Young Kid With a Big Swing
"Normal" teen Alexis Thompson becomes youngest tournament qualifier.
June 28, 2007 — -- If you haven't heard of Alexis Thompson, you will. Alexis, or "Lexi" as she likes to be called, is the newest sensation on the women's golf tour.
At age 12, Lexi, of Coral Springs, Fla, is the youngest player ever to qualify for the U.S. Women's Open. She is playing this weekend at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in North Carolina. Her competition is 150 other women who collectively are the best female golfers in the country.
Lexi perches on a picnic table in the baking summer heat as her competitors are practicing their swings on the driving range behind us. She may be 12, but she's not intimidated.
"I'm not here to, like, win or anything," she said as she wipes the sweat from her brow. "I'm just trying to do good and have fun. And if I make the cut, it would be awesome."
It sure would be awesome. Until this weekend, Morgan Pressel held the record of youngest LPGA qualifier. But Pressel was already in her teens when she qualified in 2001. Well, Pressel had just turned 13. Lexi, at 12 years, four months, has eclipsed Pressel's record by eight months.
As Lexi practiced in preparation for this weekend's tournament, she was followed by an ever-growing crowd of admirers and autograph seekers.
"We're pulling for you," said a woman old enough to be her grandmother.
"Have the time of your life," a man counseled.
"I think it's really cool," said 11-year-old Marley Felthausen as she watched Lexi on the course, "because she's only a year older than me. And to be able to play with all these older girls, it's really cool."
Lexi is new to all this fuss, but she seems to handle it with impressive maturity.
"I knew there was going to be a lot," she said, "but yeah, I expected it. I like signing autographs. I give my tees out to the little kids. And sometimes I like the cameras."
Not yet in seventh grade, Lexi is home schooled so she has time to practice. She likes lady bugs and likes to telephone her cats Smelly and Angel when she's on the road.
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