Kerr shoots 69 to take Kia lead

Ko misses just 2nd LPGA cut

CARLSBAD, California, March 25, (AP): A 10-foot putt stood between top-ranked Lydia Ko making the cut or getting a rare weekend off. She rolled it just right. So after taking Saturday off, she’ll be driving out to Palm Springs on Sunday to start preparing for the season’s first major.

Ko, the defending Kia champion, missed the cut for just the second time in 91 LPGA Tour starts when she bogeyed two of her final three holes Friday at the Kia Classic.

Cristie Kerr, the 2015 Kia champion, shot a 3-under 69 for a tworound total of 9-under 135, good for a one-shot lead over Mo Martin and Mirim Lee.

Ko fell apart on the last three greens. She missed short putts on 16 and 17 for a bogey and par, and three-putted No. 18 to finish at par72 for a 36-hole total of 2-over 146. The cut was at 1-over. So while there won’t be a repeat champion at the Kia, Kerr can win it for the second time in three years if she keeps up her strong play through the weekend.

Kerr kept the lead despite bogeys on two of her final four holes.

To stay atop the leader board will take “making it routine, just playing my game every day and keeping it simple. Staying out of my own way.”

Kerr had been tied at 6-under 66 with Martin and In Gee Chun after the first round.

Martin shot a 70 on Friday while Lee had a 67.

Mi Jung Hur, Austin Ernst, Jackie Stoelting and Karine Icher were tied at 6-under 138.