Australian Lee Crowned Queen at Kenwood CC

Cincinnati, Ohio, United States: Minjee Lee claimed her ninth Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour victory in dramatic fashion at the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G.

The Australian fended off Englishwoman Charley Hull on the second hole of a sudden-death play-off at Kenwood Country Club.

“I had a few moments where I felt I was losing, but I wasn’t,” said Lee, a two-time Major winner.

“I was like: ‘Let’s play till the end and see where it ends up’. I didn’t give up. I played every shot the best I could and won the play-off,” added Lee, a member of the triumphant Australian team at the 2013 Asia-Pacific Ladies Amateur Team Championship for the Queen Sirikit Cup.

Following rounds of 67, 69 and 65 at Kenwood Country Club, Lee went into the final day two shots ahead of Hull and second-round leader Chien Pei-yun of Chinese Taipei.

With birdies at the second, seventh and eighth, Lee extended her lead as she made the turn at 18-under for the tournament. However, a failed attempt to reach the green in two shots at the par-five 12th turned into a double-bogey.

Meanwhile, Hull birdied 14, 15 and 16 to tie for the lead with two holes to play. Lee recorded pars on each of her last six holes, including a clutch 10-foot par-saving putt on the last green to match Hull’s 16-under-par total.

The first play-off hole at the par-four 18th saw a near birdie from off the green by Hull before both players settled for par. Lee then set up victory with a pinpoint wedge approach to three feet on the second extra hole. She duly rolled home the putt to secure victory.

With the runner-up finish, Hull now has five top-10 finishes on the 2023 LPGA Tour and four runner-up results, including two in Major championship – at the US Women’s Open and AIG Women’s Open.

Rolex World Rankings number two Yin Ruoning of China finished third for the third event in a row and for the fourth time in her last five starts.

A Rolex First Time Winner and first-time Major champion this season, with her victory at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Yin is projected to move up to number one when the official rankings are released on Tuesday.