Kerr takes narrow lead into the weekend

There was no missing Annika Sorenstam's name one rung below Cristie Kerr's on the leaderboard in the Samsung World Championship.

"I've got the machine after me. She's an absolute machine," Kerr said. "Week in and week out, she sets the pace. That's why she's the No. 1 player out here."

Kerr capped a course-record 8-under 64 with her second eagle of the round Friday to reach the halfway point of the elite 20-player event at 12 under. Sorenstam, the tournament winner in 1995 and 1996, was a stroke back after a 67.

"I'm playing well, and I'm happy where I'm at," Sorenstam said. "Today was a little bit of an up-and-down day for me. It seemed like things really weren't going that well, but I ended up with a good score anyway, so I'm happy."

The Swedish star has won her last three individual tournaments, has eight victories and record earnings of $2,211,991 in 17 LPGA Tour starts. She also won the Australian Masters and Compaq Open in Sweden, giving her 10 worldwide victories in 19 events.

She will be paired with Kerr on Saturday.

"Any time you're in the last group, it can be more distracting," Kerr said. "People always say it's hard to follow up a round when you take it deep, but that's not my goal anymore. I just want to focus on what I'm doing, and keep doing it."

Taking advantage of perfect conditions on the Hiddenbrooke course, all but six of the players shot par or better, and nine had rounds in the 60s.

Rosie Jones, Kerr's U.S. Solheim Cup teammate, was two strokes back after a 66. Michele Redman, another U.S. Solheim Cup player, was 9 under after a 70.

U.S. Women's Open champion Juli Inkster, the 1997, '98 and '00 winner, shot a 67 to join Mi Hyun Kim (68) and Lorie Kane (67) at 7 under. Se Ri Pak, the 1999 champion, was 6 under after a 69.

Kerr, who won her first LPGA Tour title in April in nearby Lincoln, had the two eagles, seven birdies and three bogeys.

She holed out from 81 yards on No. 2 for her first eagle. After coming up short of the green on the 495-yard 18th, she chipped out of the rough and the ball rolled 30 feet and into the cup.

"I had a lull in the middle part of the round, then I refocused," said Kerr, who also birdied Nos. 16 and 17. "You can't ask for a better way to finish the round."

Sorenstam switched to a left-hand low putting grip a month ago while vacation in Sweden following her Compaq Open victory.

"I was kind of struggling with my aim," she said. "I think I have a good stroke, but I couldn't see the line as well. When I tried left-hand low at home, I could see the line better. Then it was just getting used to how you stroke it that way.

"Now, the ball is rolling on the lines I see, which is key. As long as it works, I'm going to keep doing it. I might try to go back and see how I'm seeing the line again."

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page