Golf’s rulemakers Tuesday banned anchored putting strokes, a technique that has been used by players to win four of the past six major professional tournaments and drawn both support and opposition throughout the sport.PRATTVILLE, Ala. – Third-ranked Stacy Lewis shot a 7-under 65 on Saturday to take a two-stroke lead in the Navistar LPGA Classic, while second-round leader Lexi Thompson fell five shots behind.
Lewis, a two-time winner this season, had a 15-under 201 total on The Senator course at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail’s Capitol Hill complex. She birdied four of the first five holes in her bogey-free round.
Thompson, 17, had a 74 to drop into a tie for sixth at 10 under. Thompson won the event last year at 16 to become the youngest champion in LPGA Tour history, a mark broken last month by 15-year-old amateur Lydia Ko in the Canadian Women’s Open.
Angela Stanford was second after a 68. Lizette Salas with third at 12 under after a 70, and Haeji Kang and Mi Jung Hur followed at 11 under. Kang shot a 67, and Hur had a 72. Sarah Jane Smith and Hee Young Park joined Thompson at 10 under. Smith had a 68, and Park shot 72.
Thompson opened with a career-best 63 on Thursday to match the tournament record.
Top-ranked Yani Tseng was 5 under after a 70.
Former Fort Wayne resident Amanda Blumenherst fell to last after shooting a 10-over 82. She is now 6-over 222 for the tournament.
