England’s Lottie Woad fired a 5-under-par 65 on Saturday to secure a 3-shot lead over Amanda Doherty through three rounds of the Kroger Queen City Championship in Cincinnati.
Woad delivered four birdies on the back nine to move to 11-under 199 going into Sunday’s final round. The 22-year-old Woad and Ryann O’Toole tied for the best round of the day at Maketewah Country Club.
“Looking forward to being back in contention again,” said Woad, who hasn’t finished higher than a tie for seventh this season. “I think this year I’ve kind of been backdooring top 10s, top 15s. I haven’t really been challenging on Sunday, so looking forward to actually playing under the pressure a little bit.”
Woad began Saturday one shot behind Doherty. They both made the turn at 8 under for the tournament, but Woad posted birdies at Nos. 10, 11, 14 and 16 before notching a bogey at 17. Doherty managed just one birdie and one bogey on the back nine on a damp day meant for good scores.
“I didn’t hit it awesome,” Doherty said. “But I got it around all right.”
The 28-year-old Doherty has yet to finish better than tied for eighth in any LPGA event since joining the Tour in 2022, so she’s eager to be in the final pairing with Woad on Sunday.
“There is definitely excitement, definitely nerves,” Doherty said. “But that’s what comes with it. That’s why I’m out here, to play in the final group and feel that way.”
World No. 1 Nelly Korda will have to pull off a massive rally to win her third straight event. Korda shot 2 over on Saturday to drop to 2 under for the tournament, nine shots off the pace.
South Korea’s Haeran Ryu produced her second straight 66 to stay within four shots of the lead. New Zealand’s Lydia Ko (69) dropped five shots behind Woad, but holds sole possession of fourth place.
Five golfers are locked in at 5 under through 54 holes: Rose Zhang (66), Anne Chen (66), Lindy Duncan (67), Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul (69) and Japan’s Rio Takeda (69).
If Woad holds on to her lead in this $2 million tournament, then she’ll collect the second LPGA Tour title of her nascent career. She claimed the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open last July, less than two weeks after going pro.
