Page 38 - Golf Champion - SEPTEMBER 2020

[LPGA TOUR]

AUSTIN ERNST SHOOTS 63,

RALLIES TO WIN

WALMART NW ARKANSAS

CHAMPIONSHIP

월마트 NW 아칸소 챔피언십

63타로 오스틴 어네스트 우승

OGERS, Ark. (AP) - Austin Ernst rallied to win the "It was long," Ernst said. "A lot longer than I thought it
RWalmart NW Arkansas Championship on Sunday would be. Oh, man, it feels good. I have worked really
for her second LPGA Tour title, closing with an 8-under hard. I think this break was fantastic for me. Helped
63 for a two-stroke victory over Anna Nordqvist. get my confidence back. I had a rough year last year.
Four strokes behind Nordqvist entering the round, I played so well in 2018, and, man, just feels so good
Ernst had the best score of the day, making 10 birdies right now."
and two bogeys at Pinnacle Country Club. She joined Ernst rebounded from a bogey on the par-4 13th with a
2014 champion Stacy Lewis as the event's only Ameri- birdie on the par-5 14th, and took a two-shot lead when
can winners. Nordqvist, playing in the group behind, bogeyed the
"I knew I needed a really low score," Ernst said. "I kind 14th. Nordqvist birdied the par-4 16th to pull within
of thought at the beginning of the week that 20 under one, and Ernst birdied the par-5 18th to push the mar-
would win and I think that's what I got to, so guess gin back to two and post at 20 under.
I was right on that one. But you knew that out here "I think what's kind of held me back in the past is I
you needed to attack and you couldn't be afraid and won't hit as many fairways and don't make quite as
couldn't just kind of middle-the-green it all day." many putts, and today I hit the ball really well, really
Nordqvist closed with a 69 after opening with rounds being under the gun all day," Ernst said. "Just I'm proud
of 64 and 62 to take a three-shot lead into the final day. of all the hard work, and it's nice to see to pay off."
Ernst opened with consecutive 65s to put herself in Nordqvist, the 33-year-old Swede with two major titles
position to win for the first time in 144 starts since and six other LPGA Tour wins, also bogeyed the par-4
the 2014 Portland Classic. The 28-year-old former LSU 12th - her first dropped stroke of the week. She played
player also won the 2011 NCAA individual title. the four par-5 holes in 1 over, while Ernst birdied them

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