Kerr, the 2007 Women's Open champion at Pine Needles, fired her second straight subpar round, a 1-under-par 70, for a 36-hole score of 3-under 139 and a one-shot lead over Creamer, whose 68 left her in sole possession of second place.

Having two of the LPGA's more recognizable names on top going into the weekend at the tough Old Course at Saucon Valley Country Club can do nothing but lift the morale of the embattled tour and its fans.

The news all week over the demands of top players for the resignation of commissioner Carolyn Bivens, and her reported agreement to step down next week, has overshadowed what is the most prestigious tournament in women's golf.

But maybe a duel between Kerr and Creamer, and the presence in the top 10 of 14-year-old Florida wunderkind Alexis Thompson, who is just 5 shots off the lead, will keep the focus squarely on the golf.

"It's great," Kerr said. "I got the question earlier this week: 'Why aren't more American golfers playing well?' and I think we're kind of answering that question. It's important for women's golf, and especially girls' junior golf here in America, to have us up there.

"That's how I learned, wanting to be a professional golfer by watching the U.S. Open and the LPGA on TV and seeing those stars up there, so it's important."

Creamer, 23, who is seeking her first career major title, did her part by finishing with a flourish. She drained a 40-foot birdie putt at the 18th hole that had about 10 feet of break in it to draw to within one going into today.

"I think it's great," she said. "Any tournament it's wonderful to see Americans, but especially here. All these fans and everything, the kids, see that and it gives them, I guess, some hope that they can get involved with golf, because we are out here."

A third American, Duramed Futures Tour money leader Jane Reynolds, held third place at 141 after a 72. Giulia Sergas of Italy fired the best round of the championship, a 4-under-par 67, and vaulted from a tie for 50th to fourth where she was tied with first-round leader Na Yeon Choi of South Korea at 142.

Kerr, the top American on the LPGA money list and third overall, said she felt light-headed for the first three holes of her round. She drank a lot of water to ease that feeling, then racked up consecutive birdies at 15, 16 and 17 - her sixth, seventh and eighth holes of the day.

She picked up two more birdies at the third and fourth holes to give her five for the day, which more than neutralized her four bogeys.

"It's not playing easy out there," she said. "I said I wanted to try and shoot under par every day, and here we are halfway through and I've done it. So obviously that's my goal the next two days, to just try and shoot under par."

Creamer, who said her injured left thumb was free of pain thus far through two days, effectively battled her way to a 3-under-par score despite hitting only 10 greens. She finished with 25 putts, five of which resulted in birdies.

"I managed to get the ball in the hole really well," she said. "I didn't hit the ball quite as well as I envisioned. Mentally, I'm pretty tired. It was a grind out there confidently making par saves, lots of big breaking putts. The pin placements were pretty difficult."

Reynolds, who sank three birdie putts ranging from 2 to 18 feet, said she felt nervous at the start but got a pep talk after a few holes that settled her down.