Thompson fires 63 in new LPGA event

L exi Thompson shot a 9-under 63 on Thursday to take a one-shot lead over Sandra Gal and Kris Tamulis in the LPGA Tour’s inaugural Indy Women in Tech Championship in Indianapolis.

Thompson had 11 birdies and t wo bogeys to fall a stroke short of the Brickyard Crossing record set by Mike McCullough in the PGA Tour Champions’ 1999 Comfort Classic.

G a l , l i k e T h o m p s o n , started her morning round on the back nine that features four holes inside the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The German hit 12 of 14 fairways in regulation, avoided the bunkers and finished without a bogey.

Tamulis had the best afternoon score with four birdies on each side.

The 54-hole event ends Saturday.

European Tour:

Miguel Angel Jimenez fired a 6-under round of 64 and is in a threeway tie for the lead after the European Masters first round.

Jimenez, 53, had seven birdies and a single bogey on the picturesque Swiss Alps course in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, to share the top of the leaderboard with 30th-ranked Tyrrell Hatton of England and Scott Hend of Australia.

Jimenez also competes on the senior tour and already holds the European Tour record as the oldest winner. At 50, his 2014 Spanish Open title was his 21st on the tour.

Six players were one shot behind the leaders, including Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand. The European Masters is also an Asian Tour event.

Among five players at 4 under was American golfer Daniel Im, who aced the 175yard (160-meter) eighth hole with a 7- iron.

Two-time European Masters champion Alex Noren of Sweden opened his title defense with a par round.

In his 500th start on the European Tour, Lee Westwood of England carded a 1-over 71.