Kerr Holds Four-Shot Lead in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS (AP) _ Cristie Kerr has realized that putting pressure on herself is bad for her game. ``That's something you learn with experience,'' Kerr said Friday after her 5-under 67 gave her

Friday, April 16th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LAS VEGAS (AP) _ Cristie Kerr has realized that putting pressure on herself is bad for her game. ``That's something you learn with experience,'' Kerr said Friday after her 5-under 67 gave her a four-stroke lead heading into the final round of the Takefuji Classic.

``I was the No. 1 amateur, the No. 1 junior at the same time coming out of high school, turned pro, and I put a lot of pressure on myself. It was like either win or you are horrible. I have come a long way since then.''

Off to her best start since coming on the LPGA Tour in 1997, Kerr finished second at Phoenix, tied for fifth in the Kraft Nabisco, and tied for 22nd last week in Los Angeles, where she had not made the cut in three previous tries.

``My game is good, I'm at a good place in my life, I'm happy,'' Kerr said.

Kerr rolled in five birdie putts in a bogey-free round to reach 8-under 136. She began the second round in a four-way tie at the top at 3 under.

After 36 holes, Heather Daly-Donofrio, Seol-An Jeon and Stacy Prammanasudh were tied for second at 140.

Swirling wind had made the Las Vegas Country Club course difficult the first day, but there was less wind during the second round and scores came down.

Daly-Donofrio had a 68, Jeon a 70 and Prammanasudh, who shared the first-round lead, had a 71.

Mi-Hyun Kim was at 141 after a 70. Danielle Ammaccapane, who is six months pregnant, shot a 70 and was in a group at 142 along with Juli Inkster (68) and Grace Park (70).

Kerr started on No. 10, went to 4 under with a short birdie putt on her first hole, made the turn at 35, then birdied four holes on her second nine.

She sank putts of 7, 15 and 8 feet for three of those birdies, and just missed a 45-foot try for eagle on the par-5, 460-yard ninth.

She grimaced when the eagle putt didn't go in, but smiled and waved to the gallery after she made the short putt for birdie.

``I was real calm the whole day and just tried to stay within myself,'' Kerr said. ``Once I saw I had the lead, I said `Let's see how far in front I can get.'''

Last year, Kerr finished in a three-way tie for second at the Las Vegas Country Club.

``I am a year older. I have got more experience under my belt,'' Kerr said. ``So I look at things a lot differently than I used to. I used to be in a huge rush to make birdies.

``Now I know I need to stay patient and just play as well as I can.''

The 26-year-old Kerr is going for her second tour victory.

Daly-Donofrio had seven birdies during her round.

``I hit the first 11 greens, and I drove the ball well enough where I was having short irons to the green, so I was able to hit it close to the hole,'' she said.

``I feel like when I have good control over my long game, my putting falls in step.''

Defending champion Candie Kung, whose Las Vegas victory last year was her first tour win, followed her opening 76 with a 74 to just make the cut that came at 5 over.