Slow and steady wins the race, and in the case of the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G, Mary Liu has certainly demonstrated that kind of approach.

Over the first three rounds, she has quietly climbed the leaderboard to a tie for fifth place, just three shots off the lead as she heads into Sunday's final round.

After backing up her first-round 69 with an impressive 6-under-par 66 on Friday, the LPGA Tour sophomore recorded a solid 4-under 68 on Moving Day in Ohio. This marks a notable turnaround for Liu, who had missed the cut in her last three starts on the LPGA Tour.

She has been working diligently with her coach to turn things around, someone who reminds Liu to "play your game, enjoy the course and anything is possible.” And the results of those efforts are now starting to pay off for Liu.

"I wasn't playing good with my driver (for the) last couple of weeks,” said Liu. “So have more clear mind with everything. If a shot happens, what do I do for the next shot to get back or just my normal shot, not try too hard.

“"I'm really, really happy that I'm putting so good this week. I will do a lot of daily notes and then keep that in my mind and then do it in the future.”

Saturday saw Liu's game really start to click around the turn at TPC River's Bend, where she first capitalized on the par-5 6th hole with a birdie, making another birdie on No. 9 just a few holes later. She had to scramble to make par on the 10th hole after her driver went way off into the rough, but Liu locked back in on 11, and it was that par 5 that wound up being the highlight of her day.

"I hit a really good 3-wood. I go, that's it. That's the shot I want," said Liu about knocking it close on No. 11. "I can't believe everyone is clapping and almost like an albatross. I have never had an albatross before, so it's really exciting. And then tap-in eagle, good energy, and think positive and keep moving, and then that's it.”

When asked about her excitement for the final round and the potential opportunity to win, the People's Republic of China native said, "I don't know. I have no experience. I better ask coach. Hey coach, what should I do tomorrow, and then probably ask Miranda (Wang) what her experience last event."

And those are two good perspectives on which Liu can lean as she tries to win the Kroger Queen City Championship on Sunday in Hamilton Township, Ohio, a victory that would make her the 12 different Rolex First-Time Winner of the 2025 season.

Three Days of Steady Play Put Mary Liu in Contention at Kroger Queen City Championship

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