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GALLOWAY, N.J. — Dani Holmqvist shot a career-best 7-under 64 on Friday to take a 1-shot lead over Jenny Shin and Chinese language rookie Yan Liu after the primary spherical of the ShopRite LPGA Basic.
Two-time ShopRite winner Anna Nordqvist and Georgia Hall had been in a gaggle of 5 2 pictures off the lead within the 54-hole occasion on the Bay Course at Seaview, near the casinos in Atlantic Metropolis.
Having Holmqvist in entrance is a shock. The 35-year-old Swede, who has by no means gained on tour, had missed the reduce in all 5 occasions she performed this yr. She had 5 birdies and an eagle taking part in within the afternoon groupings. She has two earlier 65s, one right here in 2018.
Holmqvist mentioned she’s had a sluggish begin to the season and hasn’t performed sufficient to get herself right into a rhythm. Being in entrance is an effective feeling although.
“That is what all of us try to do,” she mentioned. “Some weeks you are higher than others, and a few weeks you’re feeling such as you’re shedding. So it is enjoyable to truly come up on prime for you as soon as. This recreation is hard, and simply bought to cherish the moments once you truly put collectively an excellent one.”
The 30-year-old Shin, from South Korea, had six birdies in a bogey-free spherical seeking her first win since 2016. It’s her solely win on tour however she has been a gradual earner, pocketing $5.4 million since turning professional in 2010.
“Bogey-free rounds are all the time very completely satisfied rounds,” mentioned Shin, who hit 12 of 14 fairways and 13 of 18 greens. “I dropped the putts once I wanted to and I hit some good pictures coming into the par-5s and gave myself actually good alternatives for birdie. So, yeah, good spherical general.”
The 25-year-old Liu had a wild spherical that featured two eagles — on Nos. 9 and 18 — 5 birdies and three bogeys, all in her first 5 holes. She was 1 over heading to No. 9 and performed the final 10 in 7 beneath. Her tie for twenty first final week at Mizuho was her greatest end of the yr.
Had her early morning rating held, it could have been her first time because the chief.
“I simply wish to keep focus my recreation, and like at this time, simple golf,” she mentioned.
Corridor, who has 5 top-10 finishes together with consecutive runner-up spots in March, had eight birdies and three bogeys. She is ranked No. 9 on this planet and is searching for her third LPGA Tour victory.
“I actually like this golf course,” mentioned Corridor, who’s returning dwelling subsequent week to relaxation. “It is a bit bit linksy, so jogs my memory of dwelling a bit. And the greens are a bit bit sluggish like they’re in England, so I wished to come back play this week. And, clearly, a win is a win.”
Nordqvist gained in 2015 and 2016. The 35-year-old Swede performed a bogey-free spherical in her quest for a tenth title, the final the Ladies’s British Open in 2021.
“I really feel like once you do effectively at a golf course there may be a whole lot of good reminiscences, so I feel that provides you a bit little bit of confidence and identical to places you in a extremely good state,” Nordqvist mentioned.
American Sarah Schmelzel, Soo Bin Joo of South Korea and Paula Reto of South Africa had been additionally at 5 beneath, a shot forward of a giant group that included Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand and Ayaka Furue of Japan, who each performed effectively on the Mizuho Americas Cup final week in Jersey Metropolis.
Two-time NCAA champion Rose Zhang, who surprised the golf world by profitable final week in her first begin as an expert, is taking this week off.
Defending champion Brooke Henderson and Aditi Ashok of India had been in a gaggle at 2 beneath.
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