Lydia Ko of New Zealand came from behind to win the LPGA Tour’s Kroger Queen City Championship (total prize money of $2 million) and won three consecutive games.
In the final day of the tournament held at TPC Rivers Bend (par 72, 6705 yards) in Mainville, Ohio, on the 23rd (Korea time), Ko had one eagle and seven birdies without a bogey to post a 9-under 63. Ko, who recorded the final total of 23-under 265, beat second-place Gino Tikun (Thailand) by five strokes to win $300,000 (about 400 million won).
Ko won the last major of the season, the AIG Women’s Open, after winning the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics last month, and has won three games so far after a three-week break.
Lydia Ko also won her third LPGA Tour victory this season, including the victory in the Hilton Grand Vacations Champions Tournament, the season opener, in January, recording a total of 22 wins on the tour. It is the first time in eight years that Ko has won consecutive LPGA tours since she won back-to-back JTBC Classics and Chevron Championships in 2016. 먹튀검증
Ko, who entered the final round chasing the first-runner Tik Tokun by two strokes, secured four birdies through the 10th hole to tie for the lead, before leaping to the lone lead by making an eagle after coming on from the 11th hole (par 5). Ko added three birdies through the remaining holes to win the title with ease.
“I always have the goal of a career grand slam in my mind,” Ko said in an interview with Golf Week. Ko, who currently has three major wins (Chefron Championship, Evian Championship, AIG Women’s Open), has expressed her intention not to retire until she achieves a career grand slam. Ko will try to win three consecutive KLPGA Tour Hana Financial Group Championship, which will open at Bears Best Cheongna Golf Club in Seo-gu, Incheon on the 26th.
Yoo, who attempted to win two consecutive championships, shot 5-under 67 on the last day to rank third overall with 17-under 271. Yoo reduced his shots by five with one eagle, six birdies and three bogeys on the day. Yoo, in particular, showed his concentration by garnering birdies at five consecutive holes at Holes 11 to 15 in the second half, boosting his ranking.
After grabbing three birdies in the last four holes, Jang shot 3-under 69 to tie for fifth with 14-under 274 overall. After tying for 10th at the Portland Classic in August last year, she became the first top 10 player in about a year.
Rookie Im Jin-hee posted a 4-under 68 to tie for ninth along with Kim A-rim and Noh Ye-rim of the U.S. with a final total of 12-under 276.
