Anna Nordqvist Wins Bank of Hope Founders Cup
Anna Nordqvist celebrates win with young fans
PHOENIX, AZ - In a record 96-degree heat at Desert Ridge, Anna Nordqvist held off Ariya Jutanugarn and Stacy Lewis for her seventh LPGA Tour title. Nordqvist returned to Arizona where she attended Arizona State and played her best tournament so far this season to win The Bank of Hope Founders Cup. The Founders Cup honors the 13 women who stated the tour in 1950.
Nordqvist finished the tournament at 25-under 263, two shots off the Founders Cup LPGA Tour record. Anna went for par on the 17th and bogeyed the 18th which gave room for Jutanugarn and Lewis but both players could not make a run to force a playoff. After a record third round in which Nordqvist set a course record, 11-under 61. She spent most of Sunday just trying to hold on to the lead and outperformed the field.
“If it wouldn't be for me getting an opportunity to come to Arizona State University about 10 years ago, I wouldn’t be here today,” said Nordqvist. “This truly still feels like home, even though I'm based in Florida. You know, couldn't think of a better place to be. I'm just so happy to be back. I wasn't even going to play a couple weeks and just ended up adding it last minute. Maybe it was meant to be.”
The win is the first by a European player this season and will move the swede to 11th in the World Rankings.
