Lottie Ward Secures Victory at Kroger Queen City Championship
At the Kroger Queen City Championship held in Ohio, Lottie Ward demonstrated her resilience by overcoming a mid-round challenge to win by two strokes, marking her second title on the LPGA Tour.
Starting the final round at Maketewa Country Club with a commanding three-stroke lead, Ward began strong, securing two birdies within her first five holes. However, a double bogey on the par-4 sixth hole briefly put her in a vulnerable position, allowing her competitors to close in.
Showing remarkable composure, the British golfer capitalized on the par-5 seventh hole, offsetting a bogey on the 13th hole with a birdie on the 17th. Finishing the day with a score of 1-under 69, Ward successfully held off her challengers to achieve her first win of the season.
In an impressive display, Ward registered five birdies over just seven holes, ending the final round with a score of 67. This effort positioned her at 12-under and secured her victory over runner-up Helan Liu. AIG Women’s Open champion Miyu Yamashita rounded out the podium in third place, finishing three strokes behind China’s Ruoning Ying.
Following her win, Ward expressed her gratitude, noting the sweetness of this victory compared to her first at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open. She reflected on the support that propelled her through the tournament, saying that she was glad to win again after witnessing others find success.
Meanwhile, former world No. 1 Jin Yong Ko turned in a stellar performance, shooting a 5-under 65 to climb the leaderboard and finish tied for fifth place alongside Amanda Doherty. Gino Titicle, who recorded consecutive rounds of 69 over the weekend, dropped to seventh place.
Current world No. 1 Nelly Korda secured eighth place with a 3-under 67, while Lydia Ko posted a 71 to conclude at 5-under. Defending champion Charlie Hull finished tied for 40th with a 2-under 68.
Leonie Harm Claims First Title on Ladies European Tour
Leonie Harm sealed her first European Women’s Tour title with a stay-at-home victory at the Amundi German Masters. She birdied the final two holes to clinch a one-shot win.
Harm recorded a score of 4-under 69 on the North Course at Green Eagle Golf Course, finishing the tournament at 10-under, just ahead of South Africa’s Cassandra Alexander.
Reflecting on her win, Harm expressed her happiness at achieving this milestone with support from her home fans, emphasizing that their presence significantly motivated her throughout the tournament. Unfortunately, last night’s leader Alexandra Forsterling faced a setback, scoring a 3-over 76 and sharing third place with Chiara Noja and Anna Huang.
Upcoming Events on the Ladies European Tour and LPGA Tour
The European Women’s Tour is set to move to Morocco next week for the Lalla Meryem Cup, which begins this Friday. The LPGA Tour will take a brief hiatus before resuming with the Shoprite LPGA from May 29 to 31.
Looking ahead, the next major women’s tournament, the U.S. Women’s Open, is scheduled to take place at California’s prestigious Riviera Country Club from June 4 to 7.
