Chattanooga, TN – While the name Thompson has become familiar in the world of golf, someone else was making the headlines Thursday.
Lexi Thompson, 16, became the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history last month and was recently granted membership to the tour for next season.
But it was her older brother, Nicholas Thompson, who fired a nine-under 63 on Thursday to take the first-round lead at the Children's Hospital Classic on the Nationwide Tour.
Doug Barron, the only player ever suspended for performance-enhancing drugs in PGA Tour history, shared second place with Justin Bolli, Brice Garnett and Brent Delahoussaye at seven-under 65 at Black Creek Mountain.
Thompson started on the back nine Thursday and birdied the par-three 11th. After three consecutive pars, he birdied three of his last four holes to make the turn at four-under par.
Following a par at the first hole, Thompson rattled off back-to-back birdies at two and three. He parred the par-five fourth, but went on a run after that with three birdies in a row, including a 30-footer at the par-three seventh to get to nine-under par.
He parred his last two holes to sign for a 63 and the lead.
"I just hit a lot of good golf shots," said Thompson, who saved par from a bunker at his last hole. "That ball was sitting on some grass so it wasn't that hard of a shot. I rolled it really nicely today too."
Thompson is 61st on the Nationwide Tour money list and doesn't have much time to get into the top 25 to earn his PGA Tour card for next season.
Including this week, there are only three events left before the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship.
"I've looked at it and have some predictions for what it might take to make the top 60, the top 40 and the top 25," admitted Thompson. "I do have those numbers but all I can do is look at it. I still have to go play some good golf."
Scott Dunlap. Greg Owen, Ted Potter, Jr., John Mallinger, Skip Kendall and Brett Wetterich are knotted in sixth place at six-under 66.
NOTES: John Peterson, the 2011 NCAA individual champion, made his professional debut and posted a three-under 69...Defending champion Scott Gardiner posted a one-under 71.
