Charley Hull, of England, putts on the 18th green during the first round of the Kroger Queen City Championship golf tournament, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, at TPC River’s Bend in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tanner Pearson)
Jeeno Thitikul, of Thailand, tees off on the first hole during the final round of the FM Championship LPGA golf tournament at TPC Boston, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Norton, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Nelly Korda tees off on the seventh hole during the first round of the Kroger Queen City Championship golf tournament, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, at TPC River’s Bend in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tanner Pearson)
Gigi Stoll, right, hits an approach shot on the 18th hole during the first round of the Kroger Queen City Championship golf tournament, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, at TPC River’s Bend in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tanner Pearson)
Wannasaen maintains Queen City lead, with fellow Thai star Thitikul, Hull making big moves
MAINEVILLE, Ohio (AP) 鈥 Chanettee Wannasaen maintained a two-shot lead Friday in the Kroger Queen City Championship, with top-ranked fellow Thai star Jeeno Thitikul and Charley Hull making big moves.
Charley Hull, of England, putts on the 18th green during the first round of the Kroger Queen City Championship golf tournament, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, at TPC River’s Bend in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tanner Pearson)
MAINEVILLE, Ohio (AP) 鈥 Chanettee Wannasaen maintained a two-shot lead Friday in the Kroger Queen City Championship, with top-ranked fellow Thai star Jeeno Thitikul and Charley Hull making big moves.
Wannasaen, the 21-year-old player trying to win for the third straight year on the LPGA Tour, shot a 4-under 68 at soggy TPC River鈥檚 Bend to reach 13-under 131. She opened with a 63.
鈥淚 just want me to play like this,鈥 Wannasaen said. 鈥淚 not think about the score. I just want hit driver like this, hit iron like this. I just want to enjoy with the golf again.鈥
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Thitikul and Hull were tied for second with Olivia Cowan.
Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont., is in a 12-way tie for 51st at 3 under.
Wannasaen holed out for eagle on a par-4 for the second straight day, this time on the 13th 鈥 her fourth hole of the day. She did it on No. 10 in the first round.
鈥淓xactly like the same, but I didn鈥檛 see the ball like get in,鈥 she said.
The 22-year-old Thitikul had a 64, making four straight birdies in a back-nine 30. She won the Mizuho Americas Open in June at Liberty National for her fifth LPGA Tour victory.
鈥淧retty much I think trying to make putts for sure here,鈥 Thitikul said. 鈥淚 mean, like the green, it鈥檚 not easy. It鈥檚 so slopey. And then you need to judge the putt really perfectly to roll it in the hole.鈥
Hull eagled the par-5 11th and birdied the final two holes for a 65. The English player is coming off a runner-up finish in Houston as part of the Aramco series on the Ladies European Tour.
鈥淚鈥檓 just firing at the pin pretty much,鈥 Hull said. 鈥淚 like going at the pins. I find it boring otherwise.”
Cowan, from Germany, matched Hull with a 65. Maja Stark (66), Sei Young Kim (68) and Gigi Stoll (69) were 10 under.
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Second-ranked Nelly Korda topped the group at 9 under after a 68. She鈥檚 winless this season.
鈥淵ou just have to really stay aggressive,鈥 Korda said. 鈥淭he greens are pretty soft so you can, but hitting fairways, hitting greens is the key to eventually having a putt.鈥
Defending champion Lydia Ko shot 69 to get to 5 under.
Alison Lee missed the cut in her first event since giving birth to a boy in April, shooting 76-73.
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