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Enlarge PhotoCristie Kerr of the U.S. reacts after her par on the ninth hole as she... World number one Cristie Kerr grabbed a share of the early second-round lead at the U.S. Women's Open on Friday after a birdie binge on her second nine at Oakmont to finish with a level-par 71.Kerr, who won last month's LPGA Championship by 12 strokes, was tied with fellow-American overnight leader Brittany Lang at one-over-par 143 before play was suspended when a thunderstorm hit the Pittsburgh suburb.
The 32-year-old Kerr began the day on the 10th and had to overcome a stumbling first nine of three-over 38 that included a double-bogey six at the par-four 15th with three birdies in a row from the fourth.
Lang followed her opening-round 69 with a 74 in which she slid back after getting to three-under for the tournament through five holes after also beginning at 10. A birdie at the difficult ninth hole ended her day on a positive note.
One stroke behind the pair was American Christina Kim, who posted her second successive round of one-over-par 72 for 144.
Tied on 145 were South Korean Amy Yang, who was tied for second overnight after a first-round 70, and American Stacy Lewis who shot 70 on Friday before the rain came.
Three other players who were tied for second after the opening round on Thursday fell well off the pace at the challenging Oakmont course, host of 12 previous golf majors.
Park In-bee of South Korea, the 2008 winner, shot a 78 for 148, while South African amateur Kelli Shean followed her 70 with a 79, and South Korean M.J. Hur soared to an 81.
(Editing by FrankPingue; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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