Lexi Thompson Among Six Who Share Lead Heading into Final Round of Meijer LPGA Classic

By Brigette Ramirez

BELMONT, Mich. – After the lead remained unchanged through rounds one and two at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give at Blythefield Country Club, six players – including fan-favorite Lexi Thompson – enter the championship round tomorrow tied for the lead at 11-under par.

Of the four co-leaders at the conclusion of round two yesterday, only Carlota Ciganda and Hye-Jin Choi – who were paired together for the final tee time of the day and both finished the third round 3-under par – remain atop the leaderboard heading into the final day of competition.

“I didn't think it was easy out there,” Ciganda said following her third-round play. “I thought the greens were pretty firm. It was a little windy sometimes, and I think the course plays quite tough in the afternoon being so firm. If you don't hit enough fairways it can get a little tricky.”

Ciganda bounced back from a bogey on hole one to finish the day with a third-round 69 to remain in contention for her third career victory and first since 2016 at the Citi Banamex Lorena Ochoa Invitational.

Her playing competitor Choi was the only player to record a bogey-free round and also finished the day with a 69 to remain at 11-under par. Choi is the highest-ranked co-leader at No. 29 in the Rolex Rankings and is coming off back-to-back top-five finishes in her last two starts at the MEXICO Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba (T4) and the U.S. Women’s Open presented by Ally (T4).

Madelene Sagstrom, Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Lexi Thompson and Sofia Garcia faced an uphill battle to reach the top of the leaderboard, all moving up by at least four places in the effort.

Sagstrom, who started the day furthest from the top of the leaderboard at T11, shot the lowest round of the day with two eagles, four birdies and three bogeys to card a 67 and give herself a shot at the win on Sunday. The Swede was the only player to record two eagles on Saturday on Nos. 4 and 6.

“I said yesterday my game feels really good,” said Sagstrom. “I feel like I can win this week. I mean, it's golf. You still have to go out and shoot the shots. You have to manage this golf course really well with the greens being this firm this year. So you still have to put in a good game, but I feel like it's in me.”

If successful tomorrow, Sagstrom will be the first multiple-time winner on the LPGA Tour in 2025 following her victory at the 2025 T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards in April. She would also be the fourth player from Sweden to win in 2025, making Sweden the winningest country through 15 tournaments this season.

Fellow Scandinavian Nanna Koerstz Madsen of Norway had a tumultuous day, starting the round six-under par through the first 16 holes before making back-to-back bogeys on holes 17 and 18 but ultimately finished the day shooting a second consecutive 68 to keep her spot on the leaderboard at T1.

“I'm just trying to stick to my drills and hopefully they'll work for tomorrow,” Koerstz Madsen said about her putting when asked how she was planning to reset and prepare for the final round tomorrow. “I think I still have some good confidence on the green. There was just some speed things today.”

Similarly, Paraguay’s Sofia Garcia started round three strong with an eagle and four birdies through hole 10 before making back-to-back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 13-15. Garcia managed to overcome her putting struggles and end the day with a 68 to stay in the mix for her first career victory on the LPGA Tour.

Garcia is the lowest ranked co-leader in the Rolex Rankings at No. 405 and has missed the cut in her last two appearances at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give.

“The beginning for sure everything was bouncing right, I was reading the putts directly, and I think I drive very well,” Garcia said of her mentality throughout today’s round. “I don't think I made a bad decision today. Maybe could have done things better, but I don't think I made a bad decision, which is good. So, I felt like I took advantage of that momentum. When it kind of got killed in the middle I was able to get it back together and was able to have a really good round.”

Fan-favorite Lexi Thompson also positioned herself at the top of the leaderboard by shooting a 68 and tying for most birdies on the day with seven, including three consecutive on Nos. 4, 5 and 6, offset by three bogeys.

Thompson looks to join Brooke Henderson as the second multiple-time winner of the Meijer LPGA Classic after winning the tournament a decade ago in 2015. The sole American atop the leaderboard fell just short last year, finishing second to Lilia Vu in a three-way playoff.

“I'm just going to go out tomorrow and hope for the best,” Thompson said. “Of course it was a close call last year, but it's fair game tomorrow. Everybody is going to come out swinging. Good weather tomorrow, so I know birdies will have to be made and I'll have to go pin seeking. I will hope for the best, go out there and embrace the opportunity, and really love on the fans.”

Karis Davidson, who was tied for the lead at the conclusion of round two yesterday, stands alone at 9-under after shooting a second consecutive 70+ round today. Four other players are within four of the lead through 54-holes: Megan Khang, Chanettee Wannasaen, Bronte Law and Celine Boutier.

The final round of the Meijer LPGA Classic tees of Sunday at 8:25 a.m. ET, with the final group at 10:37 a.m. ET. Golf Channel will air the live coverage from 1-2 p.m. ET, with the conclusion of the championship airing on CBS from 2-4 p.m. ET.