GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, N.J. — In-Kyung Kim held off two-time defending champion Anna Nordqvist on Sunday in the ShopRite LPGA Classic for her fifth tour title.
Tied with Paula Creamer for the second-round lead, Kim closed with a 2-under 69 in windy conditions for a two-stroke victory over Nordqvist at Stockton Seaview.
Kim was making her sixth start since bruising her tailbone falling down stairs. The 28-year-old South Korean player won the Reignwood LPGA Classic late last season in China.
Nordqvist shot a 69.
“Just having the honor to back-to-back defend is quite amazing,” Nordqvist said. Kim finished at 11-under 202. Michelle Wie had a 65 to tie for third at 7 under with Jenny Shin (69), Jacqui Concolino (70) and Jeong Eun Lee (71).
Creamer had a 74 to drop into a tie for seventh at 6 under. “You can’t shoot over par on Sunday, that’s for sure,” Creamer said. Creamer’s group with Kim and Moriya Jutanugarn were put on the clock for slow play on the back nine.
After making a birdie on the par-4 13th, Kim bogeyed the par-4 14th.
“Last group, wind like this, but we were I think little slow and we were on the clock on those tricky holes,” Kim said. “I had to rush one time. The bogey I made was 150 (yards) front and I hit 170 club. My caddie was like, ‘What are you doing?’ I’m like, ‘I had no idea. I was rushing.’”
Jutanugarn closed with a 72 to also tie for seventh at 6 under. On Saturday, sister Ariya Jutanugarn took the No. 1 spot in the world ranking to be released Monday. Taking the week off, Ariya Jutanugarn replaced Lydia Ko atop the ranking when So Yeon Ryu missed the cut.
Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen wins 2nd
Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen took advantage of Daniela Iacobelli’s closing double bogey to win the Fuccillo Kia Classic on Sunday for her second Symetra Tour victory of the year.
The 22-year-old Koerstz Madsen shot a 5-under 66 at Capital Hills at Albany for a one-stroke victory over Iacobelli and Kim Welch.
Five strokes behind Hannah Green at the start of the day, Koerstz Madsen earned $18,750 to take the season money lead with $53,527. The final top 10 will earn 2018 LPGA Tour cards, and Koerstz Madsen also moved within a victory of an immediate LPGA Tour promotion.
She finished at 8-under 205. Iacobelli and Welch each shot 67. Alexandra Newell (67) and Erynne Lee (68) tied for fourth at 6 under, and Green (73) and Michelle Piyapattra (66) were 5 under.
Koerstz Madsen also received a Kia Forte LX. “It’s really nice that this tournament comes with a new car,” Koerstz Madsen said. “Pretty cool.” — AP
