Nordqvist grabs lead; Rosales, Delasin out

HAVRE DE GRACE, Maryland – Anna Nordqvist made a 36-foot birdie putt on the final hole to break a tie with Nicole Castrale and take the lead after two rounds of the US LPGA Championship on Friday.

Nordqvist, a rookie from Sweden, began the day in second place – one stroke behind Castrale. Starting on No. 10, Nordqvist birdied three of the first eight holes before losing momentum.

She was 2 over during a nine-hole span before making her 11th birdie of the tournament, on No. 9, to move to 8-under 136.

Castrale stumbled at the outset and charged to the finish while shooting a par 72.

Katherine Hull (69) and Lindsey Wright (68) were 6 under.

Playing in her first major as a professional, Nordqvist insisted she felt no pressure on the Bulle Rock course.

“I was just trying to go out there and have fun and enjoy the day,” said Nordqvist, who made the cut in the Women’s British Open for the last two years as an amateur. “Just a lot of patience, hit fairways, hit greens.”

Jennifer Rosales fired a 72 and missed the cut at 147 by one shot. Fil-American Dorothy Delasin, who had a 75 on opening day, fumbled with an atrocious 80 and marched out with a 155.

Birdies on Nos. 10, 15 and 17 dropped her to 9 under, and she refused to be bothered by bogeys on 18 and 4.

“I knew I was hitting it solid. I just tried to pace myself and look forward to the next holes,” Nordqvist said.

Starting her round on No. 10, Castrale parred the first two before hitting her tee shot on the par-3 12th hole into the water. She then two-putted from 20 feet.

“Obviously it wasn’t an ideal start, but going into 14 I had made one bad swing,” Castrale said.

She three-putted from 12 feet on No. 14 for a bogey, yet remained confident.  (With AP report)