Anna Nordqvist made maybe the most rambunctious birdie of her career Friday at the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer as she found herself at a very familiar spot: the top of the leaderboard.
Nordqvist, who shot a 5-under-par 66 Friday to tie for the lead with Laura Diaz and Celine Herbin, knocked her approach on the par-3 17th to about 15 feet, and when she got to the green she saw a group of nine fans had lined up with t-shirts spelling out N-O-R-D-Q-V-I-S-T.
Needless to say, they were excited when their hero drained the birdie putt.
“I was walking up to the hole and I saw them wearing the shirts. I don't think anyone ever done anything like that for me, so I was very touched by it,” she said. “It was great to make the birdie there, too.”
The eight-time LPGA Tour winner captured this title two years in a row (in 2015 and 2016) including firing the record-low score (17-under par) when she defended her title.
She was leading after round one last year after a 7-under-par 64, but eventually finished runner-up and falling just short of a three-peat.
Nordqvist said the Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club’s Bay Course is a place that gives her a lot of good memories, and it’s just one of those courses she plays well at – without any good reason. It just fits her eye.
“I have a lot of good memories from here. It's a place that makes me happy,” she said.
Nordqvist, who captured The Evian Championship a year ago – her second major – made an equipment change earlier in the year and has seen flashes of brilliance (she has two top-10s on the year) but continues to get adjusted to the new gear.
So far this week, she’s seen some signs of turning things around.
“I seem to be striking the ball better today than for most of the year, so was very consistent. Gave myself a lot of chances,” she said. '
Nordqvist said Friday that she felt this year her ball striking had been inconsistent – although she sits 8th on Tour in Driving Accuracy and 5th in Greens in Regulation – but she said during the opening round things were working in her favor.
”I’m very happy. It was a solid round from tee to green. Taking it day-by-day, but very happy with the start,” she said. “I feel like I need to play to my strengths, and hitting a lot of fairways and a lot of greens has always been my game, so I'm just trying to stick to it.”
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