Maja Stark and Anna Nordqvist
Photo: Jessie Alcheh /AP/TT

Maja Stark and Anna Nordqvist in contention at Evian despite Stark’s neck scare

Maja Stark with neck problems lost ground during the second round of the golf major Evian Championship - but still has the lead within reach. Now Anna Nordqvist has the same. "I didn't even think I would be able to play today," Stark says of the drama at breakfast.

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Anna Nordqvist was Friday's best Swede and carded three under par, with four birdies and one bogey, and is at -5 halfway through this week's major in Evian-les-Bains, France.

Maja Stark did the same, despite a slightly more modest day on the course. After a brilliant bogey-free first round, Stark bogeyed the first hole. The 26-year-old bounced back and birdied holes 4, 9 and 11, but made a heavy double bogey on the 12th.

Neck problems

Stark finished on 71 strokes, par, and is tied for ninth with Anna Nordqvist, among others.

It's still beyond expectations considering what happened at breakfast.

"All of a sudden my neck locked up and I could barely move it, so I didn't even think I would be able to play today," Stark told Viaplay.

"But we worked it out and I still played okay. I'm glad I was able to swing properly. So it felt pretty stable."

Two Swedes eliminated

Stark and Nordqvist are six strokes behind leader Lottie Woad of England (-11 overall), but only three behind Japan's Mao Saigo and South Korea's Ryu Hae-Ran, who are tied for third place. Another Japanese player, Akie Iwai, is second at -10.

Major debutant Kajsa Arwefjäll (-3) and Linn Grant (par) will also play this weekend. However, Frida Kinhult (+3) and Ingrid Lindblad (+10) missed the cut.

In this story
AuthorTT News AgencyEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers
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