Trio top opening day leaderboard

Cristie Kerr was in her element in the swirling winds, shooting a 3-under 69 Thursday to share the lead with three others on a breezy opening day in the Takefuji Classic.

Jackie Gallagher-Smith, second-year pro Stacy Prammanasudh and rookie Nadina Taylor of Australia also were 3 under on a day when gusting winds made the Las Vegas Country Club course difficult.

Grace Park, who took the year's first major title with her triumph in the Kraft Nabisco, opened with a 72. Aree Song, a 17-year-old rookie who finished second to Park in that tournament, shot 73.

Defending Las Vegas champion Candie Kung struggled to a 75.

Kerr, who had six birdies and three bogeys, said the wind was gusting from 25-35 mph.

On the par-4, 412-yard No. 16, she said she hit a drive "with a gale wind in my face" and the ball went only 220 yards.

"Candie and Alfie (Helen Alfredsson) hit after I did, and they got a different gust of win and their drives went 280, 260."

Kerr doesn't mind if it stays windy the rest of the tournament, a 54-hole event that concludes Saturday.

"I grew up in South Florida and learned to play in the wind," she said. "You have to control your trajectory. You have to be extremely mentally tough and don't give up. Some people dread tough conditions. I happen to like them.

"I like my chances if the wind keeps blowing."

Gallagher-Smith had a considerably more consistent round than Kerr, finishing with four birdies and one bogey.

"Tomorrow is supposed to be another windy day, so you've just got to keep hitting it solid and keeping it under the wind, pick good clubs and just go with it," Gallagher-Smith said.

Kerr, who finished second to Annika Sorenstam in the tournament at Phoenix last month, putted well over the first 18 holes in Las Vegas, including sinking a 30-footer from the fringe on No. 7, and a 15-footer on No. 8.

She fretted over another birdie putt that didn't fall.

"I could have taken the outright lead, and I didn't hit my putt hard enough," she said of the 7-foot birdie try on No. 18.

Although she's used to playing in the wind, Kerr said it is draining.

"No hole played easy out there today," she said. "I'm pretty tired right now."

She smiled and added, "I deserve a piece of chocolate, I think."

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