RANCHO MIRAGE, CA – Lexi Thompson is poised for another leap into Poppie’s Pond.

Friday, the second round of the ANA Inspiration was suspended due to darkness. 56 players returned to the course at 7:15 a.m. Friday morning to complete their round, including Thompson. The suspension of play allowed Thompson to re-group after an up and down start to her second round. She immediately made back-to-back birdies to take the outright lead at eight-under par with a second round five-under par, 67. The world’s top-ranked American leads by one ahead of Michelle Wie, Sung Hyun Park, So Yeon Ryu and Suzann Pettersen at seven-under par.

It was a little up and down, but I made some good putts when I came back out here this morning and definitely brings me a lot more confidence coming out for the third round," Thompson told the media. "I wasn't really looking at their scoreboard. All I heard was cheers back there, though. I'm just trying to focus on my own game, so you can't really let that get into your mind."

This is the third time Thompson has held the 36-hole lead at the ANA Inspiration. In 2016, Thompson held a share of the second round lead with Ai Miyazato but carded a final round 73 to finish fifth. In 2014,Thompson held the 36-hole lead with Se Ri Pak and went on to win her first major championship.

Click here for highlights from Thompson's second round.

Wie returned to the course Saturday morning to complete her second round and took the outright lead at eight-under par before making bogey at the eighth to finish one back of Thompson. Wie carded a second round, three-under par, 69.

Park, a 2017 rookie on Tour, moved into a share of second on Saturday morning with a three-under par, 69. The KLPGA standout finished in a share of sixth in her first appearance at the ANA Inspiration last season and went on to contend in two more of the season’s major championships.

“I’m not so sure,” Park told LPGA.com through a translator. “I think it has a lot to do with my condition being very good especially for the last week or two overall.”

Like Wie and Thompson, Park will have several hours before starting their third round.

“I think there’s going to be some time until my round,” said Park. “Instead of continuing to practice I’m going to rest a bit and right before my tee off I’m going to do some practice."

The cut line fell at two-over par, sending home two-time ANA Inspiration champions Brittany Lincicome (+3) and Karrie Webb (+9).

The third round begins at approximately 11:15 a.m. PT.

Click here for complete scores from the second round of the 2017 ANA Inspiration.

Thompson Holds 36-Hole Lead at ANA Inspiration for Third Time in Four Years

Related Articles