Cristie Kerr uses hot putter to take early Wegmans LPGA lead

From WorldGolf.com News Services

Brandishing a new putter, nine-time LPGA Tour winner Cristie Kerr shot a 6-under-par 66 Thursday for the first round lead at the LPGA Tour's Wegmans LPGA.

"I'll buy every single putter I ever play with if I can putt like that," said Kerr of her 26-putt round. "I feel like my game is coming around."

Battling a cold, Kerr carded seven birdies and one bogey at Pittsford, N.Y.'s, Locust Hill Country Club to go one up on Alena Sharp, who made her second appearance at the Wegman's LPGA, the warm-up event to the U.S. Women's Open. Sharp's best career first round finish was fourth place at the Corona Morelia Championship last year.

Suzann Pettersen remains hot after winning the LPGA Championship. She is in third place after a 4-under 68.

"My game was pretty solid," Pettersen told the media, adding that the gravity of her LPGA Championship win hasn't sunk in yet. "I don't think I'm going to realize it [happened] until the end of the year, when it's time to relax and sit back. Just want to build on the momentum, try to get the game better and better each day. That'll keep you busy."

World No. 1 women's golfer Lorena Ochoa is tied for fourth with Brittany Lincicome and Mi Hyun Kim. Defending champion Jeong Jang finished the day with a 71.

Annika Sorenstam, who is back on the LPGA Tour after being sidelined for several months with a back injury, is not competing this week. Michelle Wie is also absent from the field.

The Wegmans LPGA closes the first half of the LPGA Playoffs 2007 season. The winner will take home $270,000, and the top 11 players in the ADT Points race following the event will qualify for the season-ending ADT Championship.

June 22, 2007