Kerr takes Kia Classic

Cristie Kerr had a scintillating finish to win the Kia Classic by two strokes on Sunday.

The American closed with a scorching seven under 65 to finish on 20 under for the event, two shots ahead of South Korea’s Mirim Lee.

After pars on the opening four holes, Kerr would birdie five out of the next six to surge up the leaderboard.

A bogey on the 12th set her back, but the world number 19 rallied to card four birdies in a row on the back nine before closing with a bogey. Nevertheless, it was enough for her to pull away from Lee and Lydia Ko. She celebrated the win with her 15-month old son.

“I could just tell by everybody’s reaction that I had won,” the 37-year-old told Yahoo Sports

“It was just amazing having him there, and he just gave me a big smile and a squeak. He’s screaming now. That’s his thing, and I always hoped this day would come. And now it has. Just so proud.

“I love to win. Golf has always been great to me, always given me special moments like this. I’ve been working with a new coach, and I definitely found something this week. He said I was going to have a hot round, and he was right. I just found something. I’m just real happy right now.”

Lee had a chance to force a playoff but a double bogey on the par five 17th ended her chances.

Ko, in the meantime, would finish by herself in third place on 17 under. It was the world number one’s tenth consecutive top ten finish.

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