LOS ANGELES - Anna Nordqvist fired a seven-under 64 on Sunday to win her second straight ShopRite Classic crown and become the first golfer to make a successful defense of the LPGA Tour tournament.
Anna Nordqvist of Sweden reacts after making her par putt on the 18th hole on June 5, 2016 in Galloway, New Jersey
Nordqvist claimed her sixth career win as she mixed a hot putter with precision irons on the Stockton Seaview course in New Jersey to finish the 54-hole event at 17-under 196, tying the tournament scoring record set by fellow Swede Annika Sorenstam in 1998 and in 2005.
"It feels really special because I've been playing pretty good all spring. I just haven't really got any results, and it just really got frustrating there for a while," said Nordqvist.
Nordqvist, who turns 29 on Friday, got an early start on her defense hunt as Sunday's tee times were moved up because forecasters were predicting bad conditions. The LPGA allowed the players to lift, clean, and place in anticipation of the weather.
Japan's Haru Nomura challenged for the lead all day and shared it at one point before finishing one shot back following a 66.
Karine Icher of France, who began the day with a one-shot lead, closed with a 69 to finish at 199. American Christina Kim shot 65 and finished at 200.
Nordqvist began the final round two shots off the pace but started quickly. She birdied three of her first four holes before adding birdies at eight and nine to make the turn at five-under.
"My caddie just told me to stay patient and so did the rest of my team because they knew how well I was playing, getting really zero out of it," Nordqvist said.
"Sometimes the longer you have to wait and the more patient you have to stay, but the sweeter it feels when it finally pays off."