The birdie putts had not even reached the hole when Cristie Kerr marched right after them, because she knew they were going in. Sunday at the Kia Classic had a familiar feeling to Kerr, even though so much in her life has changed.
Four birdies in a five-hole stretch helped Kerr erase a three-shot deficit in the final round at Aviara Golf Club. Four straight birdies on the back nine enabled her to pull away from Mirim Lee and 17-year-old Lydia Ko.
Kerr closed with a seven-under-par 65 for a two-shot victory, the 17th of her career, this one different from all the others. Before posing with the trophy, Kerr first clutched her 15-month-old son, Mason, to celebrate her first win as a mom.
“I could just tell by everybody’s reaction that I had won,” Kerr said. “It was just amazing having him there, and he just gave me a big smile and a squeak. He’s screaming now. That’s his thing, and I always hoped this day would come. And now it has. Just so proud.”
Kerr ended 42 straight LPGA events without a victory dating to the 2013 Kingsmill Championship. She finished at 20-under-par 268, breaking by six shots the 72-hole scoring record at a tournament that began in 2010.
It also ended a streak of seven consecutive LPGA events won by South Korean-born players, starting from the CME Group Tour Championship last year.
Lee nearly made it eight in a row when she drove the par-four 16th green to four feet for an eagle to get within one shot. However, her next tee shot did not work out so well. She pushed it into the trees and chopped up the par-five 17th for a double bogey, costing her any reasonable chance of winning. She closed with a 70.
Ko was tied for the lead with a birdie on the par-three 14th hole, but the No. 1 player in women’s golf did not make another birdie the rest of the way. She lipped out on a 5-foot putt on the 16th and finished with a three-putt bogey on the 18th for a 67 to finish third.
It was her 28th consecutive round under par on the LPGA Tour, one short of the record Annika Sorenstam set in 2004. Ko’s next event is the ANA Inspiration at Mission Hills, the first LPGA major of the year.
“Last three holes were a little iffy, like yesterday, but 67 around here is good and I’ve improved my placing compared to last year, so a lot of positives to take from this week,” Ko said. “And I’m excited for the first major next week.”
Ko had her 10th consecutive finish in the top 10.
The 37-year-old Kerr could not hold back tears after she won. The father of her caddie, Greg Johnston, died a week ago and Kerr said she wanted to win it for both of them.
Having her son around made it all the more sweeter.
“I think when I got in contention last year, I thought about winning a little too much, wanting him to be on the green,” Kerr said. “But you know, everything happens for a reason, and last year he couldn’t have run out to meet me. So maybe that was fate, too. But it was just huge.”
Ilhee Lee became the third player this week to match the course record with a 64. Morgan Pressel had a 64 in the second round and Pak Se-ri had one in third on Saturday.
Kaohsiung native Candie Kung of the US finished tied for 46th with a four-under 284, While Taiwan’s Hsu Wei-ling carded a 287 to tie for 60th and Yani Tseng ranked 72nd with a four-over 292.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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