Slamming porta-potty door can’t deter Kerr

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This article was published 24/08/2013 (4731 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

EDMONTON — Cristie Kerr grabbed a share of the lead Friday at the Canadian Women’s Open, duelling co-leader Inbee Park almost shot for shot while overcoming the errant slam of a porta-potty door.

Kerr shot a four-under 66 for a second consecutive day, while Park carded a five-under 65, leaving both tied for top spot after two rounds at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club.

Both were 8-under 132 in a day of golf under slightly overcast skies with gentle winds.

Kerr, who won the Canadian Open in 2006, said it’s a challenging course.

“It’s a course where you have to really shape the ball off the tee and be creative,” said the 35-year-old American.

“I played very well the last couple of days. It’s unfortunate I bogeyed the last hole today, but that’s what happens when you hit an errant shot and have to chip out to a difficult pin.”

Making par on the par-4 final hole became a long shot for Kerr when she drilled her tee shot into the left rough.

But a bad hole almost became disastrous when the swing on her approach shot was interrupted by the ka-thwam of a nearby spring-loaded portable toilet door.

“I mean, (the noise) really scared me,” she said.

“I could have hooked (the ball) in the water.”

Kerr was in the same group as Park, the top-ranked player in the world.

The 25-year-old South Korean has won six tournaments on the LPGA tour this year, including three majors.

Earlier this month, the pressure was on when she had a chance at the Women’s British Open to become the first golfer to win four majors in a tournament year.

She said the nerves got to her a bit on the Old Course at St. Andrews, and she ended up tied for 42nd.

Park said the time off since then has helped her game in Edmonton.

“I worked on a couple of things after that because I wasn’t hitting it my best at the British Open. I’m obviously hitting it a lot better this week and putting a lot better,” she said.

“On the greens, I was really comfortable because they’re so pure wherever you hit it, it’s just going to go right there.”

Park followed up five birdies in the first round on Thursday with seven on Friday.

Karine Icher of France logged a four-under 66 to finish tied with American Angela Stanford at one shot back heading into weekend play for the US$2-million purse.

— The Canadian Press