Lee’s top finish to grab third at LPGA

AUSTRALIAN golfer Minjee Lee has fired a final-round 67 to finish third in the LPGA event in Indianapolis, behind winner Lexi Thompson and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko.

Thompson pulled away from Ko on Saturday to win the inaugural Indy Women in Tech Championship for her second victory of the year and ninth career LPGA Tour title.

Tied with Ko entering the final round at Brickyard Crossing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Thompson closed with a 4-under 68 for a fourstroke victory over Ko.

The 22-year-old Thompson finished at 19-under 197. Ko had a 72.

Lee’s round included birdies on the third, sixth, 16th and 18th holes and an eagle at the par-3 14th, but she dropped a shot on the 11th hole.

Thompson broke a tie with Ko and took the lead for good with birdies on the ninth and 10th holes. But she bogeyed No.11, hooked her tee shot at No.16 into the water en route to another birdie, and hit through the green and settled for par at No.17.

She closed with her sixth birdie of the round.

Thompson also won the Kingsmill Championship in May in Virginia. In April in the major ANA Inspiration in the California desert, she lost a playoff to So Yeon Ryu after being penalised four strokes for a rules violation reported by a television viewer.

Hend shows class

SCOTT Hend has carded a one-over 71 in the weatheraffected third round of the European Masters, which extended his lead to three shots.

The Australian made two birdies and an eagle but those were offset by five bogeys at the picturesque Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Switzerland.

The 44-year-old came into the week looking for redemption after losing to Alex Noren in a playoff last year and will begin the final round at -12. Hend leads from Italian Fabrizio Zanotti (70).