Anna Nordqvist put herself to the top of the leaderboard heading into the final day at the Big Green Egg Open, with a third round score of 67 (-5) seeing her take the initiative on Saturday.
The Solheim Cup star has India’s Vani Kapoor and Austria’s Sarah Schober for company at the top of the standings on -6, with the duo still in contention with 54 holes played at Rosendaelsche Golf Club.
Related: Vani joins Diksha in bid to upstage leaders in Big Green Egg Open
Three-time Major winner Nordqvist turned on the style in the latter part of her day on Saturday, with three birdies in her final three holes seeing her take a one-shot advantage into the final 18 holes in The Netherlands on -7 overall.
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It was a return to form for Nordqvist at the start of the weekend, who overturned a six-shot deficit from the start of the day to take the ascendency, and she was delighted with her day’s efforts.
“I played really solid today, I hit a lot of good shots but didn’t seem to make putts on the front nine, but I turned in two-under,” she said.
“I three-putted ten, made a long one on eleven, but it was nice to finish with three good birdies. I’m really happy, it was a solid day, I’ve been struggling with the speed of the greens but there were a few good moments out there today, so I’m really pleased with the end of the round.
“I feel like patience was my key today, I thought I did a lot of good things but they didn’t pay off early on, but making that putt on 15 was definitely a big momentum change.
“I felt like I hit the ball really well and it was actually quite windy out there, I think I missed two fairways and two greens which is great.”
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The Swede dealt excellently with the windier conditions in The Netherlands on Saturday, with birdies on the fourth and eighth seeing her finish the front nine in 34 shots, before dropping her only shot of the day on the tenth.
That was soon forgotten about with a bounce-back birdie on 11, before a clutch-putt from 15 foot on the 15th saw her expertly save herself from dropping another shot on the back nine.
And that proved to be a complete momentum-changer for the 2021 AIG Women’s Open Champion, who rolled in birdies on 16, 17 and 18 to elevate herself to the top of the standings.
After taking two weeks away from the course to be with friends and family back in Sweden, it has taken a few days for Nordqvist to get back to top gear, but Saturday was the day where it all clicked.
With a busy summer ahead of her, the Swede was keen to make the most of time with her loved ones, and is heading into a hectic schedule ready and refreshed, and that was clear to see on Saturday.
Nordqvist will have Vani for company in the final group on Sunday, with the Indian carding a third round score of 71 (-1) to head into the final day one shot from the lead.
Birdies on the fourth and tenth gave the 28-year-old the lead at one point in the day, before a dropped shot on the 15th saw her fall back into a tie for second.
A missed birdie putt on 18 summed up Kapoor’s day on the greens on Saturday, but she is excited to play in the final group in an LET event for the first time on Sunday.
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“I left quite a few putts out there, I gave myself a lot of chances. I putted well but they didn’t go in the hole – I had two lip-outs and one stopped on the edge – but I’m hoping for a better day tomorrow,” she said.
“My accuracy is helping on this course, this course is tight and you need to hit fairways and greens here, and as long as I keep doing that the scores will keep coming.
“I’m really excited to be in the final group, I’m glad that things are falling together and I’m finally here, and I hope tomorrow goes well as well. To play with Anna will be amazing and I’m really looking forward to it.”
