Despite falling short in Belmont, Michigan, and missing out on her first LPGA Tour victory since the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer in 2019, Lexi Thompson showed off her incredible talent even after falling to Lilia Vu in a three-hole playoff.
She still had the move of the week, jumping 21 spots in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking from No. 60 to No. 39. The 2015 Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give champion showed off her ability at Blythefield Country Club, finishing the week at 16th place -under to force a tiebreaker with Vu and Grace Kim.
The major champion, a force to be reckoned with on the LPGA Tour since 2012, has built an impressive resume. With 11 Tour victories, 89 career top-10 finishes and more than $14.2 million in earnings, he has firmly established himself as a golf powerhouse.
The 29-year-old maintained her composure and posted four stellar rounds of 71-68-68-68 at the Meijer LPGA Classic. This performance is a major confidence boost for Thompson, who aims to represent the United States for the seventh time at the 2024 Solheim Cup, hoping to recapture the Cup at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.
“I don’t feel like I was in a final group for a minute. I know Arizona, I was kind of close, but I don’t think I was in the final group,” the Tour veteran said. “It’s been a while (since) having those emotions, maybe the Solheim Cup and having those emotions down the stretch and making the putts when necessary.
“It’s always a great feeling to be able to make shots under pressure and when it matters most. It shows that your hard work is paying off and that you are in control.”
Thompson’s success last week could be a catalyst for her 2024 season, one that propels her up the standings. With two majors and the Solheim Cup on the horizon, she appears to be finding form at the ideal time.
Ally Ewing makes a move in June
Ally Ewing shot a final-round 69 at Michigan and was one shot away from a four-way playoff with Vu, Thompson and Kim and a chance at her fourth LPGA Tour victory. This near miss propelled her to a solo fourth-place finish, pushing her up five spots to 19th in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. This marks her return to the top 20 for the first time since August 2021.
The 31-year-old has made 10 cuts in 10 total starts this season, earning two top-10 finishes in addition to her fourth-place finish at Blythefield Country Club. She tied for fourth at the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions and then tied for third at the U.S. Women’s Open presented by Ally after shooting a final-round 66.
Ewing’s journey isn’t just about playing golf every week. It’s also about the connections he forms along the way. Reflecting on her recent consistent play, she shared: “I feel like after the US Open (women’s) I played very solid. I had a good weekend.”
“I feel very good about this week. You certainly want to win. You don’t know how many chances you’ll have down the stretch to win a golf tournament, but at the end of the day, I’ll do everything I can to compete. That ‘s what I did.”
He also expressed gratitude to his host family, who provided him with a “home away from home.”
“I stay with a great host family and they are very welcoming to me throughout the week. My host mother prepares some energy balls for me to take to the golf course. “A really good home away from home for me in terms of being on the road, a welcoming family and a great golf course.”
As the Solheim Cup approaches, the excitement is undeniable. Top players have moved in and out of the top seven spots in the Solheim Cup standings, and the last few guaranteed spots on this year’s team are still up for grabs. In this exciting race, Ewing’s solo fourth-place finish at Michigan moved her from fifth to fourth in the standings with 1,242.5 points, and she is currently in prime position to make her fourth appearance for Team USA. .
The race for the Epson Tour card continues in Michigan
The race for the card continues as the Epson Tour prepares for the Island Resort Championship, the second event in a three-tournament series in the Great Lakes state. Players will compete once again for 500 Race to the Card points as they pursue success in Michigan.
Despite her second missed cut of the season at last week’s Otter Creek Championship, New Zealand’s Fiona Xu remains atop the standings with 1,013 points. Epson Tour sophomore Cassie Porter is in second place with 822.5 points, but she closed the gap a bit after a T47 finish in Columbus, Indiana, now down to just 191. points behind Xu.
Madison Young takes third place with 769.882 points, while Yahui Zhang moves from 22nd to 4th place with 679.722 points after her second-place finish at Otter Creek Golf Course. Rounding out the top five is Briana Chacón, with 654,542 points, who notched a victory at the Atlantic Beach Classic in March.
After an exciting final round and a two-hole playoff, Savannah Vilaubi emerged as the winner of the Otter Creek Championship, marking her second victory on the Epson Tour. She defeated Yahui Zhang in a playoff by making a 12-foot birdie putt on the second extra hole. This victory was her first since the 2023 Copper Rock Championship. Thanks to this victory, she jumped from 103rd place to 15th in the race, and Vilaubi currently holds 542,686 total points.
Some other important moves after the Otter Creek Championship are as follows:
- Brooke Matthews, who tied for third at the Otter Creek Championship, her third top 10 of the season, moved from 17th to eighth with 631,417 total points.
- Epson Tour rookie Minori Nagano jumped up the rankings after her T3 performance at Otter Creek Golf Course, and is now ranked 50th with 267,200 total points.
Race for the Card is a season-long points competition where Epson Tour members accumulate points in each official Epson Tour tournament. The ultimate goal is to finish in the top 15 in the points standings to earn LPGA Tour membership for the 2025 season. The points-based system, new to the Epson Tour this season, replaces the money-based system and will award points to those who make the cut weekly.
The 2024 season will also be the first year that Epson Tour athletes will compete for 15 LPGA Tour cards. They will be awarded following the season-ending Epson Tour Championship in Indian Wells, California, this fall.
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