Teenage prodigy Alexis Thompson turned her form on its head and charged back into contention for the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters
Widely billed as the next big thing in women’s golf, Thompson fired a bogey-free 66 – the day’s best round — to jump into a healthy two-shot lead, going into the penultimate round of the season-ending Ladies European Tour event, promoted and organized by golf in DUBAi.
The youngest winner of the LPGA Tour, Thompson reeled off three birdies in each half to move to eight-under for the tournament. Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson and Margherita Rigon of Italy were tied for second at six-under, one shot ahead of Paraguary’s Julieta Granada and Becky Morgan of Wales.
Top-draw Michelle Wie matched Gustafson’s flawless 67 on Thursday to share the sixth place with the Swedish trio of Pernilla Lindberg, Louise Larsso and overnight leader Lotta Wahlin.
It was, however, a day to forget for seasoned Laura Davies who stumbled to 12-over-par, missing the cut, which fell at three over par, along with 2008 Omega Dubai Ladies Masters winner Anja Monke (eight over) and France’s Gwladys Nocera (four over).
Nothing went right for both local amateurs Lindsay Brown and Sana Tufail as well, both finishing way down the leaderboard after making a promising start on day one. Brown finished at 10 over par while Tufail, who shot an encouraging 73 in the first round, collapsed to a disappointing 14 over in the second.
Young Thompson enjoyed a day in the sun. “I played steady and my game was pretty consistent as I hit a few more putts and my approaches were a bit closer (to the pin),” said the 16-year-old from South Florida.
“Winning in Dubai would definitely be an honour. This is such a great tournament, so I am going to try to take it easy and play one shot at a time,” said Thompson, adding: “It would be great if I am paired with Michelle (Wie) in the last group on Saturday.
PHOTO: Alexis Thompson leading the tournament
“I don’t know whether it would happen or not, but definitely I would love to play with her, something I have never done it before.”
Gustafson, starting the day a good five shots off the pace, also carded a bogey-free 67, which included three birdies on the front nine.
“I was striking the ball really well. So it feels good. My ball striking has been pretty similar, at least today’s, but I didn’t hole any yesterday, and I holed a couple today, but I left putts out there, said the leading points’ scorer during Europe’s Solheim Cup victory in September.
“It is pretty good, because I was actually hitting the ball awful on Tuesday during the Pro Am, but the Swedish coaches that are here this week from the Swedish Golf Federation helped me find my ball striking.”
