Jeongeun Lee6 tops leaderboard after nine birdes at LPGA Kroger Queen City Championship
MADEIRA, Ohio ‒ The second round of the LPGA’s Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G ended with the morning leader, Jeongeun Lee6, still atop the leaderboard at 13-under par. Of the 144 golfers that teed off on Friday at the Kenwood Country Club, only 76 made it through to tomorrow’s third round.
The 26-year-old’s 9-under round helped her finish a career-low of 63 thanks to nine birdies spread evenly throughout the course. Four of those birds came one after the other starting at hole seven. She shot par everywhere else.
“It was a good bogey-free round, and it’s been a while since I played a bogey-free day, so I’m really satisfied with my game,” Lee6 said.
Lee6 said she plans to concentrate tomorrow on her downswing and to “focus on the process, not the result.”
China’s Xiyu Lin shot four under and currently sits behind Lee6.
American golfer Ally Ewing, 29, finished third on the leaderboard at 11 under par after an 8-under round and six birdies in a row. She ended up with three more birdies and one bogey on 18, bringing her scorecard to 64 after day two at Kenwood.
Ewing said hole 18 is a hard one in general and this week’s rain made it soft, but overall she credits her solid putting streak today for putting her so far ahead. “That’s big for my confidence and just the state of my putting, just seeing some putts go in.” said the Mississippi native. “I’m excited to see a low score. I don’t think I’ve had one of those in a hot minute.”
Mexican Maria Fassi also had four birdies in a row out of six total, bringing her to 10 under par after round two. She shot six under for the day and is currently scored at 68, tied with Australian Sarah Kemp.
Americans Megan Khang and Andrea Lee, both 24, also finished in the top six players after day two. Both women have yet to win on the LPGA tour but are poised to end the weekend on a high note.Thirty-six-year-old Paula Creamer, made it through to round three at two under par. The 10-time LPGA tour winner and 2010 U.S. Women’s Open champion recently returned from maternity leave and aced Thursday’s round.
As for 14-year-old Gianna Clemente, she did not make the cut today after finishing five over par with six bogeys. It was the Warren, Ohio-native's third time in a row qualifying for an LPGA tour event. Despite only playing two rounds, Clemente attracted the attention of several aspiring golfers her age, including 14-year-old Katherina Cosby from Steamboat Springs, Colo. and Charlotte Robinson, a Clarksville, Ohio native and golf newbie.
"When we saw that Gianna was my age, we were so excited," said Cosby, who has been playing golf since she was age five. "It's so inspiring to her out here."
This is Cincinnati’s first major golf event in decades and first LPGA tournament since 1963. The Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G was secured after its title sponsors signed on last year and Kenwood Country Club stepped up as host.
In a press conference, Ewing praised the conditions of day two at Kenwood, saying that despite the rain earlier in the week, the course felt great. “It’s old school,” she said. “I think there is just a freedom in seeing shots hole by hole and there being no past memory of anything.
It’s exciting to be at a new course,” she added. “We’ve got some great Cincinnati fans that are showing up and supporting the LPGA.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Jeongeun Lee6 leads LPGA Kroger Queen City Championship after day two
