Thompson reaches new heights

BANGKOK — Lexi Thompson overcame an early scare before easing to a six-stroke victory at the Honda LPGA Thailand event Sunday with a win that will also lift the American to No. 3 in the world rankings. Thompson, who started the final round with a four-stroke advantage, carded a four-under-par 68 for a 20-under total to register a seventh LPGA Tour win of her career and third title since July. Securing a $240,000 check, she became not only the first American to win at the Chonburi course but also the youngest winner there, besting Yani Tseng who triumphed in 2011 at the age of 22. If the 21-year-old was hoping for an afternoon stroll in Pattaya she was in for a shock when playing partner Chun In-gee mounted an early assault with birdies on the first three holes that cut Thompson’s lead to one shot. The South Korean bogeyed the fourth, however, to double the American’s advantage at the top and Chun was unable to get any closer once Thompson had moved further clear with an eagle on the par-five 10th. “She played great the whole day and that birdie rampage from the first when she got three in a row was amazing,” Thompson told reporters after a win that ensures she will leapfrog compatriot Stacy Lewis to become the top-ranked American woman. Thomspon, who claimed her only major victory to date at the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship, will move behind Lydia Ko and Park In-bee in Monday’s rankings and feels honored to find herself among such elevated company. Chun overcame a double-bogey six on the 17th hole to birdie the last and claim second place on 14-under, one shot clear of American Jessica Korda, who shot a best-of-the-day eight-under 64, and defending champion Amy Yang in a tie for third. Oosthuizen wins in Perth Louis Oosthuizen overcame a nervous start to eke out a one-stroke victory at the Perth International Sunday, the South African securing his eighth European Tour title on his first ever visit to Australia. The 2010 British Open winner went into the final round of the tri-sanctioned event with a three-stroke lead but quickly saw his advantage reduced to one after a bogey on the second hole. Local favorite Jason Scrivener tied the 33-year-old South African for the lead briefly but Oosthuizen regained his sole possession of top spot after consecutive birdies on the seventh and eighth. Oosthuizen’s final round one-under-par 71 for a four-day total of 16-under 272 was eventually enough to keep him ahead of Frenchman Alexander Levy, while Scrivener finished a stroke further adrift in third. The world No. 21 admitted he was nervous after his false start but regained control to end a two-year title drought at the A$1.75 million ($1.25 million) event, which is also sanctioned by the Asian and Australian tours. Levy’s birdie on the 18th meant Oosthuizen had a two-shot advantage heading into the final hole and his bogey was still good enough to see him home.