Cristie Kerr leds with career best 62

Cristie Kerr had consecutive eagles in a career-best 9-under 62 to take a four-stroke lead Thursday in the first round of the Longs Drugs Challenge.

Kerr also had seven birdies and two bogeys on The Ridge Golf Club course. She played an eight-hole stretch in 9 under, highlighted by her eagles on Nos. 15 and 16.

``It was incredible,'' Kerr said. ``You just have to keep your foot on the gas. There are three days left and there are a lot of people in the field capable of that.''

After opening the round with bogeys on Nos. 10 and 11, Kerr parred the 12th and began her scoring run with birdies on Nos. 13 and 14. She hit a 6-iron to 6 feet to up her eagle on the par-5 15th, holed out from 139 yards with an 8-iron for another eagle on the par-4 16th and added birdies on Nos. 17, 1, 2, 5 and 7.

``I bogeyed the first two holes, but I didn't play as badly as I scored,'' said Kerr, bothered recently by food poisoning. ``I had a 20-footer for par on 11 and it lipped out. But after that, it was pretty magical.''

The 27-year-old Kerr won the 2002 tournament at Twelve Bridges Golf Club for the first of her six LPGA Tour victories. She two victories this year -- the Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill in May and the Wendy's Championship for Children in August -- and also played on the winning Solheim Cup team after topping the U.S. standings.

Hall of Famer Beth Daniel, Becky Iverson and Marilyn Lovander opened with 66s, and Lindsey Wright also was 5 under through 17 holes when play was suspended because of darkness. Dawn Coe-Jones, Kim Williams and Young Kim shot 67s.

Annika Sorenstam, the 1997 champion at Twelve Bridges, shot a 68 in her first appearance in the tournament since 2001.

``I think I left a few out there, but I'm happy,'' said Sorenstam, a seven-time winner this year in 15 LPGA Tour starts. ``Three under is a good score. Not great, but not a bad one.''

Defending champion Christina Kim and U.S. Solheim Cup teammate Pat Hurst also opened with 68s.

The tournament will move to BlackHawk Country Club in Danville next year.

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