2006 November | Cristie Kerr Birdies For Breast Cancer

Cristie Kerr Bio, Information

Cristie Kerr was born October 12, 1977 in Miami, Florida and exactly 30 years later became the 2007 U.S. Women's Open Champion. To date, Cristie Kerr has recorded 10 LPGA Tour victories and the previously mentioned LPGA Major Championship at the 2007 U.S. Women's Open.

Cristie was a member of the U.S. Curtis Cup team in 1996 and has been a member of the U.S. Solheim Cup team 4 times in 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2007.

Cristie Kerr took up golf at age eight, and by age 12 she was a 2-handicap. She won the Florida State Junior Girls Championship from 1993-95, and was the American Junior Golf Association player of the year in 1995 following a season in which she won the Women's Western Amateur, the Florida State Women's Championship, and at age 18 decided to forego college and turn pro.

After obtaining her LPGA Tour Card twice, Cristie Kerr finally found some success in 1998 with a top ten finish and finally earned enough to keep her tour card. In 1999, she hired a nutritionist and a strength and fitness coach, and undertook an aggressive training regimen. Back problems caused by her early weight issues disappeared, her swing improved greatly and she gained extra yards through better flexibility.

Cristie Kerr's improvement showed because in 2000 she moved up to No. 15 on the money list, her first victory came in 2002 in wire-to-wire fashion, and she made her first Solheim Cup appearance. Still steadily improving, in 2004 Cristie won three times along with two runner-up finishes. Cristie Kerr won twice more in 2005 with six Top 3 finishes, added another three victories in 2006, and Cristie broke through for her first major championship victory, holding steady down the stretch to win the 2007 U.S. Women's Open by two strokes.

In 2003, Cristie's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and she became a spokesperson for Evelyn Lauder's Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Cristie Kerr also started the Birdies for Breast Cancer project to raise money for Breast Cancer research.

Nov 21

Cristie Kerr Receives 2006 LPGA Komen Award

Cristie Kerr 1 Comment »

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Known for her intensity and drive on the golf course, Cristie Kerr’s passion to find a cure for breast cancer is just as strong. Through Cristie’s Birdies for Breast Cancer program, LPGA Tour star Cristie Kerr has raised more than $250,000 since 2004.

In recognition of those efforts, the LPGA and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation awarded Cristie Kerr the 2006 LPGA Komen Award!

“Cristie has touched all of us in and around the LPGA Tour. What she has done is simply more than writing a check. She has inspired so many to donate to the fight against breast cancer,” LPGA Tour Commissioner Carolyn Bivens said.

Kerr was surprised with the presentation during the ADT Championship, and the award was presented to her by her mother, Linda, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 and serves as her inspiration in her fundraising efforts.

The LPGA Komen Award is given to the person or organization that sets an example for others by making an outstanding contribution through personal or professional efforts via the game of golf to generate national and local support for breast cancer research, education and efforts to eradicate the disease.

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation has been the official national charity of the LPGA since 1992. Of 11 past recipients, Val Skinner is the only other individual to be honored with the award.

Cristie Kerr founded Birdies for Breast Cancer in 2003, shortly after her mother was diagnosed. She started by pledging to donate $50 for every birdie she records throughout the LPGA Tour season, and accepts matching donations from the public. She has tallied more than 1,000 since 2004, donating more than $50,000 through her performance on the links. Go Cristie Kerr!