England’s Charlie Hull birded four of his final eight holes to grab a one-stroke lead on Thailand’s top-ranked Gino Chitickle after the third round of the LPGA Queen City Championship.
The 29-year-old Briton fired a 5-under par 67 to stand at 16-under 200 after 54 holes at the bend of the TPC River in Cincinnati, Ohio.
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“I did a good job when I was at home. Everything I can do is feel relaxed,” Hal said after being at home last month. “You can play like I did for the last few days, get out there and play like you’re having fun.”
Jeeno fired a 68 and after Japan’s Chisert Iwai and Yamashitamiya took third in 202, sharing each shot 66, bringing the 68 to second place.
Hal won four Ladies’ European Tours in Riyadh last November, and two LPGA Tours at the 2016 Tour Championship and the 2022 Volunteer of America Classic.
This is the eighth time she has led or shared a lead into the final round of the LPGA, with victory on both tours coming from those tournaments.
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Hal answered his second Bogey of the Week on the fifth day of the par third, earning birdies on the par third and par fourth holes, adding back-to-back birdies on Pal 5’s 11th and par 3te, and another 15 at 15 and a final birdie with the 18th place Pilett.
“It’s just pretty solid,” Hal said. “I just put it there. I kept playing stable golf and made some nice birdies to finish.”
Hull discovered 10 of 14 fairways and reached 12 of 18 greens in regulation, making 27 putts that day.
Jeeno, 22, birded the third and fourth holes, and answered bogeys at 17 on par 5 and 11th holes.
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“I think I can make birdies on almost every par 5 I have,” Gino said. “I think there will be plenty of opportunities to make birdies, but today the putter didn’t show up.”
World No. 2 Nelly Korda and American Yalemi Noh came in fifth in 203 with China’s Mary Liu and Philippines’ Bianca Pagdanganan.
The 204 groups included Lottie Waard from England, Gabriella Laffel from Australia, Olivia Cowan from Germany, Kim Seillon from Korea and Majastark from Sweden.
Thai Shanet Wanashan, who led the first and second rounds of Thailand, fired a 75 in 206.
New Zealand’s defending champion Lydiaco was in 208 after firing 69.
JS/NF
