Thompson seeks to defend Navistar golf title

MONTGOMERY, Alabama (AFP) –

Lexi Thompson, pictured here in July, will be going for an encore performance at this week’s Navistar Classic, where the American teenager became the LPGA Tour‘s youngest winner last year.

Lexi Thompson will be going for an encore performance at this week’s Navistar Classic, where the American teenager became the LPGA Tour’s youngest winner last year.

Thompson was just 16 years, seven months and eight days old when she captured her lone win in eight tournaments in 2011, winning by eight strokes on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail course.

Her age record has since been eclipsed by 15-year-old New Zealander Lydia Ko, who claimed the Canadian Women’s Open last month.

Thompson said on Wednesday that it “feels amazing to be back” playing in the Navistar. She also posted her career-low score of 65 in 2009 at the Navistar as an amateur.

“It was a great experience, especially having my dad on the bag caddying for me,” Thompson said of last year’s win.

“I can’t even describe the feelings coming up the 18th hole. It was just so overwhelming just to experience all the fans cheering for me coming up 18.”

The world number 25, Thompson has been playing better of late, putting in two solid tournaments after failing to make three consecutive cuts.

“I’ve played pretty consistent,” Thompson says. “Before those last two events, I struggled a little bit, but it’s golf.

“You’ve got to stay strong, you’ve just got to work through it. I feel pretty good about my game, just working to improve on little things.”

Some of the LPGA Tour’s top players are skipping the Navistar, including Women’s British Open champion Shin Ji-Yai of South Korea.

Just three of the top 10 are competing, including American world number three Stacy Lewis.