Cristie Kerr of the US birdied four of her last five holes to grab a commanding five-shot lead on Friday at the halfway mark of the LPGA Championship, the second women’s major of the season.
Kerr, who started the day with a share of the tournament lead, fired a bogey-free six-under 66 to stand 10-under with a 134 total.
She had some trouble finding the fairways on the narrow, tree-lined Locust Hill Country Club course, but scrambled her way out of trouble and used a hot putter to pad her lead.
PHOTO: AFP
“I hit very good recovery shots today,” Kerr, who hit just five fairways on the day, told reporters. “When I was in the rough, I got on the green and two-putted for par.”
Park In-bee of South Korea and Japan’s Mika Miyazato, who were both one shot off the pace after the opening round, were tied for second place at five-under 139 after posting 70s.
“Ten-under is amazing, but it is not out of reach at all,” Park, the 2008 US Women’s Open champion, said about Kerr’s score. “There’s still two days of golf. Anything can happen.”
Miyazato said that she had conquered some butterflies on Friday.
“Today was all about keeping my patience and keeping my game steady,” Miyazato said through an interpreter. “I am a little bit more nervous because it is a major, but I am able to concentrate on each shot, so I am very confident about that.”
Another shot away at 140 were Brittany Lincicome od the US (69) and Amy Yang of South Korea (67).
Taiwan’s Teresa Lu carded a 73 for a one-under total of 143, while Yani Tseng was three shots further back after a 71. Candie Kung’s 71 put the Taiwanese player on 147, while compatriot Amy Hung just made the cut after a 76 gave her a halfway total of 148.
Seventy-three players made the cut set at four-over 148.
Kerr, No. 5 in the world and the highest-ranked American, sank a birdie putt at the first hole and parred the next eight, despite failing to hit another fairway on the front nine.
The 32-year-old caught fire on the back nine, starting with a birdie at the 10th and following with birdies on 14 and 15, before closing with two more.
“Birdieing four of the last five holes was pretty unbelievable,” said Kerr, who took advantage of gentler morning conditions to set the daunting target. “I don’t think anyone expected anybody to get to double digits under-par today.”
Kerr has regained her feel on the greens after switching putters prior to winning the LPGA Tour event in Illinois two weeks ago.
“I’ve always been a good putter, but when I’ve found a putter that feels right, I can make almost anything I look at,” she said. “I found my heat-seeking missile.”
Kerr started the day in a three-way tie with late starters Lee Seon-hwa of South Korea and Stacy Lewis of the US, who both returned scores of two-over 74 for 142.
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