Anna Nordqvist is back on top in New Jersey.
The two-time defending champion of the ShopRite LPGA Classic, opened with a seven-under par, 64 to take the lead early on day one. She currently holds a one-stroke lead ahead of Moriya Jutanugarn and Jennifer Song who sit at six-under par.
“I feel like I enjoy this place, but at the same time, I don't feel like I have anything to prove here,” Nordqvist told the media. “I am just trying to take it day by day. I've been playing good for a long time now, so just tying get everything to click at once.”
Friday, Nordqvist looked to have all aspects of her game clicking, matching her final round at the 2016 ShopRite LPGA Classic when she successfully defended her title. The world No. 12 got off to a quick start with three birdies in her first five holes and would go on to make nine birdies and two bogeys over the course of the round.
“I've been hitting it really well the last couple weeks. Just haven't really been putting well since Phoenix,” where Nordqvist won earlier this season. “But started to get a couple rolls going for me today. Had a lot of opportunities and a lot of good putts that didn't go in, too, but my wedge game was really good today and I putted a few short ones.”
While Nordqvist is in familiar territory atop the leaderboard, she’s never held the first round lead at Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club. Should she hang on to the top, she’ll be looking to go wire-to-wire for the first time since 2014.
“I just like the way I can hit the golf ball here. You really have to think your way through,” said Nordqvist. “It just really fits my eye. I have so many good memories here obviously. It almost feels like home now with a lot of supporters and a lot of friends here.”
Jutanugarn is in unfamiliar territory this week, playing an event without her sister Ariya, in the field. Moriya continued the strong play she showed last week in Michigan where she finished tied for sixth by opening with a bogey-free, six-under par, 65 on Friday to sit just one-back of Nordqvist.
“I think we had a pretty good advantage playing this morning it’s not too windy. Wind can make a different on this golf course. The greens can be really bumpy in the afternoon,” Jutanugarn told the media. “We got really lucky playing in the morning.”
Song has been working on her tempo and the adjustments are paying off for the second consecutive week. The world No. 66 is coming off her best finish of 2017 last week in Michigan where she finished tied for 11th. She carried that momentum into New Jersey, opening with a bogey-free, 65 to climb to the top of the leaderboard on Friday.
“I think it's the hardest thing for me to fix because in general I have a very quick tempo. So trying to slow myself down is a hard task for me, but I think I'm doing a good job,” Song told the media
Click here for current scores from round one of the 2017 ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by ACER.
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