable three weeks in Europe and, after having another three weeks off, you’re not entirely sure what it’s going to be like. I started off this event really strong, playing well the first couple of days,” said Ko, who also won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics in early August.
“I know that Jeeno and a lot of the other girls aren’t going to play bad golf, so I just got to try and play even better golf. To have a round like this to cap off a win is pretty special.”
At the start of the final round, it looked like it was going to be a two-horse race between Ko and Thitikul, which was what ultimately played out at TPC River’s Bend. It was Ko who prevailed as the Thai player faded over the closing stretch for a round of 70.
“I don’t think it’s ever easy. You could win by 10 strokes and still never feel like it was an easy round,” said Ko.
“My ball striking has been a part of my game that I feel like has improved a lot and something that I’m more and more comfortable with, especially coming down the stretch when there are big things on the line. That’s the aspect I’m most proud of. I feel like I’m able to handle these situations a lot better than maybe a couple of months ago,” added the 27-year-old, who earned her place in the LPGA Hall of Fame with the Olympic victory.
Thitikul’s runner-up performance was her seventh top-10 finish of the 2024 LPGA Tour season, including her third career victory at the Dow Championship alongside China’s Ruoning Yin. After getting off to a late start due to a thumb injury, the 21-year-old Thitikul has impressed in just 12 events this year.
“It’s super insane. Lydia’s putter was on fire today. She makes it everywhere that she has a chance,” said Thitikul. “I respect her like my older sister, as a legend, and also as my role model. It was a really good experience watching her on the same tee box, on the same greens.
“What I have seen in the last couple of months has been really good for me. It is more than what I could ask for, you know, in the same year to get injured and be in contention every week I play is really amazing for me.”
Last week’s FM Championship winner Haeran Ryu of Korea finished solo third on 17-under-par, one shot ahead of two-time U.S. Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso of Japan. Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings No. 1 Nelly Korda of the United Sates tied for fifth with Korean Hyo Joon Jang on 14-under-par, while 2023 champion Minjee Lee of Australia finished in a tie for 27th at nine-under-par overall.
Malaysia’s Kelly Tan missed the halfway cut of one-under-par after carding rounds of 77 and 81.
The LPGA Tour remains in the United States this week for the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arizona. The tour will then take a one-week break before its second Asian swing of 2024, consisting of four tournaments including the Maybank Championship at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club from October 24-27.
