Kerr Maintains Lead at U.S. Women's Open
Cristie Kerr, who holds the lead going into the final round, looks to win her second U.S. Open. Kerr won the Open two years ago at Pine Needles. (Chris Graythen -- Getty Images)
(By Chris Graythen -- Getty Images)
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Sunday, July 12, 2009
BETHLEHEM, Pa., July 11 -- Cristie Kerr finished the third round of the U.S. Women's Open on Saturday minutes before 6 p.m. She concluded interviews 40 minutes later, providing enough time to unwind the way she had the previous two nights -- with "wine and good food," she declared.
Kerr deserved the chance to savor the eve of the final round. She won the 2007 Open after entering the final round with a lead right after finishing the third round on Sunday morning because of rain. She snapped an 0-for-41 streak in majors at Pine Needles in Southern Pines, N.C., but did not have much time to enjoy leading after three rounds.
"I can't imagine a better place to be," Kerr said. "I'm sure there's going to be some nerves in the morning. But I've been there. I know I can handle it."
The pressure will be on Kerr, who tops a leader board that would be more preferable if it were a company's balance sheet than golf standings. She has the only score in red after a three-day total of 2-under-par 211 despite Saturday's 1-over 72. The only player even is Eun Hee Ji, who will partner with Kerr on Sunday afternoon after shooting a 1-under 70 to finish two strokes back of Kerr.
Every other score is over par, including Lorena Ochoa, the world's top-ranked golfer. Ochoa led after the first day but a dreadful 79 on Friday dropped her down the leader board. Ochoa thought she needed to shoot a 67 or 68 on Saturday. She instead shot a 2-over 73 for a three-day total of 221, which virtually eliminates her from contention.
Saturday's schedule included a final pairing that provided a glimmer of good fortune on a weekend when women's golf badly needed some. Multiple reports revealed that Carolyn Bivens's tenure as LPGA commissioner will end next week. The third-round pairing of Kerr and Paula Creamer offered two golfers who could increase the sport's relevance within the American borders.
Only Kerr appeared worthy of the spotlight. Creamer, 22, entered the weekend under pressure to capture her first major. Her talent and marketability has made her the top candidate as the next American star, but it will not happen until she wins majors.
Creamer entered the final day of last year's Open trailing by one stroke before shooting a 78. Her fall occurred a day earlier this year, when Creamer fell from second place to tied for 17th because of an 8-over 79 for a three-day total of 219.
Creamer bogeyed three of the first nine holes on Saturday before the collapse climaxed on No. 10, a 332-yard par-4 she triple bogeyed.
Her problems started when she drove a ball into a bunker and then overshot the green. Creamer did not reach the green until her fifth shot and needed two putts.
"If I hit a good bunker shot there, maybe we wouldn't be sitting here talking about it," Creamer said. "Unfortunately, I hit a horrible bunker shot."
Kerr used a five-iron for her tee shot on that hole instead of driver and finished the hole even.
