Leona Maguire’s struggles continued as she missed her fourth consecutive cut at the Meijer LPGA Classic in Michigan.
After starting with a level-par round on Thursday, Maguire’s putter went cold on Friday, as she needed 30 putts in a one-over-par 73. It’s not ideal preparation for the 30-year-old, ahead of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in Texas and her homecoming at the PMG Women’s Irish Open at Carton House which starts on July 3rd (CLICK HERE for tickets)
Making her sixth start of the season Lexi Thompson moved into contention going into the weekend, a year after a playoff loss at Blythefield County Club as she continues her part-time LPGA schedule and she birdied three of the last four holes in breezy afternoon conditions for a 3-under 69 and a seven-under-par total. The 2015 winner at Blythefield was a stroke behind leaders Karis Davidson, Carlota Ciganda, Hye-Jin Choi and Celine Boutier.
“The golf course is one thing. It’s always in great shape for us, which we always look forward to,” Thompson said after the bogey-free round on the tree-lined layout.
“But the amount of support that the tournament gets and also how Meijer gives back to the community as well. It’s not just a tournament. It’s much bigger than that.”
The 30-year-old from Florida won the last of her 11 LPGA Tour titles in 2019, is set to play next week in the major KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in Texas and she added, “Some days are harder than others and we get frustrated, but at the end of the day it is just golf.”
Davidson, playing in the second-to-last group off the first tee, birdied the par-4 16th and par-5 18th for a two-under-par 70.
“We just really hung in there today,” Davidson said. “Was a bit of a grind, and nice to get the couple birdies at the end.”
Ciganda and Choi each shot 67, and Boutier shot a 68, all playing the morning session.
“Coming here the week before a major obviously gives you confidence for playing next week,” Ciganda said. “The course is one that I like. I enjoy coming here, and it’s always fun playing in Grand Rapids.”
Thompson was joined at seven-under by Nanna Koerstz Madsen (68), Amanda Doherty (69), Bronte Law (69), Minjee Lee (70) and Sofia Garcia (71).
Grace Kim, also part of the playoff last year that Lilia Vu won, was 6 under after a 73. She bogeyed two of her last three holes to fall out of a tie for the lead.
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