Sunday 26 July 2015 22:57, UK
Lexi Thompson surged past overnight leader Lizette Salas and held off a last-day charge by Gerina Piller to win the Meijer LPGA Classic on Sunday.
Beginning four strokes adrift of Salas, Thompson birdied five of her first eight holes on her way to a six-under 65 and a one-shot victory at Blythefield Country Club.
The 20-year-old was briefly caught by Piller, who fired eight gains in a final-round 64, but restored her advantage with a birdie at the 11th.
Thompson found herself three strokes clear after picking up another stroke at the par-four 15th, but missed the green at the 17th to card a bogey and needed to make a two-putt par at the last to hold on to victory.
"I actually said when I was at the tenth that my goal was to get to 20-under, but I didn’t get up to that," Thompson said. "I was just trying to focus on my own game, focus on my pre-shot routine and having fun in between shots. I think that's what helped me."
Victory is Thompson’s first since last year's Kraft Nabisco Championship and will lift her to world No 6, while Piller's bid for a maiden LPGA title ends in a tie for second with Salas.
The third round leader moved back within one of the leader by holing a 20-foot gain at the 17th, but could only make par at the last to finish one short.
So Yeon Ryu finished three shots back in fourth place alongside Kris Tamulis, with Brittany Lang a further stroke off the pace after ending the week with a six-under 66.
World No 1 Inbee Park made a horror end to the week, dropping three shots over her first five holes on her way to a five-over 76.
