Ally Ewing shot a 6-under-par 66 to hold off Xiyu Lin of China and win the inaugural Kroger Queen City Championship on Sunday in Cincinnati.
Ewing held a one-shot lead after the third round and polished off a score of 22-under 266 for the week at Kenwood Country Club, one stroke better than Lin.
Lin nudged ahead early in the round with three birdies over her first seven holes, while Ewing parred her first eight. But after a birdie at No. 9, Ewing rolled in five straight birdies at the 12th through 16th holes to surge ahead for good.
It was the second time Ewing had a hot streak this tournament. She made six birdies in a row on Friday.
The 29-year-old from Mississippi credited a putting stroke change she made last month.
“The change that I made in the couple weeks before (the CP Women’s Open) was big in just shortening the back stroke,” said Ewing, who won her third career LPGA title. “In Canada I was really close to putting some stuff together, but still kind of a little finicky. This week … I saw putts go in. Once I saw them go, I had that confidence.”
Lin made four more birdies on the back nine for a bogey-free, 7-under 65. That included birdies at Nos. 16 and 18, but she had to settle for second place.
“This is LPGA. Like, the girls are really good out here,” Lin said. “I mean, Ally (played) absolutely amazing, especially her back nine.”
Ewing and Lin broke away from the pack on Sunday. Maria Fassi of Mexico shot a final-round 71 and placed third at 16 under. Jeongeun Lee6 of South Korea (70) was fourth at 14 under, and Marina Alex (67), Andrea Lee (69) and A Lim Kim of South Korea (70) tied for fifth at 13 under.
–Field Level Media
