Two years after winning the US Women’s Open, Cristie Kerr positioned herself for a repeat by taking a one-stroke lead after Friday’s second round.
The 31-year-old American strung together three birdies on the front nine in a round of one-under 70 for a two-round total of three-under 139, putting her a shot ahead of compatriot Paula Creamer.
Kerr overcame a bout of lightheadedness at the start and had one of only six rounds under par on the tough Saucon Valley Country Club layout, offsetting four bogeys with five birdies.
PHOTO: AFP
The focus Friday was back on golf at an event that has been overshadowed all week by a dispute between LPGA Tour commissioner Carolyn Bivens and more than a dozen top players who have called for her resignation.
The players were more concerned with the narrow fairways and speedy undulating greens as the cut line fell at nine-over.
Taiwan’s Yani Tseng, the world No. 2, shot an eight-over 79 to finish her second round on 14-over, missing the cut. Compatriots Teresa Lu and Candie Kung will play the full weeekend after Lu shot a two-under 69 to sit tied for 14th on three-over, while Kung slipped down to tied 37th place after a six-over 77.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Kerr moved around the course with the confidence that only a major winner can display.
Kerr opened with a bogey and four pars. She began feeling better on the 13th — she started on the back nine — and hit her stride on the 15th through the 17th.
She rolled in putts of nine feet, three feet and eight feet for her run of birdies and, after a pair of bogeys to open her back nine, made birdie putts of 15 feet and 12 feet on the way in to maintain the lead.
Creamer carded a three-under 68 after an opening 72. She had overcome a thumb injury that forced her to miss the previous two tournaments.
Creamer, 22, started the day one-over, before back-to-back birdies at nine and 10. Her round included five birdies, two bogeys.
Futures Tour player Jean Reynolds is third after a 72 for a one-under 141. A two-time winner this year on the Futures Tour, she overcame hitting just nine of 14 fairways to remain in contention.
First-round leader Choi Na-yeon of South Korea shot a three-over 74 and was tied with Giulia Sergas of Italy at even-par. Sergas had the lowest round of the day, a four-under 67.
Top-ranked Lorena Ochoa struggled to a round of eight-over 79 and stood at six-over for the championship.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY STAFF WRITER
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