Lexi Thompson shot an even-par 72 on Friday to stay in rivalry on the KPMG Ladies’s PGA Championship.
She is 2 pictures off the chief, Sarah Schmelzel, who fired a 5-under 67 to maneuver to 6-under.
Thompson sits at 4-under by way of 36 holes and sits in a tie for second place with the afternoon wave left to deal with Sahalee Nation Membership.
“Truthfully, even is a good rating out right here, too,” Thompson mentioned after her spherical on Friday. “Only a tough golf course.”
“Pars are good on the market. At all times essential to start out off with a superb spherical particularly yesterday taking pictures 4-under. So very grateful and took it into at this time. Had an excellent entrance 9 and had a number of hiccups on the again 9, however it occurs out right here. Additionally made loads of good putts, so going to construct on that.”
The 29-year-old began her spherical on the again 9 and made three birdies to show in 33 strokes. Nonetheless, her second 9 holes have been a grind.
She made a double-bogey on the par-5 2nd and dropped one other shot on the 4th. Thompson picked up her fourth birdie at six. Nonetheless, she made a bogey on the par-4 eighth to drop her again to even par.
Thompson defined how this golf course is one to remain affected person on.
“There shall be bogeys. Benefit from the few birdie alternatives you get on the market,” she mentioned.
Regardless of the robust stretch, the veteran LPGA participant felt she nonetheless performed effectively.
“You’re going to hit unhealthy pictures. You simply obtained to take it, know there shall be a bogey or two in there, and transfer on,” Thompson mentioned. “Might have been worse, so I stayed constructive and made a birdie on the again 9 as effectively and made some good putts. Simply construct on the positives, not give attention to anything and take that into the weekend.”
She is going to proceed to maintain that affected person mindset heading into the ultimate 36 holes as Thompson chases down her second main championship.
Her first got here at 19 when she gained the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship.
It has been 10 years since that victory, and the 11-time LPGA winner is taking part in a few of her finest golf. Thompson completed T2 final week on the Meijer LPGA Basic after she missed 4 straight cuts. Earlier than these 4 early weeks, she recorded a T3 on the inaugural Ford Championship.
Within the three occasions that she performed all 4 rounds, her worst end was a T16 on the season opener, the LPGA Drive On Championship. An harm in her hand and wrist stored her from taking part in her finest. It additionally appears to be why she missed so many cuts in a row.
Thompson seems wholesome now after taking pictures one other spectacular spherical to maintain her in rivalry at Sahalee.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By. For extra golf protection, observe us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You can even observe her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
