Round three if the LPGA Kroger Queen City Championship got underway on Saturday as England’s Charley Hull posted a five-under round of 67 to jump to top spot at 16-under whilst second-round leader Chanettee Wannasaen faded with a three-over-par 75 to go six shots back.
Overcoming a bogey on the par-3 fifth, Hull made six birdies with four of them coming on the back nine as she credited her mental approach to take a one-shot lead into the final round.
“I just hit a ball and find it and hit it again, you know what I mean? I think that’s the trouble with many golfers, overthinking,” Hull said. “It’s just a game. Hit a white ball at the pin. Make a birdie or make a par, make a bogey, whatever, just roll on to the next hole.”
Hull has two LPGA victories, most recently in 2022. The English player is coming off a runner-up finish in Houston as part of the Aramco series on the Ladies European Tour.
Keeping a level head before the final round, Hull said; “(I’m) just kind of not even thinking about tomorrow. Looking forward to my fish tacos later tonight.”
World no.1 Jeeno Thitikul occupies the solo second place after 54 holes as the 22-year-old looks to become the first multiple winner on the LPGA Tour this season after a four-under round.
“I know like today I think I do have a lot of chances to make a birdie, but my putter didn’t come up today,” Thitikul said.
Japan’s Chisato Iwai and Miyu Yamashita share T3 as both golfers posted a six-under-par round to take them to 14-under.
USA’s Yealimi Noh posted the lowest round of the day as 24-year-old went bogey free, making six birdies and an eagle to shoot an eight-under-par 64 to be three shots off the lead at 13-under.
Joining Noh in T5 are Bianca Pagdanganan, Mary Liu and world no.2 Nelly Korda.
“I kind of faded a 5-iron in there, a little controlled 5,” Korda said of her closing approach from 201 yards, which settled about 15 feet away. “Tried to hit it a little higher so it wouldn’t shoot on the green and did just that.”
The fourth and final round is set to take place at 6:00pm Irish time.
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