ORLANDO, Fla. - Lexi Thompson leads her fellow LPGA professionals who teed it up on day one of the Diamond Resorts Invitational. Thompson sits in a share of 13th at +26, using the modified Stableford system. She carded a bogey-free, four-under par, 67 on Friday at Tranquilo Golf Club at Four Seasons Orlando. Woody Austin leads at +43 after carding a 59 on Friday.
Thompson is one of four LPGA professionals competing in this weekend’s 54-hole event, including Brooke Henderson, Brittany Lang and Brittany Lincicome. The event also features members of the PGA Tour Champions as well as celebrities and athletes from around the sporting world. Thompson played alongside two-time All-Star Mark Mulder and tennis Olympic Silver Medalist, Mardy Fish on Friday. The world No.5 has spent the off-season working particularly on her putting, as well as improving her consistency for the upcoming season. Thompson will make her 2017 LPGA Tour debut in two weeks at the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic.
WATCH - Lexi Thompson Post-Round Interview
Henderson is T-23 after day one at +23. The Canadian posted a two-under par, 69 on Friday with her father on the bag instead of her sister Brittany. She played alongside Toronto Blue Jays’ third baseman Josh Donaldson and the NHL Hall of Famer Mike Modano. Henderson will also make her 2017 debut in the Bahamas and is looking at this week’s event as a tune-up to help get her ready for the upcoming season.
WATCH - Brooke Henderson Post-Round Interview
Lang, the reigning U.S. Women’s Open champion shared a lot of laughs playing alongside actor Jack Wagner and two-time Super Bowl Champion Mark Rypien. She opened with an Even par, 71 on Friday to sit in a share of 27th at +21. Lang gave her brother a break from looping this weekend and instead has her husband, Kevin, taking over duties this weekend. It is the first event she’s competed in since making the switch to PXG Golf during this off-season.
WATCH - Brittany Lang Post-Round Interview
Lincicome struggled to a three-over par, 74 on Friday to sit at the bottom of the leaderboard at +16. She played alongside PGA Tour Champions’ John Cook and John Hart, President and General Manager of the Atlanta Braves.