Yoo Haeran Achieves Best Finish of the Year as Runner-up... 'Regretful Double Bogey from Putting Error'

3-Under in Final Round of Kroger Queen City Championship
Comeback Win Slips Away, Sixth Top-10 Finish of the Year
Ward Claims Second Career Victory, Yamashita Third, Ko Jin-young Fifth

Yoo Haeran achieved her best result of the year by finishing as the runner-up.

On May 17 (local time), at the Maketewah Country Club (par 70, 6,423 yards) in Cincinnati, Ohio, during the fourth round of the LPGA Kroger Queen City Championship (total prize money of $2 million) of the LPGA Tour, she recorded six birdies, one bogey, and one double bogey, finishing with a 3-under-par 67. With a final total of 10-under-par 270, she secured second place, trailing the leader by two strokes.

Yoo Haeran made her debut on the LPGA Tour in 2023, where she claimed one victory and was named Rookie of the Year. She was aiming for her fourth career win, a year after the Black Desert Championship in May 2025, but was stopped by former amateur world No. 1 Lottie Ward of England. This season, she has entered 10 tournaments and finished in the top 10 six times.

Yoo Hae-ran is reading the putting line at the 9th hole of the 4th round of the Kroger Queen City Championship. Cincinnati=AP Yonhap News

Starting the final round in third place, four shots behind the leader, Yoo began her chase with three consecutive birdies on holes 3 through 5. She then added birdies at the 7th (par 5) and 9th (par 3) holes, briefly taking a share of the lead. However, a bogey on the 10th hole followed by a missed short par putt and a double bogey on the 13th hole (par 4) proved costly. Yoo managed to pick up another stroke at the 14th hole (par 5), but parred the remaining four holes.

Ward carded a 1-under-par round to finish at 12-under-par 268 and held on to the top spot. This marked her second career victory and her first in 10 months since the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open in July of last year, earning her a winner's check of $300,000 (about 450 million won). In her post-victory interview, Ward said, "This win feels even sweeter than my first. Keeping the ball in the fairway was key to my victory," she said with a big smile.

Lottie Ward smiles after securing victory at the Kroger Queen City Championship. Cincinnati=AFP Yonhap News Agency

Miyu Yamashita of Japan finished third at 9-under-par 271, while Lin Ruoning of China placed fourth at 8-under-par 272. Former world No. 1 Ko Jin-young shot a 5-under-par 65 to tie for fifth at 7-under-par 273. Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand finished seventh at 6-under-par 274, while current world No. 1 Nelly Korda of the United States and Lydia Ko of New Zealand tied for eighth at 5-under-par 275. Yoon Ina finished in a tie for 12th at 4-under-par 276, and Choi Hyejin, Chun Ingee, Choi Woonjung, and Kang Minji all tied for 21st at 2-under-par 278.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.