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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Cristie Kerr knows the emotion of winning a U.S. Women’s Open, and she wants to experience it again – preferably this week.
Two years after winning the national championship, Kerr, 31, is in position again.
She strung together three birdies on the front nine Friday in a round of 1-under 70 to take a one-stroke lead over Paula Creamer after two rounds of the Women’s Open.
Kerr overcame a bout of lightheadedness at the start and had one of only six rounds under par on the tough Saucon Valley Country Club layout, offsetting four bogeys with five birdies. She stands at 3-under 139.
The focus Friday was back on golf, a marked change at an event that has been overshadowed all week by a dispute between LPGA Tour commissioner Carolyn Bivens and more than a dozen top tour players who signed a letter calling for her resignation.
The New York Times, citing a source, reported Friday that Bivens originally planned to fight the move to force her out, but had decided to step down after the Open concludes. Golf Digest had previously reported Thursday that Bivens would be replaced, as soon as next week, and cited sources who said the letter from the players was the final blow.
The LPGA reiterated its statement from earlier in the week. “Out of respect to the USGA and the amazing work that they’ve done and continue to do in producing and hosting this great event, we will not respond to media reports on internal matters related to the LPGA business,” LPGA Tour spokesman David Higdon said in the statement.
The drama off the course was not a distraction to the players, who were more concerned with the narrow fairways and speedy undulating greens at the Old Course as the cut line fell at 9 over.
Former Fort Wayne resident Amanda Blumenherst benefited from the low cut line.
Blumenherst shot a 5-over 76 in the second round to put her at 9-over 151 and tied for 60th entering the weekend.
In contrast, Kerr moved around the course with the confidence that only a major winner can display.
“It’s great to know that I’ve won one, and I know I can do it on the weekend,” she said. “I feel very comfortable.”
Not feeling her best at the start, Kerr opened with a bogey and four pars. She began feeling better on the 13th – she started on the back nine – and hit stride on the 15th through 17th.
She rolled in putts of 9, 3 and 8 feet for her run of birdies and, after a pair of bogeys to open her back nine, made birdie putts of 15 and 12 feet on the way in to maintain the lead.
Creamer carded a 3-under 68 after an opening 72 and was alone in second at 2-under 140.
Creamer is coming off a thumb injury that forced her to miss the last two tournaments but there was no sign the sore thumb is affecting her play at Saucon Valley.
“Being able to play pain-free is very nice, and not having to withdraw or worry about my thumb is a very nice feeling,” she said.
Futures Tour player Jean Reynolds is third after a 72 for a 1-under 141.
“I’ve managed to just leave myself in good positions to where I’m not making big numbers,” she said.
“I’ve made my share of bogeys, but I’ve been fortunate to make a lot of birdies this week, too.”
Reynolds overcame hitting nine of 14 fairways to give herself a shot at the championship.
First-round leader Na Yeon Choi of South Korea shot a 3-over 74 and was tied with Giulia Sergas of Italy at even par. Sergas had the lowest round, a 4-under 67.
Top-ranked Lorena Ochoa struggled to a round of 8-over 79 and stood at 6 over
The final two rounds will be spiced with a bit of old and new. Former champion Laura Davies, playing on a special exemption, made the cut, as did 14-year-old amateur Alexis Thompson, who is in contention after a 73 put her at 2-over and tied for eighth.
