Minjee Lee in touch at Kroger Queen City event in Ohio
Minjee Lee in Ohio – image courtesy of Getty and LPGA
Minjee Lee is in a share of 7th place and six shots from the lead at the halfway stage of the Kroger Queen City Championship in Cincinnati Ohio, but the Perth golfer is just two shots behind the joint second-placed players as the event heads into the weekend.
Lee birdied two holes late in her round to move within striking distance of the leader, 32-year-old Peiyn Chien of Taiwan who has a four-shot lead as she chases her first victory on the LPGA Tour.
Lee has produced a run of solid finishes on late but other than a 2nd place finish at the Founders Cup earlier in the year she has not contended often and has now slipped to 13th in the Rolex World Ranking.
This week does however provide the opportunity for her first win of the year as although the leader has a significant break on the field, she is new to this situation and will be under pressure over the final 36 holes.
Lee missed the cut in this event last year when it was being staged for the first occasion but she can put that wrong right in a big way over the final 36 holes.
The next best of the Australians in Victorian, Gabi Ruffels who in 2024 will enjoy full status on the LPGA Tour after a stellar season on the Epson Tour this year.
Ruffels is in a share of 11th place at 6 under and two behind Lee.
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko finally found a little bit of form after a run of outs and is in a share of 31st at 3 under.
Sarah Kemp and Stephanie Kyriacou also made the cut the New South Wales pair on the number at 1 under.
