Cristie Kerr Takes Lead Into Final Round at ShopRite Classic

Expect a race to the finish Sunday in the final round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic on the Bay Course at the Seaview Dolce Resort.

After pursuing the lead and tying Catriona Matthew briefly, only to fall behind again, Cristie Kerr took the lead on the final hole of the day in the second round of the event Saturday.

Kerr shot a 65 for 6-under-par on the day, bringing her two-day total to 8-under. She started the day tied for fourth.

Matthew took the lead early in the day, shooting a 67 for 4-under-par to take her to 7-under. Her round ended mid-day, and she spent the rest of the day looking on as Kerr pursued her lead.

Brittany Lincicome is also within striking distance at 6-under following a round in which she shot 64.

Jiyai Shin, the leader at the end of the first round, fell into a three-way tie for fourth with Mindy Kim and Amy Yang at 5-under, which was a good enough score for first place Friday.

Overall scores improved on Saturday, as the wind died down early in the day. Clouds moved in shortly before 3 p.m., threatening rainfall.

"(There was) just a slight breeze today, so that made it easier," said Matthew, who said on Friday that she felt "at home" in the unusually windy conditions at the Seaview. "Overall, I played pretty well out there today. I had a couple of poor shots, but I still made a lot of birdies, which you have to do on that course."

Kerr began the round with three straight birdies, and ended with eight birdies on the day, including a birdie on the 18th that gave her the lead.

After 11 holes, she was tied with Matthew, but that tie was short lived, as she bogeyed on the 12th to fall two back. She recovered with three birdies on the final six holes.

Kerr won the tournament in 2004.

"It's great being a past champion, knowing that I've won on this golf course," Kerr said. "I'm very comfortable on this course."

Oakcrest High School graduate and Mays Landing native Joanna Coe wrapped up the second round by shooting a 79, removing seven strokes from her first round score. She finished the tournament at 23-over-par.

South Korean Shi HyunAhn began the day tied for 14th, but moved into sixth place with a round that included five birdies, 12 even holes and just one bogey to head into the clubhouse with a 67, 4-under-par, both for the day and for the tournament. 

Ahn has played in four tournaments this year and has yet to finish in the top 10.

Rolex No. 1 Yani Tseng began the day tied for 43rd, but jumped into a tie for 17th by shooting 3-under for the day, bringing her to 1-under for the tournament.

Ai Miyazato, the 2010 ShopRite LPGA Classic winner, also began the day tied for 43rd, and has moved into a tie for 30th place by shooting 2-under for the day, brining her to par for the tournament.