MADEIRA, Ohio ‒ Ally Ewing’s Sunday started with eight straight pars as she watched her 54-hole lead disappear to Xiyu Lin in the final round of the Kroger Queen City Championship at Kenwood Country Club.
But, a little patience paid off for Ewing on Sunday.
“The first eight holes it was just pars,” Ewing said. “I don’t think I missed any greens. I was just kind of two-putting. I hit a couple good putts, but think a big putt for me was that par putt I made on 7. It was a six-footer, but I saw a six-footer go in and was able to get to 9 and roll in an 18-footer down the hill.
“Kind of calmed me down. But I struggled with nerves all day because I just haven’t been able to put this together for a full tournament this year.”
Ewing’s first birdie came at the ninth hole, foreshadowing what was about to happen on the back nine.
Ewing birdied five holes in a row ‒ Nos. 12-16 ‒ to shoot 31 on the back nine and secure her third LPGA victory.
Lin made it interesting, though. Trailing Ewing by two shots on the 72nd hole, Lin birdied the difficult par-4 18th, forcing Ewing to get up-and-down from just short of the green to hang on.
Ewing put together four consecutive rounds in the 60s in Cincinnati to finish 22 under, one shot better than Lin, who finished alone in second place.
Over four rounds at Kenwood Country Club, Ewing, the 29-year-old American, made only four bogeys and none on Sunday.
“This year has been trying,” Ewing said. “It’s been a patience game for me. It’s been really tough for me mentally just knowing that I’ve been hitting it so great. Seeing the stats, knowing I’m not hitting putts like I want to, it’s just been kind of the thing holding me back.”
Ewing didn’t change putters or do anything crazy. She trusted her process and kept working. And in Cincinnati, she managed to put it all together.
After Ewing’s final putt fell on No. 18, she hugged her caddie and her competitors, who promptly showered Ewing with champagne, then she looked up to see a surprise waiting for her behind the green.
“I looked up and there he was,” Ewing said of her husband, Charlie. “Just a flood of emotions because that’s been a huge support and has been a rock for me this year when I have fallen into a lot of doubt in the ability to kind of get back, really get back into solid form.
“He’s just poured so much into it, has helped me get right here back in the winner’s circle for sure.”
It has been more than 30 years since an LPGA event was held in Cincinnati, and for as long as it stays in Cincinnati, Ewing’s name will be attached to the Queen City Championship.
“It feels great,” she said. “I think Cincinnati has just been great in welcoming us back.
“It’s just exciting to see a community support the LPGA and support women’s golf, so I think we’re excited to be in Cincinnati and we’ll be excited to be back again next year.”
