The Kroger Queen City Championship is heating up in Cincinnati, and the leaderboard is as tight as a fairway bunker. After a grueling second round at Maketewah Country Club, Jin Young Ko and Amanda Doherty find themselves deadlocked at 7-under par, setting the stage for a thrilling weekend showdown.
Ko, a South Korean superstar with a résumé that includes 14 LPGA wins, showed why she's a force to be reckoned with. Teeing off early Friday morning, she played a bogey-free round of 66, carding four birdies—three of them on the front nine. Her steady hand on the back nine kept her atop the leaderboard for much of the day, proving that patience is as valuable as power in this sport.
But Doherty, the Florida State alum, wasn't about to let Ko run away with it. Playing in the day's penultimate group, the American methodically climbed the standings with five birdies scattered across her round. Trailing Ko by one shot on the 18th hole, she stepped up and drilled a pinpoint tee shot, setting up an easy birdie to match Ko's 66. For Doherty, a first-time LPGA winner still searching for her maiden victory, this is a golden opportunity to etch her name into the record books.
Hot on their heels is England's Lottie Woad, who fired the round of the day—a dazzling 64 that featured seven birdies and just one bogey. At 6-under, she's lurking just one shot back, ready to pounce if the leaders falter. Meanwhile, Jodi Ewart Shadoff provided the highlight of the afternoon with a hole-in-one on the 12th, propelling her to a 66 and into the top 10. That kind of magic is what makes golf so special, and it's the perfect inspiration for anyone looking to step up their own game—whether on the course or in their wardrobe.
The cut line settled at 2-over par, a stark contrast to last year's event at TPC River's Bend, where the cut was 2-under and the leaders were already at 9-under through 36 holes. This year's move to Maketewah Country Club has clearly tested the field, with tougher conditions and a tighter leaderboard that rewards precision over sheer power. Defending champion Charley Hull had a rough stretch, carding six bogeys in eight holes to slip to a tie for 38th, while Xavier alum Emma McMyler safely made the cut after an even-par round.
As the final pairings prepare for the weekend, the stage is set for a dramatic finish. Whether you're rooting for Ko's experience, Doherty's hunger, or Woad's momentum, one thing is clear: this tournament is delivering the kind of drama that makes golf apparel companies proud to outfit the game's best. Stay tuned for more highlights from a championship that's proving to be as unpredictable as it is exciting.