Lexi Thompson closed out her weather-delayed second round with a 5-under 67 to overtake Michelle Wie for the 36-hole lead Saturday at the ANA Inspiration.
Lexi Thompson holds 1-shot lead over Michelle Wie at weather-delayed ANA Inspiration
Somebody get Michelle Wie some coffee! Stat!
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Thompson finished birdie-birdie-par to take advantage of a rare dropped shot by Wie on her 17th hole (No. 8). For Wie, who was alone at the top for much of her back nine, her second bogey of the week put her in a four-way tie for second place at 7-under.
“I feel comfortable, I’m having a lot of fun out there,” former pre-teen prodigy Wie said after playing her second round with 14-year-old Lucy Li. “I’m really happy with where I positioned myself so far.”
With Thursday’s opening round ending prematurely due to high winds and Friday’s starting late to accommodate cleanup and stopped by darkness, Wie and Thompson were among the 56 players needing to finish their second rounds on Saturday morning. Such conditions meant a long day for the contestants, who will tee it up for the third round starting at 2:15 p.m. ET.
So how was Wie planning to spend her hour-plus of free time? Stoking up for round three on the Tournament Course at Mission Hills CC.
“I’m going to chill a little bit, maybe eat a second breakfast,” she said with a laugh. “More coffee. I think coffee’s the key today.”
Here’s where other notables stood after two rounds in the books:
- World No. 1 Lydia Ko was tied at 4-under with her primary challenger for the top spot in the rankings, Ariya Jutanugarn and five others, including 2010 U.S. Women’s Open champion Paula Creamer.
- Formerly top-ranked Inbee Park and two-time major winner Cristie Kerr were two shots off Thompson’s pace at 6-under.
- Li finished her second round with bogeys on three of her final four holes but made the cut with a stroke to spare, at 1-over.
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