By BETH ANN BALDRY
Senior WriterDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – College golf’s top-ranked player is done with school – no matter happens this week. Arizona State’s Anna Nordqvist won’t return to campus next semester to finish out her junior season. The 6-foot Swede shot 74-71 in her Q-School debut and is tied for 58th.
“It feels like I want to move on,” said Nordqvist, still wearing an ASU shirt. The Sun Devils finished the fall semester ranked No. 1 by
Golfweek.
Nordqvist won the Ladies British Open Amateur this summer and earned low amateur honors at the Ricoh Women’s British Open (T-42). She also led Sweden to the World Amateur Team Championship in Australia this fall and captured her second college title at the Derby Invitational.
Nordqvist’s college professors allowed her to take final exams early so that she could go to Q-School and leave ASU in good academic standing.
“Anna went about it the right way, so she wouldn’t hurt her team or her school,” said ASU coach Melissa Luellen. “We’re looking forward to the fusion of new energy.”
ASU welcomes Europe’s top amateur, Carlota Ciganda, in January along with Giulia Molinaro. Both Luellen and Nordqvist say the team supported her decision to leave, though the NCAA Championship hangs in the balance.
Nordqvist told ASU coaches she might try LET Q-School if things didn’t go well with the LPGA. As of now, the 21-year-old isn’t ready to talk about the what-ifs.
“This week isn’t going to determine your future,” she said.
• • •
Beth Ann Baldry is a
Golfweek senior writer. To reach her e-mail
bbaldry@golfweek.com.
Posted: 12/4/2008
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