Lexi Thompson shot her second straight 6-under 65 on Friday to take a three-stroke over playing partner Gerina Piller into the weekend at the Kingsmill Championship.

Thompson is playing her third tournament since losing the major ANA Inspiration in a playoff after being penalized four strokes for a rules violation that a TV viewer spotted.

“I feel great with where my game is at,” Thompson said. “I am just trying to keep my thoughts very simple, focus on doing my routine and picking small targets out and committing to my shots. If I do that, my game is in a good spot.”

The long-hitting Florida player had six birdies in a bogey-free round on Kingsmill’s River Course. She waited out a rain delay in the middle of the round.

“Always stalls you a bit,” Thompson said. “Wasn’t too loose on the first iron shot that I hit, but, it was a beautiful day out. Not much wind. Hopefully, we get some good weather this weekend.”

“I feel great with where my game is at.” @Lexi has a 3 shot lead heading into the weekend ? Watch her 2nd round interview @KingsmillLPGA: pic.twitter.com/aUyPv7F8OC

— LPGA (@LPGA) May 20, 2017

Piller shot a 67, closing birdie-bogey-birdie-bogey. Winless on the LPGA Tour, she chipped in for her birdie on 17.

“I feel like my putting is really great right now,” Piller said. “Just excited for tomorrow. … Hit the fairway, hit the green, make the putt. Keeping it as simple as possible.”

“I feel like I belong out there and I feel like my game is as good as anyones.” @Gerinapiller 3 shots off the lead @KingsmillLPGA pic.twitter.com/L4k62foCXe

— LPGA (@LPGA) May 19, 2017

Piller will play alongside U.S. Solheim Cup teammate Thompson again Saturday.

“She’s a great ball-striker and hits it far,” Piller said. “This course definitely suits the long-ball hitters, especially now. The greens are firming up and getting a little quicker. To have a shorter iron in is definitely an advantage.”

Top-ranked Lydia Ko was four strokes back at 8 under after a bogey-free 67. Trying to hold off So Yeon Ryu and Ariya Jutanugarn for the No. 1 spot, Ko is winless since July.

“There is a lot of golf to be played,” Ko said. “All I need to do is focus on my game and be excited for the weekend.”

Ryu, the ANA winner, was 5 under after a 67. Jutanugarn, defending the first of her five tour victories last year, was 3 under after a 67 playing in the group with Thompson and Piller.

Candie Kung joined Ko at 8 under. Kung eagled the par-4 sixth in a 66.

In Gee Chun (66) and Vicky Hurst (67) were 7 under, and Angela Stanford (66), Shanshan Feng (67) and Brittany Lincicome (70) were another stroke back. Chun rebounded after an opening bogey on the par-4 10th.

“Walking to the (next) tee I said, ‘Forget it, start again,” Chun said. “I tried to stay patient and made a lot of birdies.”

The South Korean player is one of five major champions in the top nine, joining Thompson, Ko, Feng and Lincicome.

The full leaderboard can be seen here.

Lexi Thompson had six birdies in a seven-hole stretch and finished with a 6-under 65 on Thursday to take the first-round lead in the Kingsmill Championship.

Playing her third tournament since losing the ANA Inspiration in a playoff after being penalized four strokes for a rules violation that a TV viewer spotted, Thompson had a one-stroke lead over U.S. Solheim Cup teammates Gerina Piller and Brittany Lincicome and young American Angel Yin.

Thompson played her opening nine in even par with a birdie on No. 11 and a bogey on No. 17, then birdied No. 1 and Nos. 3-7 on Kingsmill Resort’s River Course.

“The second nine was pretty crazy,” Thompson said. “I hit some great shots and rolled a few good putts, so definitely helps out my confidence.”

“Words can’t even describe the feeling. It was just like a feeling of freedom jumping out” @Lexi talks skydive & current lead @KingsmillLPGA pic.twitter.com/5FEzuur0JA

— LPGA (@LPGA) May 18, 2017

Thompson played alongside Piller and defending champion Ariya Jutanugarn.

“It always helps to see the other players in your group play well,” Thompson said about Piller. “She played great today, too. She struck it very well and rolled a lot of great putts. It’s something that we feed off each other with.”

Jutanugarn shot a 72.

Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., shot a 70 while Hamilton’s Alena Sharp shot 71.

On Wednesday, Thompson began a charitable partnership with the SEAL Legacy Foundation called the Lexi Legacy Challenge, completing her first parachute jump by landing on the first tee for her pro-am round. She made her sky diving debut in tandem with a Navy SEAL.

“It was an unbelievable experience,” Thompson said. “Supporting the SEAL Legacy Foundation is my No. 1, and just the military in general. But the only way I would jump out of a perfectly good plane is with a SEAL on my back. There was nothing like it. Words can’t describe the feeling. It was just like a feeling of freedom jumping out.”

Top-ranked Lydia Ko was two strokes back at 67 along with Sarah Jane Smith and Giulia Molinaro.

“I don’t think I was hitting the ball fantastic, so there is a little bit of improvement to do there,” Ko said. “The girls are playing great, so I know that I need to try and keep up, and to be in contention, I need to make a lot of birdies out there.”

Piller had six birdies and a bogey.

“It’s always good to get off to that kind of start and get comfortable,” Piller said. “The greens are rolling phenomenal. The course is in the best shape I’ve ever seen it. Just happy to be under par and looking forward to tomorrow.”

“I’d love to get my first win but golf is merely my job it’s not who I am.” Watch more from @Gerinapiller at @KingsmillLPGA: pic.twitter.com/km21oabrit

— LPGA (@LPGA) May 18, 2017

Lincicome had five birdies in a bogey-free round. She won the season-opening event in the Bahamas.

“I think it’s best I’ve ever seen it,” Lincicome said about the course. “The greens are so fast. If you get above the hole you got to be really careful.”

The full leaderboard can be seen here.

The results have not been coming quite as quickly for Brooke Henderson in her second year on the LPGA Tour.

Henderson has two top-10 finishes through 10 events this season – by no means a sophomore slump, but well behind her pace of eight top-10 results through nine events as a rising rookie last year. However, the confident 19-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., believes a breakout will happen soon.

“It’s been a little disappointing, some of the results, but I feel like my game is extremely close,” Henderson said Tuesday at an Ottawa-area charity golf tournament while making a rare visit home. “It’s just one or two shots every week.”

“I’m really excited about the upcoming tournaments and hopefully I can switch the momentum and finish near the top.”

Henderson’s best finish has been a tie for fourth and the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore earlier this year. She finished tied for 14th at the ANA Inspiration, the first major on the LPGA Tour schedule in late March. She has her sights set on the other four majors on the calendar, including the KPMG Women’s Championship, where she will be the defending champion.

She played the most out of anyone on the LPGA Tour last year and said she has been able to apply that learning. She admitted she will take two weeks off later this summer to make sure her “focus and mental strength is where it needs to be.”

“Playing all the courses last year, this year I knew where to hit it. I knew where the good spots and the bad spots were, even in the hotels I felt more comfortable and the surroundings.” she said. “Every golf course I see, everywhere I go and get to do `more’ it makes me feel better for this year, and for years to come.”

She said she’s particularly looking forward to the CP Women’s Open in August at the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club. Henderson was recently bestowed an honorary membership to that club, which last hosted the Women’s Open in 2008.

She knows it will be a pressure-packed week.

“Almost every week I think about the CP Women’s Open in the back of my mind,” she said. “When there are TV cameras or crowds around I think about how it’s going to be at the CP Women’s Open and take every week as a stepping stone. I know it’s going to be pressure filled.

“There are going to be a lot of expectations for sure, and I don’t want to disappoint. I want to give them a good show.”

But the pressure, she said, is something she’s starting to relish.

“I do think there are a lot of expectations on me, but I love pressure and I think it’s just what you make of it,” she said.

And despite more than US$2 million in earnings in her career, rolling up to the course in a new BMW SUV, and just having procured a home in Naples, Fla., Henderson remains a teenager at heart.

She said she’s binge-watches the show White Collar on Netflix, follows her hometown Ottawa Senators during their Stanley Cup playoff run, has a penchant for Disney films and is a big texter away from the golf course.

“It’s nothing too crazy,” she said. “Just a typical teenager.”

Henderson will take the rest of this week off, staying in her hometown of Smiths Falls visiting with family and friends  – she has not been back since Christmas – before going to Williamsburg, Va., for the next event on the LPGA Tour schedule.

“I love being home, even though it’s like December here, it’s so cold,” she said. “I’m excited to get back playing again next week in Virginia, and hopefully have some great finishes.”

Sei Young Kim held off Ariya Jutanugarn 1 up on Sunday to win the Lorena Ochoa Match Play for her sixth LPGA Tour title.

After Jutanugarn won the par-5 17th with a birdie to force another hole, Kim finished off the match with a halve for a par on the par-4 18th.

“It was a really tough day today,” Kim said. “I never had such a hard win like today. I am happy that I was able to win and hold this trophy.”

Though, that wasn’t easy.

“That trophy is really heavy,” Kim said. “When I held it, I felt pain.”

In the morning semifinals at Club de Golf Mexico, Kim beat Mi Jung Hur 5 and 4, and the third-ranked Jutanugarn topped Michelle Wie 4 and 3. Hur won the third-place match, overcoming a five-hole deficit to beat Wie in 22 holes.

Kim trailed for only four of the 95 holes she played, also beating Maude-Aimee Leblanc (3 and 1), Danielle Kang (3 and 2), Charley Hull (3 and 1) and Karine Icher (5 and 4) in the event that switched from stroke to match play and moved from November. The 24-year-old South Korean player is projected to jump from 12th to eighth in the world ranking.

Sei Young Kim talks about her 6th LPGA career win @LOYMEXICO and celebrating her victory with a margarita! pic.twitter.com/ffDDOMqAgT

— LPGA (@LPGA) May 7, 2017

Kim opened birdie-eagle-birdie to take a 3-up lead in the final.

“She is an aggressive player, even with the 3-up start, I was still very nervous and focused in making birdies,” Kim said. “I just kept playing as if I was 1 down.”

Jutanugarn, a five-time winner last year, won the par-5 10th with a birdie, Kim took the par-4 12th with a birdie, and Jutanugarn cut the deficit to two holes with a par win on the par-4 14th.

Kim missed a chance to win on the par-3 16th when her short birdie try lipped out. She then drove out of bounds to the right on the par-5 17th, and Jutanugarn took the hole with a 12-foot birdie putt.

“I had a problem with my ball-striking. It was really pushy,” Kim said. “That’s why it was going out of bounds. I tried to stay calm, but I really couldn’t. My hands were shaking, my legs were shaking too. It was really hard to keep calm.”

Both players had birdie tries from about 10 feet on the par-4 18th. Kim’s just brushed the hole, knocking her to her knees in disbelief, and Jutanugarn missed to end the match.

Wie had a 5-up lead over Hur after 10 holes. Hur took five of the next seven holes to tie it and won with a birdie on the 22nd hole.

“I was so frustrated with my game,” Hur said. “I played 36 holes on Saturday and today as well, my mind was trying to keep it up. My caddie kept saying positive things and trying to keep my focused.”

Wie is winless since the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open. She won the then-Lorena Ochoa Invitational in stroke play in 2009 in Guadalajara for her first tour title.

Kim knocked off friend Hur in the morning.

“We have a good relationship. We live in the same area in Dallas so we’ve had dinner a couple times,” Kim said. “It’s really tough to play against a close friend, but it is a tournament, so we forget about it and focus on the tournament.”

The full leaderboard can be seen here

Michelle Wie rallied to beat Angel Yin on Saturday in the Lorena Ochoa Match Play to join Ariya Jutanugarn, Sei Young Kim and Mi Jung Hur in the semifinals.

Four down after 11 holes at Club Golf Mexico, Wie twice rallied to tie the long-hitting Yin and won with a birdie on the par-5 20th hole.

“I think it was the definition of survival out there,” Wie said. “She played so good. She eagled two and six. I think she was 5 under in seven holes. She played great. I’m really proud of my caddie for motivating me and keeping me in my head. And we fought so hard out there.”

Match 59:@themichellewie makes birdie to defeat @angelyinlol after 20 holes & advance to the Semifinals @LOYMEXICO #WieVSYin #LOYCDMX pic.twitter.com/TtGs2ZKDHn

— LPGA (@LPGA) May 6, 2017

Wie set up a match against Kim, a 5-and-4 winner over Karine Icher in the event that switched from stroke to match play and moved from November.

Wie is winless since the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open. She won the then-Lorena Ochoa Invitational in stroke play in 2009 in Guadalajara for her first tour title.

The third-ranked Jutanugarn lost a 3-up lead to Cristie Kerr before finishing off the 39-year-old American with a par on the 19th hole. Kerr won three weeks ago in Hawaii and lost to Haru Nomura last week on the sixth hole of a playoff in Texas.

“The greens here are really hard to read, the speed, everything,” Jutanugarn said. “Cristie hit some really good putts, but they just didn’t go in. … My tee shot was pretty good all day, I just have to work on my putting.”

Hur had two 1-up victories, knocking off top-ranked Lydia Ko in the round of 16 in the morning and edging Shanshan Feng 1 up in the afternoon.

Yin had a 4-up lead after seven holes, and that was the margin after her birdie win on the par-5 11th. Wie won four of the next five holes – two with birdies, and two with pars – to tie it. Yin rebounded to win the par-5 17th, and Wie took the par-4 18th with a par to force extra holes.

“I knew how quickly things could end, so I just kind fought through,” Wie said.

The 19-year-old Yin, from Arcadia, California, is an LPGA Tour rookie after playing last season on the Ladies European Tour.

In the round of 16 in the morning, Wie topped Marina Alex 5 and 4; Yin beat Sandra Gal 3 and 2; Jutanugarn defeated Pernilla Lindberg 5 and 3; Kim edged Charley Hull 3 and 1; Feng beat Canadian Brooke Henderson 1 up; Icher topped Angela Stanford 1 up; and Kerr knocked out Cydney Clanton 3 and 2.

Ko advanced far enough in the tournament to keep the No. 1 ranking.

“I was struggling with ball-striking today and I was not good with my putt, either,” Ko said. “So, those two combinations, it was obviously not very good.”

The event is the LPGA Tour’s first match-play tournament since 2012. Tomorrow morning’s semi-final matches are listed below.

5 Mi Yung Hur KOR vs. 2 Sei Young Kim KOR

1 Ariya Jutanugarn THA vs. 9 Michelle Wie USA

The consolation match will tee-off at 12:30 CT and the championship match at 12:45 CT.

The full leaderboard can be viewed here

Ariya Jutanugarn won a sister showdown Friday in the Lorena Ochoa Match Play, and Lydia Ko, Michelle Wie and Cristie Kerr also advanced at Club de Golf Mexico.

The third-ranked Jutanugarn edged older sister Moriya 2 up in the second round.

“Today we had fun because we are sisters – and we always have fun,” Ariya said. “She plays so good. I can’t believe I beat her today because she’s so good.”

Ariya will face Pernilla Lindberg in the round of 16 in the event that switched from stroke to match play and from November to April.

Ariya never trailed against Moriya.

“We always say, ‘Just have a good day,”’ Moriya said. “We know that we both are going to try our best, play our games. We don’t try to be easy on each other. Hopefully, next time we are not on the same pool and don’t have to see each other so early in the week.”

Ko beat Jennifer Song 1 up to guarantee staying No. 1 in the world.

Wie topped Laura Gonzalez Escallon 3 and 2, and Kerr defeated Jenny Shin 4 and 3.

Wie eagled the par-5 second hole for the second straight day. She made a 20-foot birdie putt on No. 11 to take a 3-up lead.

“I’m happy with how I played,” Wie said. “It was a fun but tough match. I am happy the way I’m playing, and just happy to survive.”

Kerr won three weeks ago in Hawaii and lost to Haru Nomura on Sunday on the sixth hole of a playoff in Texas.

Ko will play Mi Jung Hur, a 20-hole winner over Suzann Pettersen.

Wie set up a match against friend Marina Alex.

“We are already texting each other. We do dinner every night,” Wie said. “It’s going to be fun, it’s going to be a lot of gifs sent tonight or over in the course of the day.”

Alex beat Brittany Lang 5 and 4.

Kerr will face Cydney Clanton, a 19-hole winner over Caroline Masson.

Charley Hull beat Pornanong Phatlum 2 and 1, a day after a fainting spell midway through the back nine in her first-round victory over Nelly Korda.

“It was probably a bug in the morning and it got worse and worse in the afternoon, probably from dehydration,” the 21-year-old Englishwoman said.

Hull will play Sei Young Kim, a 3-and-2 winner over Danielle Kang.

Shanshan Feng outlasted Sarah Jane Smith in 22 holes. She will play Brooke Henderson, a 2-and-1 winner over Ryann O’Toole. Henderson was 2 down after 11.

“I knew I had some work to do,” Henderson said. “I was able to do make four birdies in a row that helped my momentum. I played great today … and she played great too. It was just an awesome match.”

“We both played really well — It was an awesome match” Brooke Henderson after she defeated Ryann O’Toole 2&1 @LOYMEXICO pic.twitter.com/Uch1I7mnV0

— LPGA (@LPGA) May 5, 2017

Angela Stanford beat Olympic champion Inbee Park 3 and 2.

Carlota Ciganda, the November winner in stroke play at Club de Golf Mexico in the then-Lorena Ochoa Invitational, dropped out with a 21-hole loss to Karine Icher. Stanford will play Icher.

Lindberg beat Brittany Lang 4 and 3.

The event is the LPGA Tour’s first match-play tournament since 2012.

Below are the match-ups for tomorrow’s round of 16. Click here for full leaderboard.

LORENA OCHOA BRACKET
7:30 a.m. – Lydia Ko, NZL vs. Mi Jung Hur, KOR
7:40 a.m. – Shanshan Feng, CHN vs. Brooke Henderson, CAN

ANNIKA SORENSTAM BRACKET
7:50 a.m. – Ariya Jutanugarn, THA vs. Pernilla Lindberg, SWE
8 a.m. – Cydney Clanton, USA vs. Cristie Kerr, USA

JULI INKSTER BRACKET
8:10 a.m. – Michelle Wie, USA vs. Marina Alex, USA
8:20 a.m. – Sandra Gal, GER vs. Angel Yin, USA

SE RI PAK BRACKET
8:30 a.m. – Angela Stanford, USA vs. Karine Icher, FRA
8:40 a.m. – Sei Young Kim, KOR vs. Charley Hull, ENG

Lydia Ko beat home favourite Ana Menendez, and the Jutanugarn sisters set up a second-round showdown in the Lorena Ochoa Match Play.

The top-ranked Ko edged Menendez 3 and 2 on Thursday at Club de Golf Mexico in the event that switched from stroke to match play and from November to April.

“I am going to try to give myself as many birdie opportunities as I can,” Ko said. “I think a big key going forward is that you need to have many birdies opportunities, because some of them will end up falling.”

Third-ranked Ariya Jutanugarn will face older sister Moriya in the second round.

“I think playing against her will be fun, because even if I don’t make a putt in that hole and she does I’ll feel happy for her,” Ariya said.

Ariya beat Amy Anderson 5 and 4, and Moriya topped Alena Sharp 2 and 1.

“Is a little too early this week to see my sister, but … tomorrow will be fun,” Moriya said.

Ko will face Jennifer Song, a 3-and-2 winner over Mi Hyang Li.

Ko took a two-hole lead with birdie win on the par-5 second and par-4 fourth. Menendez took the par-3 fifth with a birdie, and Ko rebounded with birdies on the par-4 seventh and eighth to make it 3 up. Menendez won the par-5 10th with a birdie, Ko took the par-3 14th with a par and ended the match with a birdie halve on the par-3 16th.

“Hopefully, that last birdie is good momentum going into tomorrow,” Ko said.

The event is the LPGA Tour’s first match-play tournament since 2012.

Carlota Ciganda, the November winner in stroke play at Club de Golf Mexico in the then-Lorena Ochoa Invitational, topped Mexico’s Gaby Lopez 5 and 3.

Michelle Wie routed Lizette Salas 6 and 5.

“I love match play,” Wie said. “It reminds me of Solheim Cup. It brings back lot of memories. I love it. I had fun today and Lizzete was a really good opponent. I chipped down for eagle twice.”

Wie will play Laura Gonzalez Escallon, the Belgian player who knocked off fourth-ranked In Gee Chun 2 and 1.

Cristie Kerr topped Brittany Altomare 2 and 1. Kerr won three weeks ago in Hawaii and lost to Haru Nomura on Sunday on the sixth hole of a playoff in Texas.

“I didn’t really have my full game today and I still got it done,” Kerr said. “I made some really clutched-outs coming in and I was able to get it done.”

Olympic champion Inbee Park beat Peiyun Chien; Shanshan Feng had a 7-and-5 victory over Laetitia Beck; and Brooke Henderson outlasted Katherine Kirk in 20 holes. Stacy Lewis dropped a 1-up decision to Ayako Uehara.

Second-ranked So Yeon Ryu, the ANA Inspiration winner, is taking the week off.

IRVING, Texas – Hara Nomura two-putted for birdie on the sixth playoff hole Sunday for her third LPGA Tour victory after Cristie Kerr briefly took the lead on the 72nd hole in the windy Volunteers of America Texas Shootout.

Nomura, the 24-year-old from Japan who lives in Hawaii, also birdied the par-5 18th hole at the end of regulation to force the playoff after giving up the lead for the first time with a double bogey at No. 17.

Kerr and Nomura finished regulation at 3-under 281 at Las Colinas Country Club, then played the 518-yard 18th six more times. There were five matching pars before Nomura finally won nearly 7 1/2 hours after starting her round, almost making an eagle before her tap-in and then the wait while Kerr’s 12-foot birdie chance slid left of the cup.

Kerr was trying to win consecutive tournaments. The 39-year-old American won in Hawaii two weeks ago, her 19th career victory coming nearly five months after knee surgery.

Nomura shot a 5-over 76. Kerr made the only birdie all day at the par-3 17th, and was leading by a stroke when she tapped in a par putt on 18 for a 74.

Nomura made the turn with a five-stroke lead before consecutive bogeys to start her back nine.

After Kerr birdied No. 17 with a 10-foot putt and was still playing the 18th, Nomura made double bogey at the par 3 for the second day in a row. That knocked Nomura out of the lead for the first time after also leading at the end of the second and third rounds, but her regulation-ending birdie got her into the playoff.

Jessica Korda shot a 73 to finish third at 1 under, a stroke ahead of Sung Hyun Park. Eun-Hee Ji, whose 70 was one of only two subpar rounds Sunday, tied for fifth with Angel Yin at 1 over.

It was the third consecutive day with challenging wind, but the most brutal with cooler temperatures in the 60s and winds steady over 20 mph with gusts of 40-45 mph. The scoring average Sunday for the 53 players left in the field was nearly 5 1/2 strokes over par.

While only two players finished the round under par, and none shot even-par 71, there were eight players who shot in the 80s. The day began with 16 players under par for the tournament, and that was cut to top three finishers.

Lexi Thompson tied for 17th at 4 over in her first tournament since a TV viewer-cited penalty imposed a day later cost her a likely victory in the LPGA’s first major of the season three weeks ago. She opened with a 69 before rounds of 72, 73 and 74.

Lydia Ko will remain the world’s No. 1 player for the 80th consecutive week, and for the 99th week in her career. She had to withdraw before the third round in Texas because of a swollen eye from an infection likely caused by allergies.

No. 2 So Yeon Ryu could have taken over the top spot in the world by finishing first or second, but had a closing 75 to tie for ninth. Ariya Jutanugarn, the third-ranked player who could have taken over No. 1 with a win, was a stroke off the 36-hole lead before consecutive weekend rounds of 76.

IRVING, Texas – Haru Nomura of Japan still had fun on another windy day on the LPGA Tour in North Texas.

Despite a 1-over par 72 with a late double bogey in the third round, she actually doubled her lead Saturday.

“I have fun, yeah,” said Nomura, who at 8-under 205 takes a two-stroke lead into the final round. “I like windy and tough conditions, and from fairway to green. Yeah, I love it.”

Namura, who led by only one stroke after 36 holes, leads by two over 17-year-old amateur Eun Jeong Seong (69), Cristie Kerr (70) and two-time Texas winner Inbee Park (71).

With winds of about 20 mph and a threatening storm creating difficult conditions for the second straight day, only three players shot in the 60s Saturday.

Hamilton’s Alena Sharp (70) was tied for 23rd at 1-over par after three rounds. Brooke Henderson (71) of Smiths Falls, Ont., was tied for 37th at 3 over.

Stacy Lewis had bogey-free 66 that pushed her from tied for 44th place after 36 holes up to fifth.

“I was excited about the early tee time because I knew getting out earlier would be an advantage to post a number and just see what happens,” Lewis said. “It’s playing really hard and you just have to be really patient.”

Lewis has 11 career victories, but hasn’t won since 2014, when the Texas event was the first of her three victories in a season when she was the LPGA’s top player.

Kerr won the LPGA Lotte Championship in Hawaii two weeks ago before the tour had last week off. That was her 19th career victory.

“I’m just staying in the moment. If I make a mistake, I’m not getting too caught up in it,” Kerr said. “I don’t feel like I’ve peaked this week yet. I’ve had some chances to shoot some low numbers, but just haven’t quite made the putts.”

The second-round leaders teed off nearly 3 1/2 hours earlier than scheduled Saturday, and in threesomes instead of twosomes. But play was finished without any rain.

Nomura had actually stretched her lead to four strokes before the double bogey at the par-3 17th when her tee shot went over the green and into a hazard.

“I had the perfect distance, but just landing low pretty hard,” she said. “So that’s unlucky. That’s golf.”

She managed to save par at the par-5 18th after her second shot went well left, bounced hard off a concrete cart path and ricocheted way past the green.

Ariya Jutanugarn started the day a stroke off the lead and with a win this weekend would take over as the world’s No. 1-ranked player. But the third-ranked Jutanugarn shot a 76 with six bogeys and settled in a group of five players, including her sister Moriya (74), who are five strokes off the lead.

Lydia Ko, ranked No. 1 for 79 straight weeks, withdrew before the third round because of an eye infection.

Her agent said in a statement that Ko has a swollen eye from an infection, likely caused by allergies that have been bothering her all week. A doctor advised Ko not to wear contact lenses until she got better.

The only other player who could overtake Ko at the top of the Rolex Rankings is No. 2 So Yeon Ryu, if she finishes first or second in Texas. Ryu shot a 68 on Saturday to get to 2-under 211.

After 79 players started play Saturday, there were 53 who made the secondary cut to advance to the fourth round.

IRVING, Texas – The stubborn winds of North Texas might frustrate some golfers. Not Haru Nomura.

Nomura shot a 6-under 65 on Friday for a two-round total of 133 and a one-shot lead in the North Texas LPGA Shootout.

“My mind was very calm today,” Nomura said. “I like windy and tough conditions.”

Ariya Jutanugarn is second following a 67 with Suzann Pettersen another shot behind. Moriya Jutanugarn, Ariya’s older sister, is fourth at 136 along with two-time tournament winner Inbee Park and Marina Alex.

Lexi Thompson, playing in her first tournament since a rules violation cost her a likely victory in the season’s first major three weeks ago, shot a 72 after birdieing three of the first five holes. She’s nine shots behind at 142.

First-round leader M.J. Hur also shot a 72 and trails by four strokes. Hur, who lives in McKinney, about 40 miles from the Las Colinas Country Club course, led after 18 holes last year and tied for second place.

Hamilton’s Alena Sharp (74) was the low Canadian, tied for 61st at 2-over par, while Brooke Henderson (71) of Smiths Falls, Ont., was tied for 67th at 3 over. Maude-Aimee Leblanc (74) of Sherbrooke, Que., and Calgary’s Jennifer Ha (80) both missed the cut.

Nomura’s best finish of the season is a tie for third at the opening Women’s Australian Open. She has two career wins in seven seasons on the tour.

She was 10-under for the tournament on Friday going into the par-5 18th but put her second shot left of the fairway under some trees. Punching out left her with a par putt that curled to the right of the hole.

Ariya Jutanugarn has yet to win this season after claiming five titles in 2016 and being named player of the year.

“Just keep doing like what I did today and keep like playing my own game and just go have fun,” she said.

Moriya Jutanugarn, who is 16 months older than Ariya, aced the 135-yard 13th. Her best career result is a fourth-place finish at the 2013 Women’s Australian Open.

The sisters are staying together, and Moriya said she’s looking forward to competing against Ariya.

“I try to beat her; she tries to beat me,” Moriya said. “It makes golf more fun.”

Dori Carter’s 8-under 63 broke the tournament record by one shot. Carter, winless in seven seasons on tour, eagled the par-5 3rd hole with a sand wedge from about 70 yards. That highlighted a run of six straight sub-par holes.

“You see the ball, and all of a sudden you don’t see the ball,” Carter said. “And I hear the crowd. My parents are the crowd.”

Thompson’s 3-over back nine included a double bogey on the par-3 17th. Her tee shot landed 5 feet in front of the pin but rolled off the back of the green and into back water.

“It just wasn’t my day, I guess,” she said.

Park won at Las Colinas in 2013, when she was the player of the year, and again in 2015. After missing five cuts in 10 starts last season, she said she’s treating her 11th year on tour like it’s her first.

“I was getting a little too bored of the game and losing a little bit of concentration,” Park said. “I try to appreciate whatever is happening. It makes me a lot more happy.”

Defending champion Jenny Shin followed Thursday’s 71 with a 72, trailing by 10.

Eighty players made the cut, which was 3 over. There will be a second cut after Saturday’s third round to the top 50 and ties.

With rain forecast for Saturday afternoon and evening in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the third round will be played in threesomes beginning earlier than scheduled and sent off split tees.