Lexi Thompson delivered at KPMG Women’s PGA Championship to remain in contention

Lexi Thompson shot an even-par 72 on Friday to remain in contention at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

She is two shots off the leader, Sarah Schmelzel, who fired a 5-under 67 to move to 6-under.

Thompson sits at 4-under through 36 holes and sits in a tie for second place with the afternoon wave left to tackle Sahalee Country Club.

“Honestly, even is a great score out here, too,” Thompson said after her round on Friday. “Just a difficult golf course.”

“Pars are good out there. Always important to start off with a good round especially yesterday shooting 4-under. So very grateful and took it into today. Had a great front nine and had a few hiccups on the back nine, but it happens out here. Also made a lot of good putts, so going to build on that.”

The 29-year-old started her round on the back nine and made three birdies to turn in 33 strokes. However, her second nine holes were a grind.

She made a double-bogey on the par-5 2nd and dropped another shot at the 4th. Thompson picked up her fourth birdie at six. However, she made a bogey on the par-4 8th to drop her back to even par.

Thompson explained how this golf course is one to stay patient on.

“There will be bogeys. Take advantage of the few birdie opportunities you get out there,” she said.

Despite the tough stretch, the veteran LPGA player felt she still played well.

“You’re going to hit bad shots. You just got to take it, know there will be a bogey or two in there, and move on,” Thompson said. “Could have been worse, so I stayed positive and made a birdie on the back nine as well and made some good putts. Just build on the positives, not focus on anything else and take that into the weekend.”

She will continue to keep that patient mindset heading into the final 36 holes as Thompson chases down her second major championship.

Her first came at 19 when she won the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship.

It has been 10 years since that victory, and the 11-time LPGA winner is playing some of her best golf. Thompson finished T2 last week at the Meijer LPGA Classic after she missed four straight cuts. Before those four early weeks, she recorded a T3 at the inaugural Ford Championship.

In the three events that she played all four rounds, her worst finish was a T16 at the season opener, the LPGA Drive On Championship. An injury in her hand and wrist kept her from playing her best. It also seems to be why she missed so many cuts in a row.

Thompson appears healthy now after shooting another impressive round to keep her in contention at Sahalee.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.