Alison Lee, Lexi Thompson and Lizette Salas will share the 36 hole lead at the Meijer LPGA Classic presented by Kraft at Blythefield Country Club.

“I’m going into the weekend with the same positive attitude I did the last two days,” Thompson said. “Yesterday was a little bit of a struggle but I ended with two birdies, so just going to stay patient, stay positive and just focus on my breathing between shots.”

Thompson went out in the morning and set the score to beat at 9-under thanks to a second round 64, the low round of the day. The three-time LPGA winner started the day hot with birdies on five of her first six holes en route to turning in 30 and while her putter cooled off she was able to come in at 34.

“I would say probably my iron shots and just my distance control was a lot better today,” Thompson admitted.

“Yesterday I was just going over basically every green, it was hard to control my iron shots, and today with the greens being a little bit softer I had a lot more birdie opportunities and rolled a few more putts in.”

Playing together in the afternoon wave Lee and Salas were able to match Thompson with rounds of 66 (-5) and 69 (-2) respectively.

“It’s great to have that competition out there,” Lee explained. “We kind of pushed each other throughout the way, me and Lizette. Especially yesterday, too, playing together for two days after her great round yesterday. So definitely I was fired up today going into the round and wanted to shoot a low number.”

Salas echoed Lee’s statement.

“It’s definitely helpful in one sense to have a competitor playing as well as you or even better,” Salas said. “We definitely keep each other going and she played a great round of golf today, so the group played really well.”

The trio holds a one shot advantage over five players - Gerina Piller, Q Baek, Kris Tamulis, Wei-Ling Hsu and Jaye Marie Green.

“I’m happy to be here, I’m happy to play on the weekend,” said Tamulis, a Lapeer, Mich. native. “You know, I can only do what I can do. So I’m just going to keep playing my own game and keep it in the fairways and hitting the greens and that’s what I usually do.”

82 players made the cut at even par 142. Notable players to miss the cut included: Angela Stanford (+1), MJ Hur (+1) and Ai Miyazato (+2).

Piller in the Mix with Web.com Tour Pro Husband on Hand
Gerina Piller fired a 6-under-par Friday to find herself in contention at 8-under heading into the weekend at the Meijer LPGA Classic presented by Kraft. After a bogey-free round, Piller sits just one-shot behind the trio of leaders and put herself in the hunt at Blythefield Country Club.

In addition to the six birdies that Piller posted, something else seemed to be helping charge her way up the leaderboard; her husband, Web.com Tour Pro Martin Piller.

“Yeah, it’s always awesome to have him out and having that support,” Piller said. “Whether it’s a good day or bad day, it’s just nice to have him waiting for me when I get done.”

For the Pillers, it isn’t everyday that they are able to come out and support the other. With schedule conflicts pulling them in different directions, time spent together is valuable.

“He’s about to pick up pretty heavy again, so with him obviously securing his Tour card, I don’t think we’re going to see much of an off season,” Piller said. “It’s going to get real interesting coming up.”

The lifestyle of having two professional golfers in the family isn’t always the most accommodating when trying to schedule when they can see each other. Sometimes being able to support your spouse means giving up your spot in the field.

“I’m not opposed to taking a week off to go see him and vice versa,” Piller said “It’s great that he’s understanding in that way and so we just make it work.”

Whether it was her improved play, support of her husband, or a combination of both, Piller has set herself up to be in contention this week. Piller will look to keep her spot towards the top of the leaderboard, and when she looks outside the ropes she’ll find one of her biggest supporters.

“It’s great to have that support,” Piller said. “He knows what I’m going through, he knows when you’re having just a bad day on the golf course…he shares with me in the glory days and the bad days so it’s great to have someone to go through life together, but also go through like your profession.”

Family Affair for Pressel
Morgan Pressel picked up the game of golf during summers spent vacationing near Detroit with her family and several members made the trip to Grand Rapids this week for the Meijer LPGA Classic presented by Kraft.

“It’s great to have everybody here,” Pressel said with a smile. “I’ve got my in laws here as well and my brother and his family. So it’s nice that everybody came to watch and it’s just fun to see them out there in the gallery. I’m glad I played better for them this week than I did last week in Toledo.”

The family and fans were certainly treated to a show as Pressel shot a 66 bouncing back from an even par round yesterday.

“I was very disappointed in my ball striking yesterday, so I worked quite a while after the round and maybe straightened it out a little bit and felt a little more comfortable. Definitely hit the ball better today.”

The 5-under round gets Pressel in the hunt to make a move on the weekend.

“Definitely, in a good spot, playing the weekend, got a chance,” Pressel said. “I don’t know what the lead will be but still a long two days left.”

Boxing Out Injury
Lexi Thompson shot an impressive second-round 64 Friday at the Meijer LPGA Classic presented by Kraft, and sits at 9-under-par for the tournament. Thompson had seven birdies during her round Friday, and it looked as if the three-time LPGA winner was nothing but confident in her golf game.

With a nagging right wrist injury healing, Thompson is able to play her game and focus on moving her way up the leaderboard.

“We’re not positive, but I think it’s from just the boxing photo shoot that I’ve done and now it’s just overuse,” Thompson said. “But it’s getting better, I’m icing it a bunch and just taping it up before every round.”

Judging by Thompson’s 7-under-par round Friday, she doesn’t seemed to bothered by the injury.

“You know, it didn’t hurt that bad today,” Thompson said. “It hurts warming up just to get it loosened up, but when I play it’s not too bad.”

Thompson heads in the weekend tied with Lizette Salas and Alison Lee and knows that she can’t put it on cruise control just yet.

“It’s the best players in the world every time I tee it up and I know that,” Thompson said. “So you have to bring your A game every week to win out here and I know I’m going to have to make even more birdies this weekend.”

Split Tees for Saturday
Saturday tee times have been changed from a one-tee start to a one- and ten-tee start due to the forecast of possible thunderstorms Saturday morning.

Tee times will take place from 10:45am-12:55pm, with the median scores going off first.

Meijer LPGA Classic Presented by Kraft Round 2 News & Notes

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