Lottie Woad wins Kroger Queen City Championship for second LPGA Tour title

CINCINNATI — Lottie Woad held off Haeran Ryu on a gusty Sunday afternoon at Maketewah Country Club in the Kroger Queen City Championship.

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Three strokes ahead of playing partner Amanda Doherty and four ahead of Ryu entering the round, Woad closed with a 1-under 69 for a two-stroke victory. The 22-year-old Englishwoman finished at 12-under 268.

“I just played pretty good tee-to-green,” Woad said. “I hit a lot greens, hit a lot of fairways. And it’s pretty windy out there, so I think that was the key, obviously, to having the lead.”

Ryu had a double bogey on the par-4 13th in a 67.

“Amazing front nine. I’m so happy,” Ryu said. “But I have a little mistake on the back nine.”

Nelly Korda shot a 67 to tie for eighth at 5 under after winning in her previous two starts. She began the day nine strokes back after a third-round 72.

Woad won for the second time on the LPGA Tour, following a victory last year in the Women’s Scottish Open in her professional debut. She also won the European tour’s Irish Open last summer as an amateur.

“This one is definitely, I think, is a little sweeter than the first one because I wasn’t really expecting that,” Woad said. “This one, I’ve seen how good everyone is out there, so it’s good to win again.”

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Woad made a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-4 17th to open a two-stroke lead, with Ryu parring the par-3 18th soon after in the group ahead to post at 10 under.

Woad overcame a double bogey on the par-4 sixth. The former Florida State star birdied the seventh, parred the next five and dropped a stroke on the par-4 13th. After three more pars, she got the long birdie try to curl in on 17.

Miyu Yamashita was third at 9 under after a 64. Ruoning Yin (66) was 8 under, and Doherty (71) and Jin Young Ko (65) were 7 under. Jeeno Thitikul, the winner last week in New Jersey, was another shot back after a 69.