Kerr wins two horse race at State Farm Classic
BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2004 State Farm Classic | Wrap | 06 Sep 2004
From a long way out, the State Farm Classic in Springfield, Illinois this week appeared as if it would develop into a two horse race and that is exactly the way it would transpire as Americans Christie Kerr and Christina Kim fought out an absorbing battle over the last 36 holes.
After round two, Kim led by four over Kerr, but after 54 holes the roles were reversed with Kerr taking a four shot lead into the final day over her less experienced challenger.
A golf course playing short and wide with little rough and wide generous fairways, was always going to allow for low rounds but the scoring by both Kim, who is in just her second season on the LPGA, and the well established Kerr over the first three rounds, was extraordinary. Kim had opened with a 62 but was followed over the next thirty six holes by Kerr whose 63’s in rounds two and three saw her in front.
Despite Kim’s lack of winning experience on the LPGA Tour it was Kerr who was on the defensive in the final round, having to hold off an almighty Kim challenge. Kim threw everything at Kerr early on day four. When she had reached the turn in three under she was within two of the 26-year-old Kerr, who had three tour victories and countless top tens to her name in her nearly eight year LPGA Tour career.
20-year-old Kim kept pushing forward and, with a birdie at the 14th, she had a share of the lead at twenty two under. The par five 15th appeared to be a key hole in the closing stages. It proved to be just that as Kim eagled after an eight iron finished seven feet from the hole which she made, and when Kerr could only two putt for birdie from twenty feet, Kim was ahead.
A crucial moment came at the 163 yard, par three 16th when Kim and Kerr were forced to wait on the tee. With the adrenalin pumping and the momentum going her way, it was the last thing the inexperienced Kim needed. Full of that adrenalin she hit a seven iron well beyond her limitations over the green and she would bogey and they were all square again.
The last would see Kerr miss the fairway but from behind a tree she managed to find a greenside trap and then play a delightful bunker shot to just a few feet from the hole. Kim also missed the green and she too would face a gut wrenching four footer, to force the tournament into a playoff. She missed and her chance of her first LPGA event was gone.
An emotional Kim said later, “This has been the most emotional day in my life. Full of highs and lows but that is golf at this level. It rocks. It was raw emotion flowing out there and every fist pump was genuine.”
There was a gap of five back to Mi Hyun Kim who put together a last round 67 to claim third outright. Lorena Ochoa again produced a top five, sharing fifth with Kim Saiki, one shot behind Pat Hurst who finished alone in fourth.
The leading Australians were Shani Waugh and Mardi Lunn who shared 32nd, Lindsey Wright in her first LPGA Tour event of 2004 made the cut, finishing 37th and looks forward to a promising LPGA career in 2005, with Cherie Byrnes and Loraine Lambert 66th.
The LPGA Tour now heads to Tulsa for the John Q Hammons Classic.
