PITTSFORD, N.Y. — As confident as Cristie Kerr is playing, the top-ranked American was left surprised with how she ran away from the pack in the second round of the LPGA Championship on Friday.
“I played awesome today,” Kerr said. “I don’t think anybody expected anybody to be in double digits [10 under par] after two days. But you know what, keep my head down and keep going.”
The 14-year tour veteran, and 13-time winner, is two rounds from claiming her second major title after shooting a 6-under-par 66 to take a five-stroke lead at 10 under on the Locust Hill Country Club course. The 2007 U.S. Women’s Open champion opened the day in a three-way tie for the lead before taking control by scrambling out of trouble several times to produce a bogey-free round.
She birdied four of her last five holes to pull away with the low score of the round.
Inbee Park, the 2008 U.S. Women’s Open champion, and Mika Miyazato were tied for second at 5 under after 70s.
Brittany Lincicome (69) and Amy Yang (67) were 4 under in a field that has only 17 players at below par in the tour’s second major.
First-round co-leader Stacy Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks) dropped to a tie for 10th. She shot a 2-over 74 with four birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey for a 2-under 142. Stacy Prammanasudh (Conway) shot a 2-under 70 with four birdies and two bogeys for a 1-over 145.
Park was impressed by Kerr’s score, but wasn’t prepared to concede anything just yet.
“No, not at all. It’s still two days of golf left out there,” Park said. “Anything could happen on this golf course.”
Much did happen to Kerr, and she managed to overcome it.
Despite hitting only five of 14 fairways, Kerr muscled through the heavy rough that protects the narrow 6,506-yard course. That included a well-placed 135-yard shot she punched through a small opening between a pair of trees to bounce it on the green to save par on No. 16. She holed a 23-footer for birdie on No. 17, then tapped on 18 for her final birdie in after hitting a 6-iron within a foot.
“Weightlifting,” Kerr cracked, referring to playing out of the rough. “I ended up getting some pretty good lies, some not so good lies, but I managed. When you are in the rough, don’t try to be a hero.”
She also credited the new putter she began using the before winning the State Farm Classic two weeks ago.
“I’ve been searching for a a while,” Kerr said. “I’ve always been a good putter, but when I found a putter that feels right, I can make almost anything Ilook at. So I found it.”
In two rounds, Kerr has made just one bogey while being particularly sharp on the back nine, which she has played a combined 8-under 66.
The cut was at 4-over 148, knocking out several notables,including Se Ri Pak (10 over) and Pat Hurst (11 over).
Sun and a light breeze made for good conditions a day after a heavy downpour briefly delayed play. With thunderstorms in the forecast for midafternoon today, officials have taken efforts to ensure the third round will be completed.
Start times have been pushed up 90 minutes to 7 a.m. And the groups will go off in threesomes rather than twosomes, while also going off both the No. 1 and 9 tees in a bid to complete the round by 2:30 p.m.
Sports, Pages 23 on 06/26/2010