Cristie Kerr on Saturday blew a five-stroke lead in the Kia Classic to set up a final-round showdown at Aviara Golf Club.
A day after shooting an eight-under 64 to open a big lead, Kerr had a 75 to drop a stroke behind playing partner Lizette Salas, Ji Eun-hee and Kim In-kyung.
Kerr was tied with Taiwan’s Hsu Wei-ling, Caroline Hedwall and Cindy LaCrosse, and four players were another shot back in the final event before the major ANA Inspiration next week at Mission Hills.
Photo: AFP
“There is still Sunday,” Kerr said. “Somebody else got to sleep with the lead.”
The 40-year-old Kerr had a double bogey on the par-four 15th after snap-hooking a drive into the trees and hitting a hybrid off a cart path.
“I just didn’t have it,” Kerr said. “I’ve got to go work on my game a little bit. Kind of been a little bit of the story this year, a little bit of inconsistency. Just got to be grateful I’m only one back with a whole new Sunday.”
The 2015 winner at Aviara, she followed the double bogey with a two-putt birdie on the short par-four 16th and had a bogey on the par-four 18th.
“Mentally, just wasn’t quite as sharp. Swing wasn’t quite as sharp,” Kerr said. “I mean, every putt I hit like bounced horribly. Like a lot of putts didn’t have a chance to go in the hole. I don’t know why it was different today on the greens.”
Ji had a 67 to match Salas (69) and Kim (69) at 11-under 205.
Anna Nordqvist had a 66 to top the group at nine-under.
Top-ranked Shanshan Feng (69) and Lydia Ko (70) were four strokes back at seven-under. Inbee Park, coming off a victory last week in the Founders Cup in Phoenix, was six-under after a 68. Singapore winner Michelle Wie had a 68 to get to five-under.
Taiwan’s Chien Pei-yun was 82nd with three-over.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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