Kerr holds lead for second straight day

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- For an inexperienced frontrunner, Cristie Kerr has some definite ideas about protecting her two-shot lead in the Welch's-Circle K Championship.

''I'm not going to put any pressure on myself,'' she said after her 4-under-par 68 in the second round Friday. ''I can't control how others play and nobody knows what will happen. All I can my best.''

The 22-year-old matched the 36-hole tournament record of 12-under 132 by Helen Alfredsson in her victory two years ago, and shrugged off a blown birdie opportunity on the last hole by looking at the bright side.

Moira Dunn shot 66 and was alone in second, one shot ahead of Sorenstam, Janice Moodie, Fiona Pike and Pak, who had the day's best round, a 65.

Sara Sanders, Lorie Kane and Kim were four shots back, with Marisa Baena, Michele Redman, Dina Ammaccapane, Pat Hurst and Burton, who is trying for a fast start after missing a year because of shoulder surgery, grouped at 137.

Defending champion Juli Inkster (140), two-time winner Donna Andrews (141) and Dottie Pepper (138), who won in 1995, were among the 70 pros who made the cut at 143, along with Jenna Daniels, the only amateur in the field.

Alfredsson got the weekend off after shooting 70-74.

In three years on tour, Kerr has shared two leads -- the second and third rounds of last year's LPGA Championship, in which she tied for fifth. She believes the experience of leading a major is carrying over.

''I try to tell myself: 'Don't try to shoot a number. Take what the golf course will give you and take the birdies and play golf,''' Kerr said. ''A lot of people think they have to shoot a low number and they get tense. I'm not that way. I've always felt relaxed out there.''

Kerr shot her opening 64 thanks to great approach shots. She had longer putts during the second round, but responded with birdies from 40, 28 and 8 feet. Her other two birdies came on short putts after chips.

After birdieing the 12th, 13th and 14th holes in a row, Kerr parred out, although the last two holes were hardly routine.

On No. 17, Kerr pushed her tee shot between two palm trees, hit a 5-iron beside the green, chipped on and made a 6-foot putt to stay at 12-under.

On the par-5 final hole, she was just off the green in front on her second shot, chipped to within four feet and then two-putted on the rough surface.

Dunn, whose best finish in five years on the tour was a tie for second last year in Hawaii, matched her career-low round.

''I think you will see a lot of scores going low and getting better each day,'' Dunn said about the Randolph North municipal course's hard, dry fairways. ''I don't think any one person will run away with it. I think you will see more of a group breakaway.''

Dunn offset her only bogey with seven birdies -- three from 20 feet.

She got the last one with a deft chip from above the sloping 18th green. The ball landed 45 feet upslope and carried just enough speed to go over a slight knoll and stop 2 feet from the cup.