Golf Talk

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Nick Wass

After the very tall Anna Nordqvist traded spots with Nicole Castrale after the second round to take the lead, she never looked back. Going into Sunday, she held a one stroke lead over Lindsey Wright with three holes to go in the third round, which was delayed due to weather. When it was all said and done, Nordqvist took home the 2009 McDonald’s LPGA Championship (Presented by Coca Cola — geez, I feel like such a tool when I have to add that kind of stuff) trophy with a 4 stroke lead at 15 under.

Lindsey Wright, who herself has been having a great year with a 4th at the Kraft Nabisco and a tie for 3rd at the Michelob Ultra Open, came in second after a 2 under 70 in the final round for an 11 under for the tournament and $182,950. Now that’s walking around money.

Jiyai Shin came in solo 3rd at 10 under, and Kyeong Bae took solo 4th at 9 under. First round leader Castrale had a rough day on Saturday with a 74, but made a fight of it on Sunday, shooting a 3 under 69 to stay in the top 5 in a tie for 5th with Angela Stanford (70-71-70-69) and Kristy McPherson (all 70’s).

...Wie gives it up for her eagle after holing out from the fairway on the 1st hole Sunday. (Wass)

Looking at the rest of the field, Paula Creamer came in a tie for 16th with Katherine Hull and In-Kyung Kim at 3 under. Natalie Gulbis came in one stroke shy of that at 2 under and in a tie for 21st (which won her about $21,000). Michelle Wie went 2 under in the final round to place in a tie for 23rd with Lorena Ochoa, who carded a 1 over on Sunday.

With the win, Nordqvist got herself an exemption to the US Women’s Open in July. No qualifiers for her, no ma’am.

golf, LPGA, Anna Nordqvist, Nicole Castrale, 2009 McDonald’s LPGA Championship, LPGA Championship, LPGA majors, Lindsey Wright, Jiyai Shin, Angela Stanford, Kristy McPherson, Paula Creamer, Katherine Hull, Natalie Gulbis, Michelle Wie, In-Kyung Kim, Lorena Ochoa

Castrale (AP)

It’s the second Major on the LPGA Tour, so I decided to break up my commentary into separate posts for the ladies this week.

The 2009 (and final) McDonald’s LPGA Championship got off to a rip-roaring (what exactly does that mean?) start at Bulle Rock in Havre de Grace, Maryland. 30-year-old Nicole Castrale took the lead after the first round with an impressive 7 under 65. One stroke off the lead was rookie and freshly-turned-22 Anna Nordqvist (check out her website — she’s so cute). Shanshan Feng, in her second year on Tour, came in at 5 under. Michelle Wie shot 2 under 70. Lorena Ochoa and Natalie Gulbis shot even par in round one.

...Nordqvist (AP again: Gail Burton)

Round Two and Nordqvist traded spots with Castrale for the lead, shooting a 2 under to Castrale’s par. ShanShan blew up, shot an 82 and didn’t make the cut. Also not making the cut this weekend — the season’s first Major winner Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel, and the usually entertaining Christina Kim.

Katherine Hull and Lindsey Wright are sitting behind the swapping leaders at 6 under for 18 holes. Lorena Ochoa went 3 under today to go 3 under for the tournament, which is good enough for a tie for 11th. Michelle Wie, Paula Creamer and Juli Inkster are languishing at even in a tie for 32nd.

LPGA, golf, McDonald’s LPGA Championship, majors, LPGA Championship, Bulle Rock Golf Course, Nicole Castrale, Anna Nordqvist, Shanshan Feng, Michelle Wie, Lorena Ochoa, Natalie Gulbis, Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel, Christina Kim, Katherine Hull, Lindsey Wright, Paula Creamer, Juli Inkster

Go Red Wings!