June 23, 2004
LPGA's Cristie Kerr also a champion off the course
By TOM WILLIAMS
Sports Columnist
Cristie Kerr, the 26-year old champion of the ShopRite LPGA Classic, proved her grit on the golf course
over the weekend. For the first time in her career, she came from behind on Sunday to win a professional
event.
It was quite a finish.
Kerr was battling with 17-year old amateur Paula Creamer from California and 24-year old Giulia Sergas of
Italy. The three were tied at 10-under with one hole to play, Creamer trying to become the first amateur to
win an LPGA event since 1969 and Sergas attempting to win her first tour championship.
Kerr rolled in a birdie putt while the other two had to settle for par. It made her only the second
multiple-winner on this year’s tour, joining four-time winner Annika Sorenstam. Kerr also won in Las Vegas
back in April.
“This one is more special than the first two,” said Kerr, who also won a tournament in 2002. “I knew I could
come from behind and win, I knew it was in me, but it feels so good to do it.”
Kerr is one of the young players the LPGA has been promoting this year, hoping to continue building its
fan base. She’s appearing in ads with Sorenstam, Se Ri Pak, Grace Park, Laura Diaz and Natalie Gulbis.
They are not only young and talented, they are attractive and personable.
On Sunday, Kerr was teamed with Creamer and was very impressed. “She is a very talented player and a
very nice person,” Kerr said. “She handled everything the pressure of a Sunday final could throw at her and
nearly forced a playoff. She is absolutely fearless. She is going to be a big star.”
Another impressive teenager, 14-year-old Michelle Wie, will join Kerr in the Women’s Open next week in
Massachusetts. Wie received an exemption from the United States Golf Association, which runs the
open tournaments.
“I think it's good for golf that she (Wie) is playing in the Open,” said Kerr, “but she is also good enough to
qualify on her own. The USGA probably looked at what she has done in LPGA events this year and
realized she’d be among the top 30 in earnings if she had taken the money. I’m sure Michelle will be
playing in the Open for a long, long time.”
Kerr was born and still lives in Miami. She is a natural left-hander who plays right-handed because it was
hard to find lefty clubs when she started playing at the age of eight.
She has also dedicated her career to raising money to help fight breast cancer. For every birdie she
makes, she donates $50.00 to Birdies for Breast Cancer, a charity she started in honor of her mother,
Linda, who is a breast cancer survivor.
The extra motivation has probably helped her move to the top in birdies among all players on the LPGA
Tour.
That birdie Kerr rolled home on 18 to earn her third career win was her 17th of the tournament, sending
another $850.00 toward the fight against breast cancer. Her primary sponsor, Mutual of Omaha, matches
her contribution. Even more is added from pledges made by fans and friends through her website,
www.birdiesforbreastcancer.org.
Next year the ShopRite LPGA Classic will celebrate its 20th year as the most successful professional
sports operation in New Jersey. You can expect Larry and Ruthie Harrison, along with their talented staff
and dedicated volunteers, to make next year’s tournament even more special than usual.
Having Cristie Kerr, one of the sport’s rising stars, as the defending champion certainly won’t hurt.
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