LPGA veteran Kerr goes five shots clear, Thidapa tied for seventh at halfway stage
>> CARLSBAD: Cristie Kerr fired eight birdies in an eight-under-par 64 on Friday to take a five-shot lead after two rounds of the LPGA Kia Classic in Carlsbad, California.
Kerr, 40, had a 36-hole total of 13-under 131 on an Aviara course softened by rain.
“I like winning, I like challenging myself,” said Kerr, whose 20 LPGA victories include two in 2017. “The golf ball doesn’t know an age. I’ve always said that. As long as I stay hungry, [I’m] going to just keep playing.
“I’m trying not to put limits on myself right now,” Kerr added. “I’ve got some good things going on with my swing. I had a great round.” Kerr won here in 2015 with a final-round 65, setting a tournament scoring record of 20 under.
Her 13-under total broke the previous 36-hole tournament record of 10 under, achieved by five players most recently Jenny Shin in 2016.
Kerr opened with birdies at the par-five 10th and the par-three 11th. She added birdies at 16, 18 and the second, then birdied three in a row at six, seven and eight.
American Lizette Salas, Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall and South Koreans Park Hee-Young and Kim In-Kyung shared second on 136.
Thidapa Suwannapura was the best Thai performer as she was tied for seventh on six-under 138.
World No.5 Ariya remained at five-under 139 after an even par round of 72 on Friday. Fellow Thai Pornanong Phatlum was a further stroke back after a four-under 68. LEADING SECOND ROUND SCORES (USA unless noted, par-72) 131 — Cristie Kerr 67-64
136 — Lizette Salas 69-67, Park Hee-young (KOR) 66-70, Caroline Hedwall (SWE) 66-70, Kim In-Kyung (KOR) 67-69
137 — Lee Jeong-Eun (KOR) 68-69
138 — Hsu Wei-Ling (TPE) 72-66, Ally McDonald 71-67, Carlota Ciganda (ESP) 70-68, Danielle Kang 69-69, Thidapa
Suwannapura (THA) 69-69, Cindy LaCrosse 69-69, Ryu So-yeon (KOR) 68-70, Ji EunHee (KOR) 70-68
139 — Laetitia Beck (ISR) 70-69, Brooke Henderson (CAN) 69-70, Lydia Ko (NZL) 68-71, Nicole Broch Larsen (DEN) 67-72, Chella Choi (KOR) 70-69, Ariya Jutanugarn
(THA) 67-72