GRAND RAPIDS: Lexi Thompson shot a season-best seven-under 64 to grab a share of the lead with two other Americans after the second round of the USLPGA Tour's Meijer Classic on Friday.
The 20-year-old Thompson sank six birdies on her first eight holes to equal Alison Lee and Lizette Salas at nine-under 133 at the Blythefield Country Club.
"I wanted to make more birdies on the back nine," Thompson said. "I hit it in the rough on a few holes on the back nine where I needed to hit it in the fairway to be able to make birdies.
"But I'm very happy with my round, don't get me wrong."
Lee shot a 66, and Salas posted a 69. Kris Tamulis (68) tied for fourth at eight under with Gerina Piller (65), Jaye Marie Green (69), Taiwan's Hsu Wei-Ling (69) and South Korean Baek Kyu-Jung (68).
Thompson, whose most recent win was last year at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, started quickly as she poured in birdies on her opening two holes.
She parred the third then rolled in birdies on the next three holes. Thompson birdied the par-five eighth for her sixth birdie on the front nine.
She cooled off on the back nine, but still managed to make a birdie on the par-four 15th.
"Playing in the morning without the wind, the greens are a little bit softer, so it's easier to just control the way your irons are going to bounce into the green," Thompson said.
Lee, a Korean-American who played in the 2009 US Women's Open at age 14, began on the back nine and had four consecutive birdies beginning at No. 16.
"I was fired up today going into the round and wanted to shoot a low number. It's always good to have a good group and we all made the cut," said Lee, who was partnered with Salas.
Kim Kaufman posted a four-under 67 and is alone in ninth place at seven-under 135.
Australian Katherine Kirk and Dori Carter, who shared the first-round lead with Salas, both stumbled to two-over 73s and fell into a share of 13th at five-under.
Top-ranked Park In-Bee was tied for 18th at four-under after carding a 68.
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