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Lexi Back to Defend
Already this season, Lexi Thompson has seven top-10s including a win at the Honda LPGA Thailand on Tour and is back this week looking to defend and pick up her another win this year. Thompson started the final round of the 2015 Meijer LPGA Classic four strokes off the lead and tallied eight birdies against two bogeys to post a final round 65 to finish at 18-under for the week and claim a one-shot victory over Lizette Salas and Gerina Piller.
Since winning in Thailand, Thompson has had two top-5 finishes at ANA Inspiration and the Kingsmill Championship Presented by JTBC and a missed cut at the Volunteers of America Texas Shootout.
Looking for Another Win
Eleven players have won on Tour in 2016, ten of which will tee it up this week at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. This season’s multiple winners Haru Nomura, Ariya Jutanugarn and Lydia Ko are joined by first-time winner Jenny Shin this week, as well as Hyo Joo Kim, Sei Young Kim, Minjee Lee, Anna Nordqvist, defending champion Lexi Thompson and recent major winner Brooke Henderson.
Ko and Henderson Headline Michigan Field
15 of the top 20 players in the Rolex Rankings will tee it up in Michigan for the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. World No. 1 Lydia Ko and No. 2 Brooke Henderson headline the field. Henderson moved up two spots in the rankings after defeating Lydia Ko in a one-hole playoff to pick up her first win of 2016 and earn her first major win at the KPMG Women’s PGA Champion. Ko’s runner-up finish last week marked her third of the season.
Past Champions
In the third year of the Meijer LPGA Classic, defending champion, Lexi Thompson and 2014 champion Mirim Lee will tee it up this week.
In 2015, Thompson tapped in a two-foot putt on 18 to capture the fifth win of her career, finishing 18-under for the week for a one-shot victory.
In the inaugural event, Lee defeated Inbee Park in a two-hole playoff to earn her first career LPGA victory. Lee has had three top-10 finishes in 2016 including a T-4 at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and will be looking hoist the trophy again in Michigan to pick up her first win this season.
Rookie Watch
The 2016 rookie class will be well-represented this week with 22 of 29 in the field this week in the Michigan; which includes 2015 U.S. Women’s Open champion In Gee Chun, Australian native and winner on the Ladies European Tour Su Oh, three-time Epson Tour winner, Epson Tour Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year in 2015 and former Curtis Cup member Annie Park.
Su Oh has passed Karrie Webb in the Rolex Rankings with her T-8 finish in last week’s major to move up in the up in the Olympic standings to fill one of the 60 spots and represent Australia.