Lexi Thompson among six at summit for Meijer LPGA Classic finale
Thompson carded a four-under 68, as did co-leaders Nanna Koerstz Madsen of Denmark and Paraguay's Sofia Garcia. Sweden's Madelene Sagstrom tied for the best round of the day on Saturday, carding a five-under 67, while South Korea's Hye-Jin Choi and Spain's Carlota Ciganda each posted a three-under 69 to create the six-player logjam.
"Of course it was a close call last year, but it's fair game tomorrow," said Thompson, who lost to Lilia Vu in a playoff at the Blythefield CC layout in 2024.
"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."
Thompson, who has not won on tour since 2019, recorded seven birdies and three bogeys and finished with birdies on 16 and 18.
Sagstrom dazzled the crowd, producing eagles on the fourth and sixth holes, sandwiched around a birdie on the fifth. The 2025 LPGA Match Play winner, who holed out from the fairway on the sixth, got to 12 under with a birdie at 14, but bogeyed the par-4 16th hole to drop to 11 under.
Sagstrom will be paired with Thompson and Koerstz Madsen in the final threesome of the day on Sunday.
Australia's Karis Davidson is two strokes behind at nine under, while four players - including Megan Khang - are tied at eight under.
Wei-Ling Hsu of Chinese Taipei tied Sagstrom for the low round of the day and is tied for 12th at 7-under par.
enduring a fourth missed cut in a row on tour following Friday's second round.
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Irish Examiner
21-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Derek Thompson bringing the curtain down on commentary career
Derek Thompson feels the time was right to end his commentary career, as he prepares to pick up the microphone for the final time at Wolverhampton on Tuesday night. Thompson is one of the most recognisable figures in the racing industry having spent time commentating on-course and for BBC radio, while also presenting for ITV, Channel 4, At The Races, and Sky Sports Racing during a nearly 60-year broadcasting career. The 74-year-old was even part of a three-strong party alongside Lord Oaksey and The Sun's Peter Campling that attempted to negotiate the release of Shergar after the 1981 Derby winner was kidnapped. He also enjoyed time in the spotlight when what became his famous catchphrase, "Are you well? I thought you were", appeared on Radio One courtesy of Greg James before going viral, as did an At The Races clip of him when he mistook a man for a woman during an exchange with Robert Cooper. But now 'Tommo' is taking a step back and Dunstall Park will be the last time he calls them home at a race meeting. Thompson said: "I'll be brutally honest, it's not going to be easy because I still love it to this day and I'm so proud that I'm one of about 20 people that do the race calling in the UK. "I've been doing it for so many years that it's time to move on. It's not getting any easier, but I still love it. I've been very lucky, I'm paid to go to the races. Other people have to pay to get in. I've got the best seat in the house. "I'm absolutely stunned by the amount of people that have come up — and that's not just older people like me, but younger people as well — and said can I have a selfie, can I have your autograph. It's just lovely. The messages I've been getting on social media, thank you so much, it's lovely, it almost brought a tear to my eye. It's very moving and it makes me feel very proud. While Thompson will be putting down his binoculars, he certainly does not plan to be a stranger to the racecourse and hopes to take his affable style around Britain. Thompson said: "I'll still be presenting at the racetracks around the country and hoping to organise a little tour called, 'Are you well? I thought you were', or 'It's a man actually, Derek', so we're hoping to continue the fun side of racing because I'm a great believer in enjoying racing. "The memories, and there's some great stories, many of which we can't tell, but the ones we can I'd love to, we're hoping to start a podcast. I will still be going (racing) because I enjoy working. I've been very lucky over the years, working with people like John Francome, Brough Scott." Thompson also famously once raced against the then future King in a charity event and remembers the race fondly. He said: "I beat him, Prince Charles as he was then. I rode a horse for Nicky Henderson called Classified and I beat him at Plumpton. "There were about 12 runners, it was a two-mile Flat race and it was incredible. "We occasionally have a chat at the races, Royal Ascot and stuff and we get together sometimes. "I always say, 'Sir, I'm sorry I beat you all those years ago and he says 'don't worry, I forgave you', but the (late) Queen goes, 'but I haven't, Tommo'. It was incredible." Reflecting on his illustrious career behind the microphone, one of Thompson's favourite memories was calling Frankel's racecourse debut at Newmarket when Henry Cecil's charge launched the beginning of an unbeaten 14-race career. And Thompson has fond memories of the late, great Cecil and the empathy he showed when he was dealing with bowel cancer in 2012. He said: "I did the first commentary on Frankel when he won at Newmarket — what a horse. "I used to go and sit with Henry Cecil on the gallops. I remember I had cancer and I was coming out of hospital and I was very weak and I used to go on the gallops at Newmarket. "I remember him saying, 'come on, sit down next to me', and we watched the horses because I could hardly stand up. It was just lovely and I remember watching Frankel coming up there and he was one of my favourite horses. I miss Henry to this day." Red Rum's first Grand National victory in 1973 will forever remain one of the fondest from the many commentaries — in this case radio — Thompson has done during his career. He said: "The 1973 Grand National, Red Rum and Crisp. I'm the youngest ever commentator, 22, of the Grand National. "There was Michael Seth-Smith at the first, Michael O'Hehir was at Becher's, I was at Valentine's and then I handed back to Peter Bromley and he did the best commentary I've ever heard on a race finish. "Crisp and Richard Pitman were 30 lengths clear passing me and Red Rum got up on the line to win. "Red Rum was probably the greatest horse of all time. There's so many — Frankel, Brigadier Gerard, Nijinsky, Shergar, I've been lucky enough to see all of those."
Irish Daily Mirror
21-07-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Derek Thompson to bring the curtain down on his commentary career
Derek Thompson believes the time is right to end his commentary career, as he prepares to pick up the microphone for the final time at Wolverhampton on Tuesday night. Thompson has become one of the most recognisable figures in the racing industry having spent time commentating on-course and for BBC radio, while also presenting for ITV, Channel 4, At The Races and Sky Sports Racing during a nearly 60-year broadcasting career. The 74-year-old was even part of a three-strong party alongside Lord Oaksey and The Sun's Peter Campling that attempted to negotiate the release of Shergar after the 1981 Derby winner was kidnapped. He also enjoyed time in the spotlight when what became his famous catchphrase, 'Are you well? I thought you were', appeared on Radio One courtesy of Greg James before going viral, as did an At The Races clip of him when he mistook a man for a woman during an exchange with Robert Cooper. But now 'Tommo' is taking a step back and Dunstall Park will be the last time he calls them home at a race meeting. Thompson told the PA news agency: 'I'll be brutally honest, it's not going to be easy because I still love it to this day and I'm so proud that I'm one of about 20 people that do the race calling in the UK. 'I've been doing it for so many years that it's time to move on. It's not getting any easier, but I still love it. I've been very lucky, I'm paid to go to the races. Other people have to pay to get in. I've got the best seat in the house. 'I'm absolutely stunned by the amount of people that have come up – and that's not just older people like me, but younger people as well – and said can I have a selfie, can I have your autograph. It's just lovely. The messages I've been getting on social media, thank you so much, it's lovely, it almost brought a tear to my eye. It's very moving and it makes me feel very proud. While Thompson will be putting down his binoculars, he certainly does not plan to be a stranger to the racecourse and hopes to take his affable style around the country. Thompson said: 'I'll still be presenting at the racetracks around the country and hoping to organise a little tour called, 'Are you well? I thought you were', or 'It's a man actually, Derek', so we're hoping to continue the fun side of racing because I'm a great believer in enjoying racing. 'The memories, and there's some great stories, many of which we can't tell, but the ones we can I'd love to, we're hoping to start a podcast. I will still be going (racing) because I enjoy working. I've been very lucky over the years, working with people like John Francome, Brough Scott.' Thompson also famously once raced against the then future King in a charity event and remembers the race fondly. He said: 'I beat him, Prince Charles as he was then. I rode a horse for Nicky Henderson called Classified and I beat him at Plumpton. 'There were about 12 runners, it was a two-mile Flat race and it was incredible. 'We occasionally have a chat at the races, Royal Ascot and stuff and we get together sometimes. 'I always say, 'Sir, I'm sorry I beat you all those years ago and he says 'don't worry, I forgave you', but the (late) Queen goes, 'but I haven't, Tommo'. It was incredible.' Reflecting on his illustrious career behind the microphone, one of Thompson's favourite memories was calling Frankel's racecourse debut at Newmarket when Sir Henry Cecil's charge launched the beginning of an unbeaten 14-race career. And Thompson has fond memories of the late, great Cecil and the empathy he showed when he was dealing with bowel cancer in 2012. He said: 'I did the first commentary on Frankel when he won at Newmarket – what a horse. 'I used to go and sit with Henry Cecil on the gallops. I remember I had cancer and I was coming out of hospital and I was very weak and I used to go on the gallops at Newmarket. 'I remember him saying, 'come on, sit down next to me', and we watched the horses because I could hardly stand up. It was just lovely and I remember watching Frankel coming up there and he was one of my favourite horses. I miss Henry to this day.' Red Rum's first Grand National victory in 1973 will forever remain one of the fondest from the many commentaries – in this case radio – Thompson has done during his career. He said: 'The 1973 Grand National, Red Rum and Crisp. I'm the youngest ever commentator, 22, of the Grand National. 'There was Michael Seth-Smith at the first, Michael O'Hehir was at Becher's, I was at Valentine's and then I handed back to Peter Bromley and he did the best commentary I've ever heard on a race finish. 'Crisp and Richard Pitman were 30 lengths clear passing me and Red Rum got up on the line to win. 'Red Rum was probably the greatest horse of all time. There's so many – Frankel, Brigadier Gerard, Nijinsky, Shergar, I've been lucky enough to see all of those.'
The 42
20-07-2025
- The 42
Two more medals for Ireland at European U23 Championships in Norway
IRELAND'S ANIKA THOMPSON and Eimear Maher bagged bronze medals to round out a memorable European U23 Championships in Norway. On the final day of competition in Bergen, 10000m champion Thompson climbed the podium again after finishing third in the 5000m and Maher medalled in the 1500m. Maher clocked 4:09.54 as she delivered a tactical masterclass and ran the race of her life in her first track championship for Ireland. 'I'm lost for words right now, I'm still processing it all,' the 24-year-old said said. Advertisement 'I was vomiting before the heats, I was so nervous, this was my first track champs. . . I worked for this, I wanted this, and I think I tried to enjoy it a lot more today, but it was easier because I had done it before. I'm absolutely delighted.' Turkey's Dilek Kocak won in 4:08.79, while Adele Gay of France took silver. Thompson, who became just the second ever Irish athlete to top the podium at the European U23 championships with 10000m glory on Friday, added to her medal haul in the 5000m. She ran 15:56.80, having hit the front early and led until 800m to go. 'I'm really quite tired, but I'm actually really happy,' said Thompson. 'I love having a race where I can give it my all and that was one of the hardest ones I have run, and I just love to leave it out there on the track. 'It's the joy I have of the sport of running, whether I win or lose, the greatest thing is that I'm healthy and I get to do this, I have a big smile on my face. 'My goal today was of course to get the double gold, but If I go for gold and I might end up with a bronze, so always go for the win and see where you end up after that.' Meanwhile, the men's 4x400m squad of Andrew Egan, Callum Baird, Joe Doody and David Mannion clocked a new national U23 record of 3:06.31 as they finished fifth. The women's 4x400m squad broke the national U23 record, clocking 3:34.81, and the men's 4x100m squad went close to doing similar in 39.83. Major championships debutant Anna Gavigan placed eighth in the discus with a best throw of 51.16m. Athletics Ireland heralded this as the most successful U23 European championship ever with five medals won, along with a 14th-place finish on the medal table. Nicola Tuthill (hammer throw silver) and Nick Griggs (5000m silver) were the other Irish medallists.
