Lexi Thompson shares Meijer LPGA Classic lead in bid for her first victory in 6 years

BELMONT, Mich. — Lexi Thompson birdied two of the final three holes Saturday in the Meijer LPGA Classic for a share of the third-round lead with five others in a bid to win for the first time in just over six years.
Thompson shot a 4-under 68, rebounding with birdies on Nos. 16 and 18 after driving into the water and making a bogey on the par-5 14th.
'Not my best ball-striking day,' Thompson said.' But I scrambled very well and stayed positive, patient, and that's what it's kind of all about.'
At 11-under 205 at Blythefield County Club, she was tied with Nanna Koerstz Madsen , Madelene Sagstrom , Sofia Garcia , Hye-Jin Choi and Carlota Ciganda . Thompson was back on top a year after losing a playoff to Lilia Vu on the tree-lined course.
'Everybody is going to come out swinging,' Thompson said. 'Good weather tomorrow, so I know birdies will have to be made and I'll have to go pin-seeking. I will hope for the best, go out there and embrace the opportunity, and really love on the fans.'
The 30-year-old from Florida won the last of her 11 LPGA Tour titles in early June 2019 at the ShopRite LPGA Classic. She's making her sixth start of the season in a part-time tour schedule, and also is set to play next week in the major KPMG Women's PGA Championship in Texas.
Koerstz Madsen bogeyed the final two holes to lose a two-stroke lead.
'The positive thing is now I feel what's going on when I get a little nervous, so I can work on what I need to be focusing on tomorrow,' Koerstz Madsen. 'Because I'm definitely going to be nervous tomorrow.'
Garcia had the lead at 13 under after 12 holes, then bogeyed the next three.
'I'm happy I was able to get it back together,' Garcia said. 'Made a really good chip out on 16. Was able to have a good finish.'
Choi missed a 5-foot birdie putt on 18 in the final group.
Sagstrom, the T-Mobile Match Play winner in Las Vegas in April, had an eagle-birdie-eagle burst on Nos. 4-6.
'I always try to attack the course,' Sagstrom said." I think I do play quite aggressive. I think this course, it demands shots."
Karis Davidson was 9 under after a 71. Megan Khang was another stroke back with Chanettee Wannasaen , Bronte Law and Celine Boutier .
golf: /hub/golf

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Hindu

3 hours ago

• The Hindu

Aditi Ashok misses cut in tough conditions at KPMG PGA Champs

Indian golfer Aditi Ashok missed the cut in the KPMG Women's PGA Championship after a second round 11-over 83 in tough conditions at the Fields Ranch East course in Frisco. It was the first time in a major that Aditi, who had a first-round 81, shot successive rounds in the 80s. She had nine bogeys and a double and no birdies. She failed to get a single birdie over two days. The conditions have been very difficult with temperatures going over 100 degrees Fahrenheit and the ever-present Texas wind there. Only seven of the 156 players who started the season's third major were under par through two rounds. There have been no bogey-free rounds this week. Fifteen players were under par after the first round, when Jeeno Thitikul's opening 68 put her a stroke ahead of fellow North Texas resident Lee. Jeeno Thitikul, the No. 2-ranked player in the world, extended her lead as she finished a six-hour round with consecutive birdies for a 2-under 70 to get to 6-under 138. She had a three-stroke lead over Rio Takeda (71) and Minjee Lee (72) and was four ahead of Thompson (70) after another steamy day on the Fields Ranch East course at PGA Frisco. Semi-retired Lexi Thompson (72-70), at 2-under, is going into the weekend contending for her first major title in more than a decade.

Hindustan Times

a day ago

• Hindustan Times

Semi-retired Lexi Thompson going into weekend at KPMG Women's PGA contending for another major

FRISCO, Texas — Semi-retired Lexi Thompson shot a 2-under 70 in the second round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship on Friday to put herself in position to contend over the weekend for her first major title in more than a decade. HT Image After an even-par round Thursday, Thompson was bogey-free in the second round until her final hole. She finished two strokes behind first-round leader Jeeno Thitikful, the No. 2-ranked player in the world who hadn't yet teed off for her afternoon round when Thompson hit her approach at the 18th into the bunker but couldn't come up with yet another par-saver. It was a quick turnaround for Thompson after a six-hour opening round that ended early Thursday evening. And it was another steamy day Friday on the Fields Ranch East course at PGA Frisco, with feel-like temperatures reaching 100 degrees. Along with the warming temperatures, and caddies being able to remove their bibs while on the course, was the ever-present Texas wind that picked up throughout the day. None of 156 players played without a bogey in the first round, when the average score over 75. The 30-year-old Thompson, who has said last year was her final one playing a full schedule, is in her seventh tournament this season, including all three majors so far. Her only major victory was at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in 2014, though her 13 top-five finishes in majors since 2013 is the most by any player. Thompson missed the cut at the U.S. Women's Open three weeks ago, but last week was in contention in the final round before tying for fourth at the Meijer LPGA Classic. Her shots to save par Friday were maybe more important than the three birdies — the longest an 11-footer, with a 6 1/2-footer and nearly 4-footer as well. Thompson was only 70 yards from the pin after her tee shot at the 10th, but hit her approach into the bunker and was still 43 feet away after knocking it out of there before a curling right-to-left putt. At the par-5 14th, her 5-foot putt did a 360-degree roll around the lip before falling into the cup. When her approach at No. 18 landed in a bunker right of the flag, Thompson looked upward and then blasted 15 feet past the hole, unable to save par one last time. Only 15 of 156 players broke par Thursday. Thompson had one of the 10 under-par rounds in the early wave of 77 players Friday, the best being Charley Hull's 69 after opening with a 78. golf: /hub/golf This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

The Print

a day ago

• The Print

Disappointing start by Aditi Ashok

World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul overcame an early double bogey to shoot 4-under 68. The 22-year-old Thai golfer made four pars on the first four holes of round one in Frisco, Texas before she had a frustrating double bogey on the par-4 5th hole to drop to 2-over. Almost sure to miss the cut unless she shoots a very low second round, she was lying tied 135th and the projected cut is around 3-over. Aditi had six bogeys and one triple bogey. Frisco (US), Jun 20 (PTI) Indian golfer Aditi Ashok endured another rough start at a Major as she began the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Fields Ranch East with a disappointing 9-over 81 that had no birdies. The five-time LPGA Tour winner steadied herself with a par on six before rattling off three consecutive birdies on the seventh, eighth and ninth holes to get back to 1-under for the day and turn in 36. Thitikul then picked up a pair of back-to-back birdies on holes 11 and 12 and landed one last birdie on the par-3 17th hole. Lying second was Minjee Lee who shot 3-under 69 and four players were tied third with 2-under 68 each. They were Japan's Rio Takeda, Korean Haeran Ryu, American Yealimi Noh and Somi Lee of Korea. PTI Cor AH AH This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.