Golf

Creamer grabs lead in a Japanese event

By wire services
Published August 14, 2005

KARUIZAWA, Japan - American teenager Paula Creamer shot 7-under 65 Saturday to take a two-stroke lead after two rounds of the NEC Karuizawa tournament.

Creamer, 18, of Bradenton had seven birdies in her bogey-free round at the Karuizawa golf course and was two ahead of Japan's Ai Miyazato, who shot 64.

Creamer is making her first appearance in a Japanese LPGA tour event after winning twice on the LPGA Tour this year. She became the second-youngest first-time winner in tour history - and the youngest winner of a full event - when she captured the Sybase Classic by one stroke in May. She also won the Evian Masters in July. Despite graduating from high school only three months ago, Creamer is second on the LPGA money list behind Annika Sorenstam.

Miyazato played in four overseas events during a two-month absence from the Japan tour, including the U.S. Open and the British Open.

AMATEURS: John Holmes beat longtime Britain and Ireland player Gary Wolstenholme 1-up to help the United States take a 61/2-51/2 lead after the first day of the Walker Cup matches at Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Ill. The United States, trying to end a three-match losing streak in the biennial competition, led 21/2-11/2 after the morning alternate-shot matches and maintained the one-point lead by splitting the eight afternoon singles matches. The two-day competition concludes today with four morning alternate-shot matches and eight afternoon singles matches. The United States needs 121/2 points to win, and Britain and Ireland needs 12 to retain the cup.

FUTURES: Janell Howland of Boise, Idaho, shot 67 and Sun Young Yoo of Seoul, South Korea, shot 69 for 136 to share a one-shot lead at the Betty Puskar Classic in Morgantown, W.Va. Kelly Lagedrost of Brooksville shot 73 and Jenny Gleason of Clearwater shot 74 and were tied for 39th at 144.

[Last modified August 14, 2005, 00:55:04]