Rookie Thompson sets pace in Georgia

Updated October 16, 2011 09:04:50

PGA Tour rookie Michael Thompson moved one shot clear after Saturday's third round of the McGladrey Classic at Sea Island in Georgia while fellow American Webb Simpson stayed in the hunt for his third victory of the year.

Thompson fired a 3-under-par 67 on another breezy day at the Sea Island Resort to overhaul second-round pacesetter Billy Horschel and post a 13-under total of 197.

Australia's Nick O'Hern carded 69 to sit tied for fifth place at a 9-under 201 alongside Americans Jeff Overton, Kris Blanks and South African Louis Oosthuizen.

O'Hern's compatriot Robert Allenby went one better for the round with 68, but sits five strokes further back on 206.

American Horschel, a stroke in front of Thompson with three holes to play, doubled-bogeyed the 16th after dumping his tee shot into water on the way to a 70 as he ended the day in second place at 12-under.

Simpson, who has won twice in his last five starts and has a chance to beat world number one Luke Donald of Britain to the PGA Tour money-list title, was a further stroke back after carding a 69.

"My caddie and I had a tough time reading the greens," Simpson told reporters after mixing three birdies with two bogeys.

"I gave myself plenty of opportunities but the greens, as we get late into the week, are getting tough to putt.

"The goal for today was just to give ourselves a chance to win tomorrow. We hung in there and stayed in the golf tournament. That's all you can ask."

Simpson trails money-list leader Donald by $68,971 and both are scheduled to compete in next week's season-ending Disney Classic at Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

Thompson, who has recorded just one top-10 finish on the PGA Tour after 23 starts this season, was delighted to be in position to claim a breakthrough victory.

"I've just got to try to hit solid golf shots tomorrow," said the 26-year-old who lipped out with a nine-foot birdie putt at the last that would have given him a two-stroke lead.

"I was kind of struggling coming down the stretch there but tomorrow is a new day and I'm going to enjoy it."

Former US Masters champion Trevor Immelman equalled the course record with a sizzling 62 to finish level with Simpson at 11-under.

"That's always going to help your round," South African Immelman said after covering his last five holes in six under.

"I played real well today, drove the ball well, hit some nice iron shots and made some putts. It really was a fun day."

ABC/Reuters

Tags: golf, sport, united-states

First posted October 16, 2011 08:59:04

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Thompson becomes LPGA's youngest champ

Updated September 19, 2011 07:31:05

American Lexi Thompson has become the youngest champion in the LPGA's 61-year history, the 16-year-old prodigy firing a 2-under-par 70 on Sunday to capture the Navistar Classic by five strokes.

Thompson, who is seven months and eight days beyond her 16th birthday, finished 72 holes on 17-under-par 271 at the $1.3 million event to defeat compatriot Tiffany Joh five five shots and American Angela Stanford by six.

"I knew I was going for the record but I was focusing on the golf course and doing my best," Thompson said.

"I was nervous on the first tee but I had a lot of fun out here."

American Marlene Hagge won the 18-hole Sarasota Open in 1952 just two weeks past her 18th birthday to become what had been the youngest LPGA champion.

Paula Creamer, another American, was nine months and 17 days past her 18th birthday when she won the 2005 Sybase Classic to become the youngest winner of a typical multi-round event until Thompson's triumph.

Thompson, who turned pro in June of last year, birdied the par-three second and suddenly only playing partner Meena Lee of South Korea was within eight strokes of the lead, and Lee was six adrift.

A birdie at the par-five eighth gave Thompson a personal-record 20th birdie of the week.

Lee birdied the ninth to stay within six but began the back nine with a bogey to leave Thompson seven clear of the field at 17-under.

Thompson, who made only three bogeys in the first three rounds, stumbled with back-to-back bogeys at 11 and 12, missing six-foot par putts on both holes as her lead shrank to five shots with six holes to play.

Lee birdied the par-three 13th to move within four shots but faded as Joh charged into contention with a run of four birdies in a row through the 15th hole to pull within three of Thompson.

"She got on a roll, chipped in, got a birdie - she could have birdied all the way in," Thompson said.

"I was just focusing on my own game."

Thompson had led after 54 holes earlier this year at Mobile, Alabama, and squandered the lead with a last-round nightmare to finish in a share of 19th.

But Thompson made it clear that another collapse was not in the offing this time.

After Joh had a short birdie miss at the par-three 16th, Thompson tapped-in for a birdie and sank another from 20 feet at the 17th hole.

"That was a big shot," Thompson said.

"I knew I was playing pretty good lately. I had a few struggle ones but I came through here. I was just trying to make good shots and smart plays.

"Coming up the 18th it was like all the pressure was let off. I could wave at the fans."

After tapping in for par at 18, Thompson raised her hands in victory and her father Scott, who also serves as her caddie, embraced her.

"The feeling is unbelievable. I wanted to cry but I held back. It's awesome," Scott Thompson said.

"I couldn't be more proud. We have been working really hard. The last month she has been hitting the ball pretty well.

"This is the most nerve-wracking thing I have ever done. It's harder on me than her. I just give her the number."

The caddie daddy said he advised his daughter to play it safe coming down the stretch with a three-shot lead and three holes to play but his daughter replied, "No, it's on. I'm making some birdies coming in."

Thompson successfully petitioned for a place in this year's LPGA qualifying tournament.

A victory would allow the prodigy to seek LPGA membership but because she is under 18 the move would have to be approved by tour officials.

Joh said: "If I can say I was a speed bump on her run to history that was good enough for me.".

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, united-states

First posted September 19, 2011 06:51:26

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Teen Thompson must wait to join LPGA

Updated September 20, 2011 06:10:13

Lexi Thompson has already made LPGA history, becoming the youngest winner of a tour event at age 16, but she is going to have to wait even longer before becoming a member of the tour.

The home-taught US high school senior won the LPGA Navistar Classic on Sunday, taking a $US195,000 top prize and shattering the youngest win mark of 18 years and two weeks set by Marlene Hagge at the 18-hole Sarasota Open in 1952.

That would normally be good enough to claim a place in the LPGA, but Thompson does not meet the minimum age requirement of 18 years old.

"I don't really know right now," Thompson said about her LPGA plans.

"This is a really big thing going on right now. I will think about it in the next few days."

Thompson had to petition the LPGA for an exemption to compete in the qualifying event for the 2012 LPGA season.

She won the first of three stages in the "qualifying school" by 10 strokes in July.

Despite being one of the top American personalities on a tour struggling to rebuild after losing several US events in recent years, Thompson must play her way through qualifying to earn LPGA membership in 2012.

"Should Lexi qualify for LPGA membership via her Q-School performance, she will be an LPGA member for the 2012 season," LPGA commissioner Mike Whan said.

US veteran Juli Inkster said any delay in having Thompson take her place among the sport's elite was ridiculous in light of her performance last week.

"It's kind of silly," Inkster said.

"I think it makes us, the LPGA, look bad too. She has proved she can play out here. Now you have to go to qualifying school? To me that's silly."

Scott Thompson, Lexi's caddie and father, said a decision on whether or not she will try for full 2012 LPGA membership has not yet been made.

"We haven't even really talked about that yet," he said.

"We'll worry about that as it comes. We'll see."

Thompson, the sister of US PGA player Nicholas Thompson, shared the 36-hole lead at the same event two years ago but faded.

Last May, she shared the lead after 54 holes in Mobile, Alabama, but finished with a 78 and shared 19th.

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, united-states

First posted September 20, 2011 06:10:13

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