WASHINGTON: England’s Charley Hull birdied four of the last eight holes to grab a one-stroke lead over Thailand’s top-ranked Jeeno Thitikul after Saturday’s third round of the LPGA Queen City Championship.
The 29-year-old Briton fired a five-under par 67 to stand on 16-under 200 after 54 holes at TPC River’s Bend in Cincinnati, Ohio.
“I put in some good work when I was home, all the work that I could do and (I) feel relaxed,” Hull said after being home last month. “Just (have to) play like I did the last few days and go out there and have some fun.”
Jeeno fired a 68 to stand second on 201 with Japan’s Chizato Iwai and Miyu Yamashita sharing third on 202 after each shot 66.
Hull has won four times on the Ladies European Tour, most recently at Riyadh last November, and twice on the LPGA Tour, at the 2016 Tour Championship and 2022 Volunteers of America Classic.
This marks the eighth time she has led or shared the lead entering an LPGA final round, with both her tour wins coming from those tournaments.
Hull answered her second bogey of the week, at the par-three fifth, with birdies at the par-three seventh and par-four ninth holes, then added back-to-back birdies at the par-five 11th and par-three 12th, another at 15 and a final birdie at the par-five 18th.
“Just played pretty solid,” Hull said. “Just kept it going out there. Kept playing steady golf and made a nice birdie to finish.”
Hull found 10 of 14 fairways and reached 12 of 18 greens in regulation, making 27 putts on the day.
Jeeno, 22, birdied the third and fourth holes, the par-five eighth and 11th and answered a bogey at 17 with a closing birdie.
“I think I can make a birdie almost all the par-fives that I have,” Jeeno said. “I think I do have a lot of chances to make a birdie, but my putter didn’t come up today.”
World number two Nelly Korda and fellow American Yealimi Noh were in a fifth-place pack on 203 with Mary Liu of China and Bianca Pagdanganan of the Philippines.
A group on 204 included England’s Lottie Woad, Australian Gabriela Ruffels, Germany’s Olivia Cowan, South Korean Kim Sei-young and Sweden’s Maja Stark.
Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen, who led after the first and second rounds, fired a 75 to stand on 206.
Defending champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand was on 208 after firing a 69.
England’s Hull leads Jeeno by one at LPGA Queen City event
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England’s Hull leads Jeeno by one at LPGA Queen City event
- The 29-year-old Briton fired a five-under par 67 to stand on 16-under 200 after 54 holes at TPC River’s Bend in Cincinnati, Ohio
Alcaraz defeats Rublev to reach Qatar Open final against Fils
- The Spaniard will face France’s Arthur Fils in Saturday’s final
- Russian Rublev fought back from 3-0 down to level the second set and then saved five match points
DOHA: World number one Carlos Alcaraz continued his unbeaten run in 2026 as he beat defending champion Andrey Rublev 7-6(3) 6-4 on Friday to reach the Qatar Open final, reaching the 12th summit clash in his last 13 tournaments.
The Spaniard will face France’s Arthur Fils in Saturday’s final after the 21-year-old beat Czech Jakub Mensik 6-4 7-6(4) in the second semifinal.
Russian Rublev fought back from 3-0 down to level the second set and then saved five match points, but Alcaraz ultimately prevailed to win his 11th straight match of the season.
“I know what I’m able to do every time that I step on court. For me it’s great. Obviously, the way I’m approaching every match, I’m just really proud about it,” said 22-year-old Alcaraz, who has been a finalist at the last four Grand Slams, winning three of them.
“It’s paying off, all the focus and attention. I’m just happy and proud about myself with how I’m getting better and getting mature I guess.”
Rublev made 14 unforced backhand errors in the first set, but outwitted Alcaraz with precise forehands that nicked the baseline as both players broke the other twice each to go into a tiebreak.
Alcaraz held his nerve to go 6-3 up in the tiebreak as a frustrated Rublev repeatedly smashed the racket on his left knee, breaking a string. Seven-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz then pretended to slice but landed a forehand down the sideline to win the first set.
Alcaraz broke Rublev twice to go 5-3 up in the second set and was serving for the match when the world number 14 saved three match points to break back.
But Alcaraz pushed to break again for victory in the next game, and finally converted his sixth match point when Rublev’s backhand landed wide.
Fils reached his fifth career final with a commanding victory over world number 16 Mensik in just over 90 minutes. The Frenchman — who suffered a lower back stress fracture during the 2025 French Open that led to eight months out of the game — committed fewer unforced errors in an otherwise even match, while saving seven of eight break points and converting two of five.
“Eight months without playing, watching others and staying in bed. It was a long and difficult ordeal. But today, the comeback is all the more sweet. It means a lot to me to be in the final,” said Fils.
