MAINEVILLE, Ohio — Bianca Pagdanganan stayed in the hunt in the Kroger Queen City Championship, firing a third-round three-under 69 Saturday for a share of sixth spot. The 26-year-old Filipina finished birdie-bogey-birdie for an 11-under 205 total, five strokes off the pace. Jeeno Thitikul had a rocky closing stretch but…

MAINEVILLE, Ohio (AP) — Jeeno Thitikul had a rocky closing stretch but did enough to expand her lead over Hall of Famer Lydia Ko, finishing with a birdie for a 4-under 68 on Saturday and a two-shot advantage in the Kroger Queen City Championship.Thitikul holed a 20-footer from the fringe for birdie on the par-4 15th hole to reach 5 under for the day and 17 under for the tournament, four shots ahead of Ko, before dropping shots on the next two holes. She closed with a birdie on the par-5 18th at TPC River’s Bend for a 54-hole total of 16-under 200 in hot, dry conditions that caused the golf course to get firmer.“I have an 8-iron for the second shot into the par 5. I’m just like, ‘How can I have 8-iron on a par 5 and how can I drive like that?’” Thitikul said. “It’s definitely not my length. Just like bouncing or maybe just kick off really well.”Ko shot 69. Yan Liu (68) was three shots behind, and Albane Valenzuela (68) and Haeran Ryu (70) were four back.Top-ranked Nelly Korda couldn't make a charge. She shot 69…

MAINEVILLE, Ohio (AP) — Lydia Ko set an early target and Jeeno Thitikul zoomed right past her Friday afternoon with three birdies over her last four holes for another 6-under 66 and a one-shot lead over Ko in the Kroger Queen City Championship.Ko played bogey-free with an eagle on the par-5 eighth hole for a 66. Thitikul played in the afternoon, made birdie on all the par 5s at the TPC River's Bend and finished strong.Thitikul hit pitching wedge over the water and avoided going long, setting up one final birdie that put her at 12-under 132 going into the weekend.Haeran Ryu, who won the FM Championship three weeks ago for her first LPGA title, matched the low round of the day with a 65 and was two shots behind.One of those low rounds belonged to Anna Nordqvist, who is among 11 players who were competing in the high-energy Solheim Cup last week. Also playing is Nelly Korda, the No. 1 player in women's golf, who had a 70 and was five shots behind.Savannah Grewal (70) of Mississauga, Ont., was at 7 under and Alena…