Sweden's Nordqvist wins LPGA Kia Classic

Sweden's Anna Nordqvist captured her second US LPGA title of 2014, firing a final-round 67 to win the Kia Classic. Nordqvist's five-under effort on Sunday gave her a 13-under par total of 275 at Aviara Golf Club and a one-shot victory over American Lizette Salas. In February, Nordqvist notched a two-shot wire-to-wire victory in the LPGA Thailand, holding off a dramatic late challenge from world number one Park In-Bee. Nordqvist, whose poor form in 2013 had her contemplating giving up the game, now goes into the first major of the year, the Kraft Nabisco Championship at Rancho Mirage, California, next week, brimming with confidence. "I'm still almost shaking right now that I'm standing here with another win," Nordqvist said. Unlike in Thailand, the Swede had to battle back from a disappointing first-round 73. After a second-round 68 she carded back-to-back 67s on the weekend. "It makes me believe a lot more in myself," said Nordqvist, whose only bogey of the day, at 17, came after six birdies. Salas started the day tied for the lead with American Cristie Kerr. She arrived at the 18th tee tied for second with American Lexi Thompson, but made her third birdie of the day at the final hole to complete a two-under 70 for 276 and sole possession of second place. Thompson's 68 for 277 put her in third and South Korea's Chella Choi carded a 69 for 278. Kerr bogeyed the last hole for a one-over 73 that left her alone in fifth on 279 while Park led a group on 280 that included fellow South Koreans Pak Se-Ri and Ji Eun-Hee and American Stacy Lewis. Source: AFP