Nordqvist takes three-shot lead into final round
Major champion Anna Nordqvist was feeling like her old self on Saturday in the second round of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G.
Her old self is someone who can fire a bogey-free 9-under-par 62. Through 36 holes, the Swede has hit 35 greens in regulation and has converted 16 of her birdie chances to take a three-shot lead heading into Sunday’s final round at Pinnacle Country Club.
After her round, Nordqvist reflected on her journey the last few seasons and said learning to focus on the things she has doing right has been one of the keys to her resurgence this week.
“2017 was hard because I did get mono in July and didn't have enough knowledge about how to manage it and probably tried to push it a little bit too early,” Nordqvist reflected. “So it really took me a couple years. Made a few swing changes in the wrong directions. Been working with Drew Steckel now the last year and a half. Starting to feel like myself again. But it has been a little bit of bumpy road, especially when you know what you're capable of. But I been working hard throughout all these years, and hopefully it will pay off.”
Chasing Nordqvist is 10-time LPGA winner Sei Young Kim at 13 under, with Nelly Korda, Austin Ernst and Jenny Shin close behind at 12 under. And Nordqvist knows there’s no letting off the gas pedal if she wants to hoist the trophy come Sunday.
“There is obviously low scores out here, so you got to keep going,” said Nordqvist. “It's just so competitive out here. In order to win out here, you really have to be on top of your game. So feel good so far, but I'm going to have to post a low one tomorrow, too.”
Korda matched her career-best on Saturday finishing at 8-under par thanks to an eagle at the last. She said she has one strategy for tomorrow: go low.
“Going to take it as low as I can,” Korda, who is looking for her first win on American soil, said.
Former World No. 1 Stacy Lewis and second-year Tour player Maria Fassi lead the pack of seven University of Arkansas Razorbacks as they head into the final round tied at 8-under par.
The long-hitting Fassi removed her driver from the bag this week, and the change of strategy paid off as she safely made her first cut out of three previous tries at Pinnacle Country Club.
