Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist carded one of the low rounds of the final day to storm to victory by two strokes in the LPGA’s Kia Classic.

The 26-year-old had six birdies and a solitary bogey to reach 13 under, which was good enough to hold off the equally fast-finishing American duo of Lizette Salas (70) and of Lexi Thompson (68).

After opening the tournament with a shaky one over 73, Nordqvist had 18 birdies over the following three rounds, offset with only five bogies, to set the clubhouse mark at 13 under. Having started the final round in a tie for third two strokes behind Salas and Cristie Kerr, Nordqvist’s closing 67 was the best round among the leading groups and she had to wait for the overnight leaders to finish before realising she had captured her second tournament win for 2014. Her previous victory came in the Honda LPGA in Thailand last month, which ended a five-year winning drought.

Anna Nordqvist in action during the final round of the KIA Classic, which she won by two strokes. PHOTO: Getty Images

Salas looked to be her main danger over the closing holes with birdies at the 14th and 16th holes pushing here to within two shots of Nordqvist. Needing birdies at each of the par-5 17th and par-4 18th holes, Salas could only manage one birdie, at the last, and fell one stroke short of forcing a play-off.

Thompson also had her chances. Three consecutive birdies from the 13th hole saw her leap to 10 under but she was unable to convert further birdie opportunities at the 16th and 17th holes to put pressure on Nordqvist. A closing birdie left her two shots back of Nordqvist.

Money-list leader Karrie Webb was again the best of the Australians. At six under after 64 holes, she seemed poised to make a run at the title but a double bogey six on her opening hole followed by a bogey sucked all momentum out of her possible run. Her closing 75 saw he drop back into a tie for 25th.

The players now shift their attention to the LPGA's first major of the year, the Kraft Nabisco Championship in Rancho Mirage, California, which starts Thursday.

LEADERBOARD

1. Anna Nordqvist (Swe)  73-68-67-67–275    $255,000

T2. Lizette Salas (US)   69-68-69-70–276    155,874

3. Lexi Thompson (US)    69-70-70-68–277    113,075

4. Chella Choi (S.Kor)   74-65-70-69–278    87,473

5. Cristie Kerr (US)    68-68-70-73–279     70,406

ALSO:

T25. Karrie Webb (Qld)   75-68-67-75–285    $14,544

T61. Katherine Kirk (Qld)   71-73-70-77–291     4,011

T61. Lydia Ko (NZ)   74-68-71-78–291     4,011

72. Julia Boland (NSW)   73-71-78-74–296     3,328

76. Sarah Jane Smith (Qld)   73-73-77-77–300     3,163

For the full leaderboard, click here