KERR LEADER OF SCOTTISH OPEN AFTER HER 73
Cristie Kerr birdied three of the last six holes in strong wind Friday at Dundonald Links for a 1-over-par 73 and a one-stroke lead over Hall of Famer Karrie Webb in the Ladies Scottish Open.
Kerr played the first 11 holes in 4-over, with a double bogey on the par-5 third and bogeys on Nos. 6 and 11. The 39-year-old American had a 5-under 139 total.
“It was tough,” Kerr said. “I didn’t hit it that great today, but I still managed. My caddie and I managed the golf course well, and we made the recovery shots when we needed to. I’m just going to go hit a few balls and try to find the feel. It’s hard when you play back to back in heavy wind with the swing, but we’ll work on it.”
She won the Lotte Championship in April in Hawaii for her 19th LPGA Tour title.
“You never know with the weather. I’m trying not to get ahead of myself in this weather,” Kerr said. “Just try to hit it pretty well and make some putts and get up-and-down sometimes, and we’ll see what happens.”
Webb, a stroke ahead of Kerr after a first-round 65, shot a 75 to drop behind. The 42-year-old Australian star had a double bogey, four bogeys and three pars.
South Koreans Sun Young Yoo (69) and Sei Young Kim (72) were tied for third at 3-under.
“I’m very pleased,” Yoo said. “It wasn’t easy out there. It was windy. Tried to make par every hole. Didn’t try too hard. I think that worked really good.”
Michelle Wie was tied for 11th at 1-over after a 73.
Lydia Ko missed the cut with rounds of 74 and 79. She has gone a full year without winning on the LPGA Tour.
Langer shares lead.
BRIDBRIDGEND, WALES» Bernhard Langer shot a 3-under 74 in rain and wind at Royal Porthcawl to hold on to a share of the Senior British Open lead.
The 59-year-old German star was tied at 1-over with Americans Tom Lehman (72), Steve Flesch (71) and Billy Mayfair (72) and Argentina’s Mauricio Molina (73). American Clark Dennis (72) was 2-over.
The 36-hole cut came at 13-over, second-highest since the tournament became a PGA Tour Champi- ons event to the 15-over in 2005.
Chesters tops at 9-under.
HAMBURG» Ashley Chesters fired a 5-under 67 on Friday to take the lead at 9-under in the second round of the European Open, which was suspended because of fading light and a heavy downpour.
The 27-year-old, who also had a bogey-free round on the opening day, was tied with fellow Englishman Jordan Smith at 8-under when play was halted.
U.S. Girls’ Junior.
Erica Shepherd and Jennifer Chang each won two matches Friday at Boone Valley in Augusta, Mo., to advance to the U.S. Girls’ Junior final.