Despite falling short in Belmont, Mich., and missing out on her first LPGA Tour win since the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer in 2019, Lexi Thompson showcased 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 Rankings from No. 60 to No. 39. The 2015 Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give champion showcased her skill at Blythefield Country Club, finishing the week at 16-under to force a playoff with Vu and Grace Kim.
The major champion, a force to be reckoned with on the LPGA Tour since 2012, has built an awe-inspiring track record. With 11 Tour wins, 89 career top-10 finishes and over $14.2 million in earnings, she has firmly established herself as a golf powerhouse.
The 29-year-old maintained her composure and delivered four stellar rounds of 71-68-68-68 at the Meijer LPGA Classic. This performance serves as a significant confidence boost for Thompson as she sets her sights on representing the United States for a seventh time at the 2024 Solheim Cup, with the hope of reclaiming the Cup at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.
"I don't feel like I've been in a final group in a minute. I know Arizona, I was somewhat close, but I don't think I was in the final group," said the Tour veteran. "It's been a while (since) having those emotions, maybe Solheim Cup and having those emotions coming down the stretch and making the putts when needed.
"It's always a great feeling to be able to pull off the shots under pressure and when it matters most. Just shows your hard work is paying off, and you're in control."
Thompson's success last week could be a catalyst for her 2024 season, one that propels her up in the rankings. With two majors and the Solheim Cup on the horizon, she seems to be finding form at an ideal time.
Ally Ewing Making a Move in June
Ally Ewing carded a final-round 69 in Michigan and came one shot short of a four-way playoff with Vu, Thompson and Kim and an opportunity to collect her fourth LPGA Tour victory. This near-miss propelled her to a solo fourth-place finish, pushing her five spots upward to No. 19 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 results in addition to her fourth place 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 carding a final-round 66.
Ewing's journey is not just about playing golf each week. It’s also about the connections she forms along the way. Reflecting on her recent consistent play, she shared, "I feel like coming off the U.S. (Women's) Open I played really solid. I had a good weekend.
“I feel really great about this week. Certainly, you want to win. You don't know how many chances you're going to get coming down the stretch to win a golf tournament, but at the end of the day, I'm going to do everything I can to compete. That's what I did.”
She also expressed her gratitude to her host family, who provided her with a “home away from home.”
“I stay with a great host family, and they're so welcoming to me all week. My host mom makes me some energy balls for me to bring to the golf course. A really good home away from home for me in terms of being on the road, welcoming family, great golf course."
As the Solheim Cup approaches, the excitement is undeniable. The top players have shuffled in and out of the top seven in the Solheim Cup standings, and the final few guaranteed spots on this year's team are still up for grabs. In this thrilling race, Ewing's solo fourth finish in 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 the U.S. Team.
Epson Tour’s Race for the Card Continues in Michigan
The Race for the Card continues as the Epson Tour tees it up for the Island Resort Championship, the second event of a three-tournament stretch in the Great Lakes State. Players will once again vie 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 at the top of the standings with 1,013 points. Epson Tour sophomore Cassie Porter is in second with 822.5 points but closed the gap a bit after a T47 finish in Columbus, Ind., now only 191 points behind Xu.
Madison Young is in third place with 769.882 points, while Yahui Zhang moves from No. 22 to No. 4 with 679.722 points after her runner-up finish at Otter Creek Golf Course. Rounding out the top five is Briana Chacon, with 654.542 points, who captured a victory at the Atlantic Beach Classic in March.
After an exhilarating 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 sinking a 12-foot putt for birdie on the second extra hole. This win was her first since the 2023 Copper Rock Championship. As a result of this victory, she jumped from 103rd to 15th in the Race, and Vilaubi currently holds 542.686 total points.
Some other significant moves following 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, went from 17th to eighth with 631.417 total points
- Epson Tour rookie Minori Nagano jumped into the standings after her T3 performance at Otter Creek Golf Course, now sitting in 50th with 267.200 total points
The Race for the Card is a season-long points competition in which Epson Tour members accumulate points in every official Epson Tour tournament. The ultimate goal is to finish in the top 15 in the point standings to earn LPGA Tour membership for the 2025 season. The point-based system, new on 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 vie for 15 LPGA Tour cards. They will be awarded after the season-ending Epson Tour Championship in Indian Wells, Calif., this fall.
)
)
)
)
