First-round leader Dani Holmqvist didn’t slow down on Saturday at the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer, following her first-round 64 with a second-round 67 at the Bay Course at Seaview, a Dolce Hotel. The 35-year-old, who holds the solo lead at -11 overall, is looking to play her way into the winner’s circle for the first time in her nine seasons on the LPGA Tour and join Annika Sorenstam and Anna Nordqvist as the third Swede to win the ShopRite LPGA Classic.
“You know, it's always some nerves and stuff, but it was nerves in a good way, because it's a position you really want to be in, we work hard to be in,” said Holmqvist on holding the lead with one round left to play. Speaking on her gameplay for Sunday, she added, “Just try and stay in my own bubble and picture the flights and just fall in love with those and just try and execute as good as I can.”
After shooting the lowest 18-hole score of her career on Friday, Holmqvist came out with confidence on Saturday and sank two birdies on Nos. 3 and 5 before making her first bogey in 23 holes on the par-4 6th. She went out in 35 with another birdie on 9, but went birdie, bogey, birdie, bogey on holes 10-13. Holmqvist finished the last five holes with three pars and two more birdies, including one on the final par-5, No. 18, to secure the solo spot at the top. This is the second time in her LPGA Tour career that Holmqvist is sleeping on a 36-hole lead, but she has only one more day of play to earn a win at this 54-hole event.
“Well, I hope it turns out better than it did that time,” laughed Holmqvist of her run at the 2020 AIG Women’s Open, where she ultimately finished T29. “You know, I think there are so many good and talented players in this field, and it's going to be low scores (tomorrow). Only thing I can do is try to do the best that I possibly can, and hopefully that's enough.”
Korean golfer Hyo Joo Kim sits in solo second after posting rounds of 67 and 65. The five-time LPGA Tour champion has found more birdies than any other player in the field (13) thanks to her skill with the flatstick. She needed just 50 putts to get through two rounds, and just 23 on Saturday, tied for least in the field. But for Kim, it is her approach shots that have been most important for setting her putter up for success.
“Compared to other courses, there’s a lot of bounce on the green. There’re some bumpy parts too. So when I hit my second shots, I’m giving extra thoughts on getting the distance right and also the landing area,” she explained.
Last season’s AIG Women’s Open champion Ashleigh Buhai also shot a second-round 65 to take the solo third position. The major champion had just one bogey on Saturday and seven bridies, launching her up the leaderboard from T25. The biggest leap of the day, however, came from Tour veteran Brianna Do, who tied the low-round of the week with a 7-under 64. She jumped from T53 on the leaderboard to T4 alongside five other players. Also at T4 are sponsor invite Chiara Noja, who is making her LPGA Tour debut, 2022 Rookie of the Year Atthaya Thitikul and 2023 rookie Yan Liu, as well as Jenny Shin and Matilda Castren.
Seventy-three players made the cut at +1, including defending champion Brooke Henderson, past ShopRite LPGA Classic winner and major champion Angela Stanford, Solheim Cup captain Stacy Lewis. Notables to miss the cut are Hae Ran Ryu, who is leading the Rookie of the Year standings and has not missed a cut this season, local teaching professional Meghan Francella and sponsor invite Maisie Filler.
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