Cristie Kerr, the number two ranked LPGA golfer on the 2005 ADT Money List, attempts to defend her title for the second straight year this week at the Takefuji Classic. Kerr went into the final round of last year’s competition with a 4-shot lead but watched it slip away as Seol-An Jeon carded a 69 to force a sudden death playoff. Seven holes later, a struggling Kerr finally won the tournament for her second win on tour. Currently 22nd in overall career winnings (4 million) and with four starts this season but no victories, can Kerr break through and win this week?
With three top-three finishes in four starts this season but no wins, it seems as if every tournament has become a battle for Cristie Kerr. Although a late-round surge brought her closer to victory at the SBS Open, it was Jennifer Rosales who claimed the win that week. At the 2005 Mastercard Tournament, Kerr led through three rounds only to finish in a tie for third place behind Annika Sorenstam. Two weeks ago at the 2005 Kraft Nabisco Championship, Kerr also had high hopes of dethroning the number one player in the world but wound up settling for another third place tie after a double bogey on the 15th stopped her ascent.
The Official Field reads like a who’s-who list with some of the brightest stars in the LPGA Tour in hot pursuit of Kerr. 2005 rookie Paula Creamer will attempt to not only win the event but to gain much needed Rolex Rookie of the Year and Solheim Cup points. Hometown girl Natalie Gulbis enters the tournament this week with back-to-back top-20 finishes, including a tie for eighth earlier this season at the Safeway International.
Although Lorena Ochoa has had several attempts at a victory this season, nerves kept the young Mexican from acquiring a tour win. Other notables in the field include 40-somethings Juli Inkster and Rosie Jones, both claiming top ten finishes to date. Also, keep an eye out for Karrie Webb, who grabbed second place at the Mastercard Classic and claimed an early win this season in her native Australia. Also competing will be Mi Hyun Kim, Meg Mallon and SBS winner Jennifer Rosales. Among the missing this week are Annika Sorenstam, Grace Park and Michelle Wie.
Catch the 54-hole action for three days beginning April 14th and 15th from 3:00-5:00pm ET on ESPN2. The finale will air on April 16th from 5:00-7:00pm ET.
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