Kerr grabs lead at US Open
BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2009 US Women's Open | Round Two | 11 Jul 2009
2007 champion, Cristie Kerr, has the halfway lead at the US Women’s Open at the Saucon Valley Golf Club in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Kerr added a second round of 70 today to move one ahead of Paula Creamer and two ahead of Futures Tour player Jean Reynolds.
The talk of day two has been the performances of Reynolds, who is playing in just her second US Women’s Open but who has been an outstanding success on the Futures Tour this season, the brilliance of the 14-year-old Alexis Thompson who shares 8th place after 36 holes and the horror round of 79 by the world number one Lorena Ochoa.
Kerr has already proven herself at this level having won the event in 2007 when she came from six behind the 36 hole lead to win by two. This year she leads on the tough and demanding layout at Saucon Valley and it is hard to imagine that she will not go on with it. Kerr has been in fine form in 2009 and given her tough, uncompromising style of play appears ready for major number two.
In regard to Creamer it could well be a case of beware the wounded golfer. Creamer has been suffering a thumb injury in recent weeks and was forced to withdraw from two events of late. She put that behind her today however with a round of 68 and she is well poised to challenge Kerr and win her first major championship.
Ochoa is at 6 over and in 37th position and while not yet totally out of it she faces a huge task over the weekend if she is to work herself back into it.
The best of the Australians is Lindsey Wright who continues to build on her reputation as a golfer who plays the big events well. Wright added a second round of 70 today and is in a share of 8th at 2 over and five behind the lead. Wright has yet to win on the LPGA Tour but she has finished 4th and 2nd in the two majors to date this season and has another opportunity this week.
Karrie Webb is at five over and in 28th position after rounds of 75 and 72, while Rachel Hetherington and Katherine Hull both missed the cut.
