BELMONT, Mich. (AP) Defending champion Lexi Thompson shot a 6-under 65 on Thursday for a share of the Meijer LPGA Classic lead, with Brooke Henderson, Lydia Ko and Ariya Jutanugarn close behind.
The 21-year-old Thompson played the front nine - her final nine at Blythefield - in 6 under. After parring the first nine holes, she holed out from 71 yards with a lob wedge for eagle on the par-5 first and birdied Nos. 3-5 and 8 - playing the three front-nine par 5s in 4 under.
Thompson was tied for the lead with 52-year-old Laura Davies, Sei Young Kim, Carlota Ciganda and Paula Reto. U.S. Women's Open champion In Gee Chun was at 66 along with So Yeon Ryu, Jodi Ewart Shadoff, Jaclyn Jansen, Alena Sharp and Amelia Lewis.
Henderson, coming off a playoff victory Sunday over the top-ranked Ko in the KPMG Women's PGA Championship outside Seattle, matched Ko with a 67. Jutanugarn, third last week after winning her previous three starts, bogeyed the last two holes for a 68.
