Thompson Fires 65 to Win Meijer LPGA Classic


Lexi Thompson closed with a 6-under 65 on Sunday to win the Meijer LPGA Classic at Blythefield Country Club in Belmont, Mich.

The 20-year-old Floridian carded eight birdies and two bogeys to finish at 18-under 266, a stroke clear of Gerina Piller, who had a 64, and Lizette Salas (70).

Thompson had five birdies between the seventh and 15th holes to make up a four-stroke deficit starting the final round and rise to the top of the leaderboard. "I was just trying to be patient," said Thompson, who earned $300,000 for her fifth career title. "Really, the whole day I was just trying to play my own game.

"I actually said when I was on 10 that my goal was to get to 20-under," she added. "I didn't get it up to that, but I was just trying to focus on my own game, focus on my pre-shot routine and having fun in between shots. I think that's what helped me."

After a bogey on the par-4 17th, Thompson needed a par on the last to stay at 18-under. "I called my caddie over and I told him to give me something to think about to get my mind off it," she said about the first of her two-putt par on No. 18. "He just said something so random, like, food. And I'm like, of course. But it kept me relaxed and got me laughing and it helped me go into that putt confident."

Piller was 7-under through 15 holes before a bogey on the par-4 16th and a birdie at the last. "I knew it was going to take a great day and I gave it a run," said the 30-year-old from Mexico. "I just kind of stumbled with the tee shot (at No. 16) at the end. I couldn't afford one mistake, and I made one."

Salas tried her best but ended up tipping her cap to Thompson. "I just hit some errant tee shots that caused some bogeys, but I didn't give up," said the 26-year-old from Azusa, Calif. "And, obviously, I can't control what Lexi does, and she played an amazing day of golf."

South Korea's So Yeon Ryu (66) and American Kris Tamulis (68) shared fourth at 269, while another stroke back was Brittany Lang (66).

For all the scores, visit http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/meijer-lpga-classic-presented-by-kraft/results.