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HAVRE DE GRACE, Md. -- At 28, Cristie Kerr appears caught between LPGA generations, stuck somewhere in the middle of the Annika Era and the starry-eyed youth movement.
Nobody can debate her ability to climb leaderboards, though. Thursday, she moved into position to contend for that elusive first major title, shooting a 6-under-par 66, good for a second-place tie with Pat Hurst, yet unobtrusive enough to keep her again flying under the radar.
Still, Kerr believes she's often overlooked and perhaps underappreciated, perceptions she can use as motivation. "Sometimes people don't tend to talk about me in the same breath as the other top players," said Kerr, a six-time winner and No.5 in the world rankings. "But I've been playing great for a really long time."
Annika Sorenstam's dominance was still on hold and Michelle Wie's spotlight shrunk a size or two -- for one round at least. Sorenstam won last year here at Bulle Rock Golf Course, three strokes ahead of then-amateur Wie. Both opened with 71s as Kerr and several other stars jumped at the chance to chase a first major that's become increasingly difficult to win.
Christina Kim opened with a 67, and Lorena Ochoa shot 68. Both are fourth-year players with multiple victories and expectations to define their careers with major titles. Ai Miyazato (68) is in her rookie season, but she's considered a superstar in her native Japan and, at 20, already has 12 international victories on her resume.
"A major would be a fantastic little notch in the belt. It would mean the world to me," Kim said. "The level of play has gotten so much higher, even in the last year. The players are so good these days. It doesn't matter how good you feel about yourself."
Kerr slugged away in the shadow of the Sorenstam-Karrie Webb rivalry after making the tour in 1997. Now she's battling to keep at bay the likes of Wie, Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel and a talented contingent of South Korean players, who've won six of 13 tournaments this season.
"When I first started on tour, there were maybe 10 or 15 players who could win any given week," Kerr said. "Now there's about 40. I think I've gotten better, but it's forced all the top players to do that."
Kerr might be on the verge of cracking the major code, too. Last year she tied for third in the Kraft Nabisco Championship and tied for fifth in the Weetabix Women's British Open. Her best finish was a tie for second in the 2000 U.S. Women's Open.
"The timing is right for me," Kerr said. "That being said, you still have to go out and get the job done. All I need to do is stay out of my own way, and I could win one pretty soon. It's coming."
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