Americans On Top Early at the Kingsmill Championship

Lexi Thompson leading with 65; Aditi Ashok in T35 with one-under-par 70 in the first round of the Kingsmill Championship at Des Moines Golf & Country Club.

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Gerina Piller of America at Rd 1 of Kingsmill Championship

May 19, 2017: In exactly three months, the 2017 Solheim Cup will return to U.S. soil at Des Moines Golf & Country Club in West Des Moines, Iowa. The American contingent had a strong outing in the first round of the Kingsmill Championship on Thursday, taking up the top four spots on the leaderboard.

India’s Aditi Ashok lying in T35 with one-under-par 70 after Rd 1. Aditi started the round positively with a birdie in the first hole by adding another 2 back to back birdies at 6th and 7th holes respectively. But at the back nine she suffered 2

Lexi Thompson’s round of 65 puts her one stroke ahead of fellow Americans Gerina Piller, Brittany Lincicome and Angel Yin, who are tied for second at 5-under. When asked what her goal was this week in Williamsburg, Thompson said, “I want to win every week. One week isn’t more than another. It’s always the same attitude: I want to win. Everybody does.”

Through 10 events of the 2017 season, two American players have taken home tournament titles: Brittany Lincicome (Pure-Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic) and Cristie Kerr (LOTTE Championship). During the 2016 season, Thompson (Honda LPGA Thailand) and Brittany Lang (U.S. Women’s Open Conducted by the USGA) were the only Americans to win a tournament.

First-Round Statistical Notes:

  • While no player hit all 18 greens in regulation, Lexi Thompson hit the most with 17
  • Three players hit all 14 fairways – Mo MartinJane Park and Jenny Shin
  • Thompson led the field with seven birdies in the first round, followed by Gerina Piller, Angel Yin, Sadena Parks and Madelene Sagstrom with six apiece
  • Three players carded eagles on Thursday – Brooke Henderson (No. 15), Celine Herbin (No. 3) and Ally McDonald (No. 7)
  • At 308 yards, Joanna Klatten led the field in first-round average drive distance, followed by Jessica Korda at 287 yards

 

LPGA Tour Release

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