After a sunny Saturday, Cristie Kerr is still leading the Lacoste Ladies Open de France. The American, who only played nine holes in her third round, is four strokes ahead of Dutch Anne Van Dam and Spaniard Patricia Sanz Barrio. French amateur Mathilde Claisse occupies a remarkable fourth place, five strokes behind.

  • Cristie Kerr - © PBallet / ASO

Following the interruption of play due to the rain on Friday noon, the second round of the Lacoste Ladies Open de France ended this Saturday, at the beginning of the afternoon. Building on his exceptional 62 (-8) in the first round, Cristie Kerr returned a very high level second card, a superb 64 (-6) including three birdies on the first leg and three on the return. Thanks to this new demonstration, the former world number 1 started his third round, just before 17:30 p.m., with six margin strokes on his closest pursuers.

But, a little less imperial on the nine holes she had time to complete before dark, the American saw her lead shrink to four units after conceding three bogeys against a single birdie. “I found myself running out of energy this afternoon, I lost my legs and my swing a bit,” she explains. I also had a hard time getting used to the new speed on the greens. We'll have to rest well to be ready for tomorrow, because there is still a lot to play. Getting ahead tonight doesn't mean much: I know I'm going to have to give everything I have tomorrow. "

At -12 total, the star of the LPGA Tour is four strokes ahead of the Dutchman Anne Van Dam and the Spanish Patricia Sanz Barrio (-8). Finally, a blow behind, the French amateur Mathilde Claisse occupies a magnificent provisional fourth place, thanks to a second round played in 68 (-2) and a first half of third in -2. “When I left this morning, I didn't expect to be so close to the last games. I was not expecting that at all ! I'm here to have fun, so I take advantage. I don't really think about what I'm doing, ”she says with a smile, from the top of her 17 years. The third round will resume at 8am Sunday morning, and the fourth and final round will start at 45am.

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