‘It’s been a long time’: Cristie Kerr captures first LPGA Legends title for first victory in 8 years

Cristie Kerr won her first LPGA title 23 years ago. Over the next 15 years she collected 20 titles and two majors. She was an American stalwart on nine Solheim Cup teams, playing in 38 career matches. It’s likely that she’ll eventually end up in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

But Kerr, now 47, hadn’t won in eight years, since her two-win campaign on the LPGA in 2017 earned her the Lotte Championship and Sime Darby event in Malaysia.

Well, she’s back. Back in the winner’s circle after claiming victory Saturday in the LPGA Legends Championship at Copper Rock Golf Club in St. George, Utah. Kerr shot 69-71-70 for a six-under-par total, two shots ahead of Moira Dunn-Bohls. Other notables in the field, for players age 45 and over, included Trish Johnson, Heather Bowie Young, Leta Lindley, Laura Diaz, Jill McGill, Charlotta Sorenstam, Laura Davies and Angela Stanford, the U.S. Solheim Cup captain for the 2026 matches.

When Kerr’s final putt dropped on Saturday, the last of seven straight pars, she smiled and was relieved. A year ago she finished second in the same event behind Stanford.

“It's been a long time since I won a tournament, and it's never easy to win on any tour. To have my friends and family here, and to be able to get my first win in front of my youngest son, Griffin ... I'll take it to the grave,” Kerr said. “It is just so special. My other friends and family that spent the entire week of their time with us to come out and support, it was really worth it. It was amazing.”

Kerr’s main goal this past month has been to get some competitive reps and knock off some rust, because she’s participating in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship next month at Fields Ranch East in Frisco, Texas. She won the event in 2010 at Locust Hill Country Club in New York when it was called the LPGA Championship.

So far this year Kerr has missed the cut in both LPGA events she’s played and tied for 10th place in an Epson Tour event in Arizona earlier this month.

This week in Utah, Kerr showed she still has plenty of firepower, making six birdies in an opening three-under 69. A second-round 71 gave her a two-shot lead entering the third, and final round. On Saturday she birdies Nos. 6, 7 and 11, then made par the rest of the way.

“I don't play full-time on tour anymore, and I said if I wanted to have a chance here and also at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, that I needed to get more reps and made myself do it,” Kerr said.

Dunn-Bohls, who won her lone LPGA title in 2004, shot a final-round 68 to make a push but was undone by a second-round 75. Maria McBride, who played most of her career as Maria Hjorth, played on five Solheim Cup teams for Europe. The Swede shot 67 in the final round, the lowest of the day. Sorenstam (66) shot the lowest round of the week in the opening round but followed it with 77-76 to tie for 14th place.

The Legends Tour’s next event is June 6-8 at the Woodford Club in Versailles, Ky.