Now Kerr is on top of the world

Home

bruced
June 28, 2010

Cristie Kerr has run away from the field to secure her second major and the World No 1 spot at the LPGA Championship

Cristie Kerr ran away from the field to claim her second major and secure for the first time the world number one ranking at the LPGA Championship on Sunday.
The 33-year-old American won by a massive12 strokes at Locust Hill Country Club, near Rochester in New York.
This was Kerr’s 14th win in 14 years on the tour. It was also her second victory – and fourth top-three finish – this season after winning the State Farm Classic two weeks ago.
The 2007 US Women’s Open champion had taken the largest 54-hole lead in LPGA Championship history into Sunday’s final round, but even her overnight, eight-shot cushion at 13 under over Japan’s Mika Miyazato, Spanish rookie Azahara Munoz and Jimin Kang of South Korea did not stop her from attacking the par-72 course and her closing six-under-par 66 further stretched her astonishing lead as she blazed to glory in 2010’s second women’s major of the year with a 19 under tournament total.
“There are no words,” a stunned Kerr said afterwards.
Deposed world No 1, Ai Miyazato of Japan, narrowly missed out on the second-place finish she needed to hold on to the number one spot.
Instead it was Song-Hee Kim of South Korea who finished a distant second at seven under par following a 69 with Ai Miyazato tied for third, two shots further back having bogeyed the last for a 66.
Miyazato had recently assumed the top ranking from Jiyai Shin of South Korea, whose 71 put her in the tie for third.
“It was a little disappointing on the last hole, but I played really good, and didn’t expect I could shoot like 6 or 7 under,” Miyazato said. “I did my job, so it makes me feel good.”
What blew her away was Kerr’s awesome dominance.
“That’s almost too good,” Miyazato said, figuring 8 under would be good enough to win the tournament. “She’s just amazing. I played really good, too, but she was just better than me.”
Of the trio that started the day tied for second, Kang shot a 74 to finish tied for seventh, Munoz, in her first major, tied for 11th after a 75 and Mika Miyazato 13th following her 76.
Defending champion Anna Nordqvist of Sweden shot a 72 to finish at two over in a tie for 25th while Scotland’s Catriona Matthew fell back in her final round to a tie for 34th.
Matthew had moved into the top 10 with a third-round 69 that lifted her to two under but the 2009 Women’s British Open champion shot a disappointing 77 to finish at three over.

Home