MIAMI (AFP) – Lexi Thompson fired a bogey-free five-under par 67 on Friday to grab a three-shot lead midway through the LPGA Tour Championship in Naples, Florida.
Thompson, without a victory in 2018, capped her round with three straight birdies at Tiburon Golf Club to pull away from overnight leader Amy Olson and fellow American Brittany Lincicome.
Her 36-hole score of 12-under par 132 tied the tournament record set by Lydia Ko in 2016 and matched by Park Sung-hyun in 2017.
Thompson is the only player without a bogey through 36 holes and is on the way to expunging the memory of a missed two-footer that cost her victory here last year.
A victory would extend her streak to six consecutive LPGA seasons with at least one win.
Lincicome was atop the leaderboard until a double-bogey at the par-four 15th followed by back-to-back bogeys at the last two holes.
That included a three-putt from four feet at the 18th that gave her a one-under 71 for an eight-under total of 135.
Olson followed up her first-round 63 with a 72 also shares second after a level-par 72 that included two birdies and two bogeys.
It was a further stroke back to Marina Alex and Nelly Korda, who both shot 67 for 136.
World number one and defending champion Ariya Jutanugarn opened her round with three straight bogeys but rebounded to post a one-under 71 that left her nine off the lead in a tie for 20th.
