Young amateur shares lead on LPGA Tour

PRATTVILLE, Ala., Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Alexis Thompson, a 14-year-old amateur trying to give women's golf a much-needed boost, shared the lead Friday after two rounds of the Navistar Classic.

Thompson was part of a five-way tie that included some of the top players in the game and her effort came on what was otherwise another bad day for the LPGA Tour.

During the tournament's second round, word came that Samsung, sponsor of the Samsung World Championship since 1995, had withdrawn as that event's sponsor.

Thompson, who was in contention at the midway point of this year's U.S. Women's Open, shot a 3-under 69 at the Capitol Hill Golf Club to get to 10-under 134 for 36 holes. She was tied for the lead with Laura Davies, Yani Tseng, Giulia Sergas and world No. 1 Lorena Ochoa.

Davies, who turned pro a quarter of a century ago and has 20 tour wins to her credit, shot a 65. Tseng, rookie of the year in 2008, had the tournament's low round -- a 63. Sergas also shot a 65 and Ochoa fired a 68.

Sophie Gustafson, the winner of last week's tour stop, was alone in sixth place at 135. Michelle Wie, who will celebrate her 20th birthday next week and is still looking for her first tour win, was among those at 136.