Anna crowned queen of Pattaya
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Nordqvist takes Honda LPGA Thailand trophy
Pattaya - Anna Nordqvist of Sweden completed a wire-to-wire victory at the Siam County Club Pattaya Old Course, firing a 68 in the final round to beat world No 1 Inbee Park by two shots and claim the US$1.5 million Honda LPGA Thailand crown yesterday.
Enjoying a four-shot advantage at the start of the round, Nordqvist bounced back from a double bogey on the par-4 fifth hole to shoot seven birdies to ward off the stiff challenge from defending champion Park with a 15-under 273 total.
The 26-year-old, who claimed the LPGA Championship and LPGA Tour Championship as her first two titles in 2009, finally put an end to her long winning drought on the LPGA Tour.
Her last international crown was the Valenciana European Ladies Gold Cup in 2011.
“I’m speechless to be honest. It’s been a couple of years since I won,” the world No 27 said.
“I kept working hard even when I was down. Inbee kept hitting birdies and [Michelle] Wie played so well.
“I just had to stay there with them and tried to be aggressive.
“I’m happy to be back in the winning circle. It took me a few years.
“This is a very emotional win for me and it will push me to work harder.
“I have to thank my family and friends and coach [Jorje Parada] for pushing me through good and bad times.
“They really inspired me and believed in me no matter what. And here I am sitting here with the trophy.”
Nordqvist almost decided to call it quits last year after poor results.
The title in Pattaya, plus the cheque of US$225,000, proved the decision not to quit was right.
Park fought hard to retain the crown and was one stroke behind the leader at the start of the back nine.
But when the gutsy Swede fired three straight birdies from holes 10 to 12, it was too much for the South Korean.
Park finished with a bogey-free 66 for 13-under 275 and earned US$139,572. In third place was 44-year-old Catriona Matthew of Scotland, who shot back-to-back 65 for an 11-under 277 total.
Inconsistent US pro Michelle Wie, who was tied for second after Saturday’s third round, shot three birdies and an eagle against two bogeys for a 69 and had to settle for fourth place at 10-under.
Former champion Yani Tseng, with a final round 68, was joint fifth at nine-under with American trio of Gerina Piller, Stacy Lewis and Lexi Thompson and Paraguayan Julieta Granada.
Suzann Pettersen, the 2007 winner, was finished 10that eight under.
A stroke behind her were Spain’s Azahara Munoz and South Koreans Ryu So-yeon and Jenny Shin.
Thailand’s Thidapa Suwannapura started with four birdies from five holes, which briefly sent her to No 2 on the leaderboard, before a costly double bogey dropped her back to five under.
She finished with a third-straight 70 and was tied for 14th at five-under.
“I started very well and was so determined, thinking my moment was coming,” she said.
“And then on the sixth hole, I teed off the ball to the edge of the sand bunker and it was so difficult to get out of that position and I ended up with a double bogey.
“I should have finished better today, as I shot more birdies. I just wish I could have made it to the top 10.”
Thidapa will have a three-week break before heading to the US.
Thai No 1 Pornanong Phatlum signed off with a 292, three strokes ahead of Ariya Jutanugarn, who is still struggling to find her momentum after eight months out with an injury.
“I’m glad that I hit it well with my driver but my irons and putter let me down,” Ariya said.
“I just need more time to get my momentum back.”
Ariya finished two shots better than her sister, Moriya Jutanugarn, who had a 297.
Ariya will play a tournament in Asia next week before going to defend her Ladies European in Morocco.
