Jeeno keeps cool to win LPGA's Americas Open
Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul collected her fifth LPGA Tour title with victory at the Americas Open at Liberty National on Sunday.
The world number two shot a solid three-under-par 69 to win by four strokes from France's Celine Boutier, who shot an even-par 72 in her final round.
Jeeno finished 17-under for the week after staying out of trouble and making birdies on the first, ninth and 17th.
The 22-year-old Thai star had finished off last season with victory in the Tour Championship in November and won on the Ladies European Tour in Saudi Arabia in February.
The win in Jersey City was her 11th professional victory on all tours, but having started her round with just a one-stroke advantage over Boutier, said she had no clue of the leaderboard situation as she approached the final hole.
"I had no idea. Maybe on the last putt because I didn't even look at the leaderboard at all, to be honest. I just asked my caddie if I need to make a par or not. He said, 'It's OK, I think you're safe'. I was just like, OK, so actually I can breathe now," she said.
Jeeno said that tricky pin positions combined with the weather had made it a battle to make par.
"Bogey-free on the final round, final group, as well, because the pin positions were so tough today, as well. We got a lot of wind, and then a lot of nerves and excitement for sure.
"I just really told myself to be patient out there. I know I was just trying to keep my ball where I have a chance to make it, but if I not make it, I'm fine because I know not every putt or not every hole that we're going to make it for sure. But I think my big key today is making par," added the Thai, who finished a disappointing tied for 24th at last week's first major of the year, the Chevron Championship.
Boutier cancelled out her three birdies with three bogeys but was pleased to be in contention as she looks forward to the next major, the US Women's Open in Wisconsin in June.
"A very solid week overall. Definitely a little bit disappointed with my finish today, but feel pretty happy with where my game is at," she said. "Just need to tweak a few things before my next tournament, which is the US Open, so it's very encouraging to have a good result here at such a good tournament."
Spain's Carlota Ciganda and the USA's Andrea Lee finished tied for third place.
Defending champion and world number one Nelly Korda had started the day in contention, just two shots behind Jeeno.
But while the Thai progressed, Korda had four bogeys in a one-over 73.
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Live updates, recap from Day 1 at Kaulig Companies Championship at Firestone
Weather concerns dominated Day 1 at Firestone Country Club. Round one of the 2025 Kaulig Companies Championship was beset by rain, heavy winds and a lightning delay midway through the round. Two golfers who handled the conditions after the stoppage sit atop the leader board. Miguel Jiménez of Spain cruise down the No. 5 fairway during the first round of the 2025 Kaulig Companies Championship at Firestone Country Club, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Akron, Ohio. Denmark's Søren Kjeldsen and Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez each defied the conditions to shoot 3-under rounds of 67 to finish as co-leaders. Advertisement Kjeldsen scored three birdies on the back nine. "I love this golf course," he said. "I can't remember how many times I've been here, but it's always been a treat. I scrambled well today. I do like playing in tough conditions. I do like playing with wind and rain, so have to battle a little bit." After playing his front nine 1 over, Gonzalez smoked the back nine with five birdies and a bogey. He said his putting was key. "I think it was fair all day," Gonzalez said. "Today, I played good, not from the tee, but from the second shot on." Behind the leaders were more international flavor. New Zealand's Steven Alker, South Africa's Retief Goosen and Atlanta's Stewart Cink each were 2-under 68, one stroke behind the leaders. Advertisement Defending champion Ernie Els finished round one at 2 over. The second round will tee off at 11 a.m. June 20. Here are live updates from round one. Stewart Cink of Atlanta, Georgia takes his second shot onto the No. 7 green during the first round of the 2025 Kaulig Companies Championship at Firestone Country Club, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Akron, Ohio. Ricardo Gonzalez finishes strong, ties for lead at Kaulig Companies Championship Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez blitzed the back nine of his round, finishing with five birdies and one bogey after going out with 1 over. He finished with a 3-under score of 67, tying with Søren Kjeldsen for the first-round lead. All golfers have completed round one. Søren Kjeldsen finishes at 3-under, Steven Alken at 2-under at Kaulig Companies Championship After 18 blustery holes in Akron, two international championship are atop the leaderboard. Advertisement Denmark's Søren Kjeldsen finished with three birdies on the back nine to finish with a 3-under round of 67. Meanwhile, New Zealand's Steven Alker had a tougher back nine with two bogies, but still came home with 2-under 68. Those two are one-two in the clubhouse with about 18 golfers left on the course. Steven Alker of New Zealand watches his shot from the No. 11 fairway in a steady rain during the first round of the 2025 Kaulig Companies Championship at Firestone Country Club, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Akron, Ohio. Søren Kjeldsen pulls into second at Kaulig Companies Championship Denmark's Søren Kjeldsen birdies the 17th hole at the Firestone Country Club. He sits one stroke behind leader Stewart Cink with one hole to go. Cink leads, Alken drops a shot at Kaulig Companies Championship A strong back nine from Stewart Cink has him with a two-shot lead near the end of round one at Firestone Country Club. Advertisement Cink just missed his third straight birdie on the par 4 sixth hole, but tapped in for par. Meanwhile, Steven Alker had his par putt on the 17th hole lip out, dropping him to 2-under and giving Cink the two-stroke lead. Stewart Cink takes lead at Kaulig Companies Championship Two straight birdies have propelled Stuart Cink to the lead at Firestone Country Club. Following his birdie at hole No. 5, Cink sunk a long putt on the par 3 fifth hole. He takes the lead after Steven Alker had his birder putt lip out on the 16th hole. Stewart Cink ties leader at Kaulig Companies Championship Former British Open champion Stewart Cink has played his way to the top of the leaderboard at Firestone. Advertisement Cink sunk a birdie on the par 4 fourth hole. That combined with a bogey on the 15th by Steven Alker to tie the pair at 3-under. Both golfers have four holes remaining. Alker leads by two heading down the stretch at Kaulig Companies Championship New Zealand's Steven Alker continues to lead at Firestone Country Club, as he has a two-stroke lead through 14 holes. Alker sits at 4-under for the round, two strokes ahead of group of five golfers. Vijay Singh, Stewart Cink, Søren Kjeldsen, Miguel Angel Jiménez and Steve Fleich all sit at 2-under. Cameron Percy comes in under par at Kaulig Companies Championship Australia's Cameron Percy finished with the first under par round of the day. Percy shot a 1-under 69, sinking four birdies and three bogies in the round. Tom Pernice Jr. takes clubhouse lead at Kaulig Companies Championship The first six golfers of the day are in the clubhouse. Advertisement Sitting with the lead after 18 holes is Tom Pernice Jr. He shot an even par round of 70 despite a bogey on the par 4 18th hole. Steven Alken remains the leader on the course at 4 under. First groups approaching final holes at Kaulig Companies Championship With horizontal rain buffeting the course, the opening groups from the morning as approaching the final holes. Steven Alken remains on top at 4-under through 11 holes, while Miguel Angel Jiménez sits at 3-under through eight holes. Steven Alken extends lead at Kaulig Companies Championship The hour-long lightning delay did not stop the momentum for the tournament leader at Firestone County Club. Advertisement Steven Alken birdied the par 4 ninth hole and made the turn at 4-under, putting him two strokes ahead of the field. Play resumes at Kaulig Companies Championship With the lightning passed, the golfers are back at it, hoping to complete Round 1 at Firestone Country Club. New Zealand's Steven Alker has the lead at 3-under through eight holes. Play to resume at 2:50 p.m. at Kaulig Companies Championship The PGA Tour announced the weather delay will be for an hour, as play will resume at 2:50 p.m. Weather forces play suspension at Kaulig Companies Championship The weather has been windy all day, but the rains have arrived in earnest. At 1:50 p.m. Firestone Country Club suspended play due to inclement weather. Awaiting word on how long the suspension will last. Singh, Jiménez among leaders at Kaulig Companies Championship Some famous names are one the leaderboard as Round 1 of the Kaulig Companies Championship hits the halfway mark. Advertisement Vijay Singh and Miguel Angel Jiménez among a group sitting at 2-under through eight holes. Steven Alker takes lead at Kaulig Companies Championship One the PGA Tour Champions best players has the lead at Firestone Country Club. Steve Alker moved into the lead at 3-under following a birdie at the par three 7th hole. Ailker sits Charles Schwab Cup standing, having won the Cologuard Classic earlier this season. Boo Weekly moves into lead at Kaulig Companies Championship Under cloudy skies at Firestone Country Club, a new leader has emerged. Boo Weekly leads the field at 3-under through seven holes. After starting on the 10th hole, Weekly birdied the 10th, 14th and 16th hole to take the early lead. All golfers on the course at Kaulig Companies Championship With the trios from the 12:06 p.m. groups having teed off, the entire field is now on South Course at Firestone Country Club. Advertisement Billy Mayfair maintains the early lead, shooting 2-under through seven holes. Defending champion Ernie Els on the course at Kaulig Companies Championship "The Big Easy" is back to defend his title. Ernie Els teed off from hole No. 1, along with Hall of Famer Bernhard Langer and Ángel Cabrera, who has won two PGA Tour Champions majors already this season. Teeing off with the 11:55 group was Miguel Angel Jiménez, the leader on this year's Charles Schwab Cup standings. On the course, Billy Mayfair has the early lead at 2-under through seven holes. John Daly on the course at Kaulig Companies Championship "Big John" is in the swing. Advertisement John Daly teed off at 10:31 a.m. along with Thongchai Jaidee and Harrison Frazar from tee No.10. On the course, John Huston, Brand Jobe and Rod Pampling all sit at 1-under early. Opening trios tee off at Kaulig Companies Championship The opening trios have teed off here at Firestone. It's Kirk Triplett, Paul Stankowski and Tom Pernice Jr. teeing off on the first hole. while Matt Gogel, Bob Estes and John Husted are on the course on hole 10. For those wondering, defending champion Ernie Else and two-time major winner Angel Cabrera will tee off from hole 1 at 11:31 a.m. Weather forecast for Round 1 of the Kaulig Companies Championship It's a wet, windy morning here at Firestone Country Club. Advertisement Last night's storms have passed, but scattered rain is expected through afternoon. Wind gusts of up to 30 mph. Temperatures will be in the lower 70s today. What is the schedule for the Kaulig Companies Championship? Rounds 1 and 2 of the tournament will tee off a 10 a.m. with trios starting from holes 1 and 10. The South Course at Firestone will play as a par 70 with a total distance of 7,248 yards. For those not able to attend, tape delay coverage of rounds 1 and 2 will be broadcast on Golf Channel at 9 p.m. Who is the defending champion? Who is in the field? South African golf legend Ernie Els won the 2024 Kaulig Companies Championship to claim his first Champions Tour major. He won with a 10-under score of 270. Advertisement Els is one of the six World Golf Hall of Fame members in the field. He is joined by Retief Goosen, Padraig Harrington, Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie and Vijay Singh. Harrington is making his debut at the Kaulig Companies Championship. Tour leader Miguel Angel Jiménez and Ángel Cabrera, who won the first two Champions Tour major championships, also will compete. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Live scores, recap from Day 1 at Kaulig Companies Championship
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Live updates, recaps from Day 2 at Kaulig Companies Championship
Day 1 at Firestone Country Club was about surviving the elements. The sun came out for Day 2 June 20 at the 2025 Kaulig Companies Championship. Some of the PGA Tour Champions' best players took advantage. Advertisement New Zealand's Steven Alker, Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez and Tim Petrovic of Austin, Texas, led the field at the end of two rounds, each shooting 5 under. Steven Alker of New Zealand takes his second shot from the No. 11 fairway during the second round of the 2025 Kaulig Companies Championship at Firestone Country Club, Friday, June 20, 2025, in Akron, Ohio. Thanks to a second straight hot start, Alker was in the lead most of the day. He shot four birdies in the first six holes before cooling off to score a 3-under 67. "I just think, just good warmups and ready to go out and play," Alker said of his hot starts. "It's hard to keep a score going around here. You get 3 or 4 under and you don't want to push too hard, but at the same time you've to be aggressive and you've got to stay at it." Petrovic tied for low round of the day at 4 under. He had the most eventful day on course with seven birdies and three bogeys in his round. Advertisement "It's playing tough, the rough's up," Petrovic said. "With the rain we had, it's playing really long. Yesterday was almost impossible to break par because the squall came through. Seven birdies today, I'm really pleased with that." Gonzalez stayed on the lead with a 2-under round of 68. Just behind the tournament leaders lurked the Champions tour leader, Miguel Angel Jiménez, who also shot a 66 and was at 4 under for the tournament. "Well, I feel good," Jiménez said. "I make five birdies today. Overall, played very well. I feel very good for the weekend." Round 3 of the tournament will begin at 11:20 a.m. June 21. Advertisement Here were the live updates from Day 2 at Firestone Country Club: Stewart Cink of Atlanta, Georgia watches his second shot from the rough along the No. 6 fairway during the second round of the 2025 Kaulig Companies Championship at Firestone Country Club, Friday, June 20, 2025, in Akron, Ohio. Round 2 complete at Kaulig Companies Championship All golfers have reached the clubhouse at Firestone Country Club. Heading into Round 3, Tim Petrovic, Steven Alken and Ricardo Gonzalez will share the lead 5 under (135) for the tournament. Ricardo Gonzalez ties for lead at Kaulig Companies Championship Following his lead in the first round, Argentina's Ricardo Gonazalez remain on top through two rounds at Firestone Country Club. Gonzalez finished with a 2-under round of 68, making him 5 under for the tournament and tying him with Steve Alker and Tim Petrovic for the lead. Tim Petrovic of Austin, Texas reacts after his birdie putt on No. 9 to finish the second round tied for first during the 2025 Kaulig Companies Championship at Firestone Country Club, Friday, June 20, 2025, in Akron, Ohio. Tim Petrovic finishes as co-leader at Kaulig Companies Championship Tim Petrovic had the wildest round of anyone in the tournament, shooting seven birdies and three bogeyes, but his roller coaster has landed in a tie for the lead. Advertisement Petrovic finishes with a 4-under 66 round, making him 5 under for the tournament and tying for the lead after round 2. Miguel Angel Jiménez finishes one stroke off lead at Kaulig Companies Championship Champions Tour leader Miguel Angel Jiménez will be in contention again over the weekend. Despite a bogey on the 17th hole, Jiménez came home 4 under for both the tournament and the day wit ha score of 66. Steven Alken finishes with lead at Kaulig Companies Championship New Zealand's Steve Alken has been in front most of Day 2. He enters the clubhouse with the lead. Alken scored par on the ninth hole to complete a 3-under round of 67. He finished the second round at 5 under for the tournament and should be in the lead trio for round 3. Miguel Angel Jiménez of Spain putts on the No. 7 green during the second round of the 2025 Kaulig Companies Championship at Firestone Country Club, Friday, June 20, 2025, in Akron, Ohio. Jiménez tames 16, joins leader at Kaulig Companies Championship Hole 16, known as "The Monster," proved no obstacle to the Miguel Angel Jiménez. Advertisement The Spaniard birdied the longest hole on the course to move to 5 under. He is tied from the lead with Steve Alker, who is playing his final hole. Miguel Angel Jiménez closes on leaders at Kaulig Companies Championship The PGA Tour Champions leader is pressing for the lead at Firestone Country Club. Spain's Miguel Angel Jiménez birdied the 14th hole to move to 4 under for the round and the tournament. He sits one stroke behind the leaders with Ricardo Gonzalez, who bogeyed the 13th hole. Petrovic joins leaders atop Kaulig Companies Championship Tim Petrovic's wild round continues, as he carder his second straight birdie and sixth of the round at the par 5 second hole. Petrovic finds himself tied for the lead at 5 under with Steven Alken and Ricardo Gonzalez. Tim Petrovic surges toward leaders at Kaulig Companies Championship Through 10 holes, Tim Petrovic has had quite the round, putting up five birdies and two bogeys. Advertisement Petrovic had moved to 4 under for the tournament and 3 under for the round, moving him one stroke behind leaders Steven Alker and Ricardo Gonzalez at 5 under. Alker regains two-stroke lead at Kaulig Companies Championship Steve Alker continues to sizzle, much like the rising temperatures at Firestone Country Club. Thanks to a birdie on hole No. 2, combined with a bogey from Ricardo Gonazalez on hole No. 8, Alker has regained a two-stroke lead. He is now 6 under for the tournament and 4 under for his round through 11 holes. Alker, Gonzalez tied for lead at Kaulig Companies Championship Steve Alker has cooled off from his hot start at Firestone Country Club, but still has a share of the lead midway through round 2. Advertisement Alker bogeyed the par-4 18th hole and made the turn at 5-under, having teed off on No. 10. Ricardo Gonzalez is the co-leader as he sits at 5-under for the tournament and 2 under through his first seven holes. All golfers on the course for Round 2 at Kaulig Companies Championship With the 1:06 p.m. trios having teed off, the entire field is on the course at Firestone Country Club. The leaders continue to be red hot. Steve Alker remains at 4 under for the round and 6 under for the tournament to lead, while Ricardo Gonzalez sits at 5 under, having birdied two of his first five holes. Steve Alken continues hot start to round 2 at Kaulig Companies Championship In the bright sun at Firestone Country Club, Steve Alken is trying to put some distance between him and the field. Advertisement The New Zealander has birdied four of his first six hole in round 2. He sits at 6 under for the tournament, two strokes ahead of Ricardo Gonzalez. Steve Alken retakes lead at Kaulig Companies Championship Much like his first round, New Zealand's Steve Alken is having a storming front nine at Firestone Country Club. Alken birdied two of his first four holes and has retaken the lead at 4 under through four holes. Meanwhile, Ricardo Gonzalez also has started well. He birdies the par 5 second hole to move to 4-under and tie for the lead. Day 1 co-leader tees off at Kaulig Companies Championship Round 1 co-leader Ricardo Gonzalez teed off from hole No. 1 with the 11:52 trio, which included David Toms and David Duval. Gonzalez sits at 3 under to open the second round. Advertisement There has already been movement atop the leaderboard next to Gonzalez. Steve Alken birdies his first hole to move to 3 under and tied for the lead, while Søren Kjeldsen bogeyed his second hole and dropped to 2 under. Co-leader tees off at the Kaulig Companies Championship Day 1 co-leader Søren Kjeldsen has teed off from hole 10. Kjeldsen is playing in just his fourth PGA Tour Champions event and sits at 3 under. In his trio is New Zealand's Steve Alker, who sits one stroke back at 2 under. First groups tee off for Day 2 of the Kaulig Companies Championship Opening trios have teed off at Firestone Country Club. Advertisement On hole 10, Alex Cejka, Richard Green and Steve Allan lead the field. On hole 1,, Brett Quigley, Shane Bertsch and Steve Flesch lead off. As far the leaders after round 1, Søren Kjeldsen will tee off at 11:21 a.m. from hole No. 10, while Ricardo Gonzalez will start at 11:52 a.m. from hole No. 1. Weather update for Day 2 of the Kaulig Companies Championship After all the weather issues during round 1, Day 2 looks to be just about perfect for golf weather-wise. Sunny conditions and light wind will prevail for most of the day. Temperatures are in the mid 70s and will rise to the low 80s by afternoon. It is going to become hotter and muggy as the weekend continues. What is the schedule for Day 2 of the Kaulig Companies Championship? Day 2 begins at 11 a.m. with trios teeing off from holes No. 1 and 10. Alex Cejka, Richard Green and Steve Allan will open play from tee No. 1, and Brett Quigley, Shane Bertsch and Steve Flesch will open from tee No. 10. Advertisement The South Course at Firestone will play as a par 70 with a total distance of 7,248 yards. Tape delay coverage of Round 2 will be broadcast on Golf Channel at 9 p.m. What does the leaderboard look like at the end of Day 1 at the Kaulig Companies Championship? The top five on the leaderboard are as follows: Ricardo Gonzalez: -3, 67 Søren Kjeldsen: -3, 67 Stuart Cink: -2, 68 Retief Goosen: -2, 68 Steven Alker, -2, 68 Four others are at 1-under 69 heading into Day 2. Kjeldsen, 50, is a rookie on the Champions tour. He seeks his first Champions tour title in just his fourth event, having finished top 10 in his first three starts. This is his first appearance at Firestone since the 2016 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Advertisement Gonzalez, 55, seeks his second Champions tour win and first major title, as he won the 2024 Trophy Hassan II. The Argentine tied for 40th at last year's Kaulig Companies Championship. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Live scores, recaps from Day 2 at Kaulig Companies Championship
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Hull cards lowest second round at PGA Championship
Charley Hull has two career wins on the LPGA Tour [Getty Images] Women's PGA Championship first-round leaderboard: -6 J Thitikul (Tha); -3 M Lee (Aus), R Takeda (Jpn); -2 L Thompson (US); -1 C Iwai (Jpn), A Kim (US), S Lee (Kor) Selected others: +2 N Korda (US), L Maguire (Ire); +3 C Hull (Eng); +4 L Ko (NZ) Advertisement Leaderboard England's Charley Hull carded the lowest second-round score at the Women's PGA Championship as Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul extended her lead at the top of the leaderboard. Hull carded a three-under-par 69, which included four birdies and a bogey, in the only round under 70 on a day when only 14 players broke par in hot and windy conditions at the Fields Ranch East course in Texas. The 29-year-old shot 78 in her opening round and is on three over for the tournament, with leader Thitikul on six under. World number two Thitikul has yet to win a major but put herself in a promising position after a two-under par round of 70, which included four birdies and two bogeys. Advertisement Thitikul said the "wind and the rough" provided the toughest challenges during the second round. She added: "I had better tee shots than yesterday and put myself in the positions that I have a chance. "If not, I just tried to make par. I think par, it's a really big key here - no birdies but 18 pars, you take it." Thitikul's nearest challengers are Japan's Rio Takeda, who shot a 71, and Australian Minjee Lee, who went round in 72, with both players on three under par. American Lexi Thompson is on two under following a 70. "[It] got pretty windy even for the morning," said Thompson. "It was blowing more than it did yesterday, so I knew I just had to commit to my lines out there. Advertisement "It's a tough golf course, especially when the wind blows. If you miss the fairways you just have to take your medicine, pitch out, and try to save par any way you can, make the worst score a bogey." World number one Nelly Korda could only manage a 74, which included two birdies and four bogeys, and the American is on two over par, while Ireland's Leona Maguire is on the same score after also carding a 74. South Korea's Amy Yang won the tournament last year but, after rounds of 76 and 77, missed the cut on nine over par.
