2013 LPGA Golf: Christie Kerr Carries 54 Hole Lead In The Kingsmill

Rolex LPGA World Ranked, and 15 time LPGA Champion, Christie Kerr matched her Thursday round -5 under par 66 on Saturday to take a two-shot lead at The Kingsmill Championship which is underway in Williamsburg, Virginia. She has some talented competition  in the rear-view mirror however, with second ranked Stacy Lewis, and fifth ranked Suzann Pettersen two- strokes back at -8 under par, and tour veteran, Angela Stanford only three back.

July 7, 2012; Kohler, WI, USA; Christie Kerr checks out her ball on the ninth green during the third round of the U.S. Womens Open at Blackwolf RuMandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports

Kerr,The founder of Birdies for Breast Cancer, and LPGA veteran who turned pro in 1997, made her only bogey at the second hole, and played flawless golf down the stretch. She hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation, and needed only 26 putts to get into the clubhouse. Christie is a two-time winner at The River Course at Kingsmill Resort, winning here in 2005, and 2009. She had a piece for the 54 hole lead on both occasions.

"“You have to really play a good round tomorrow either whether you’re two ahead or two behind, like I said,” said Kerr. “I think just going to try to stay lose, I’m going to try and stay focused and, you know, in those pressure situations, pressure moments tomorrow that I’m going to face, I think I’ve just got to keep doing what I’ve done, you know, the last three days and that’s really focus on the process of the shot. I know it sounds kind of boring, but that’s when I do my best. If I do that and I start rolling the rock, I’m going to be hard to beat.”"

After opening on Thursday with -7 under 64, first and second round leader,  seventeen year-old Ariya Jutanugarn fell on bad times shooting even par on Friday, and following that with a two over par 73 performance on Saturday. The youngster from Thailand actually began struggling with her putter at the seventeenth hole on Thursday where she made a double bogey, and hasn’t really recovered. She had trouble hitting greens on Saturday, hitting only 10 of 18 in regulation, and with the putter not doing its job, has fell into a tie for sixth place.

One of the best rounds of the day was turned in by rookie, Lizette Salas on Saturday. Salas fired a -6 under 65 in the third round, and moved up the leaderboard into a tie with Jutanugarn at -5 under for the week. She got off to a slow start shooting a one over par 72 in her opening round Thursday, and even par on Friday, but we have seen how quickly the newbie can start putting birdies on her card.

Two weeks ago she shot 63 on Sunday at The LOTTE Championship in Hawaii to catch Suzann Pettersen for the lead at the end of regulation play. She forced a playoff where she lost on the first hole with a double bogey. She played in the final group on Sunday with Inbee Park at The Kraft Nabisco Championship before fading out of contention down the stretch. The youngster from Southern California, and Nancy Lopez protegé, is looking for her first tour win, and if she gets hot again, that could come as early as Sunday afternoon.

Speaking of Inbee Park. The number one player in the world has yet to get her putter working this week, but shooting a -2 under 69 on Saturday, remains close. She made one bogey in the third round on the first hole, and made a couple of birdies to stay in the hunt. She may be a little too far back to be a factor on Sunday, but you can’t count the three-time winner on tour this year, out.

With Suzann Petersen, and Lizette Salas in my fantasy league this week, my picks are looking pretty good. I lost Michelle Wie, and Moira Dunn to the cut, but am sitting in good position with players in the second and sixth places as play begins on Sunday. I should get a fine paycheck when play ends this afternoon

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