Golf

Creamer rises to top

By wire services
Published August 28, 2005

DUBLIN, Ohio - Despite closing with two bogeys, Paula Creamer moved closer to clinching LPGA rookie of the year honors by shooting a 6-under 66 Saturday to take a one-stroke lead after three rounds at the Wendy's Championship for Children.

Creamer, who won the Sybase and Evian tournaments earlier this year, can lock up the rookie title with a win. That would give her an insurmountable lead over Meena Lee in the points standings that determine the award.

The 19-year-old from Bradenton was at 16-under 200 after three rounds at Tartan Fields Golf Club, one shot in front of Cristie Kerr and Soo-Yun Kang. Kerr matched Creamer's 66, while Kang shot a 69.

Creamer began the day two shots behind co-leaders Kang and defending champion Catriona Matthew. She took the lead with birdies on her first three holes. She added birdies at Nos. 7, 11 and 12 to build a two-stroke lead. She added another birdie at the 16th, then encountered problems down the stretch.

She overshot the green on the par-3 17th, chipped back and missed a 12-footer for par. At the par-4 18th, her second shot was on the green but on the bottom tier. Her first putt came up 4 feet short and she missed the par putt.

Kerr played solid if unspectacular bogey-free golf, opening with a birdie and then twice had consecutive birdies.

Kang had four birdies and a bogey in her 69 as she tried to win for the second straight week. She won the Safeway Classic by four strokes last week.

Tied at 202 were Pat Hurst (67) and Michele Redman (68). Redman is a native of Zanesville, Ohio, about 60 miles from the course.

Dawn Coe-Jones of Tampa was tied for 21st after a 3-under 69 left her at 9 under. Bradenton's Aree Song also shot 69 and was at 8 under, while Tampa's Moira Dunn was at 7 under after a 69. Brittany Lincicome of Seminole is at 5 under after a 72.

Dillon Dougherty chipped in for birdie at the 17th hole and hit the flagstick at the last, the ball stopping close enough for a gimmie par, in a 1-up victory over Canada's J.C. Deacon to advance to the final of the U.S. Amateur in Ardmore, Pa.

The Northwestern senior will meet Italy's Edoardo Molinari, a 2 and 1 semifinal winner over Austin Eaton III, in today's 36-hole match play final.

Dougherty and Molinari will receive invitations to next year's Masters and U.S. Open. The winner also advances to the 2006 British Open.

PGA: Bogey-free and four strokes in front after 36 holes at the Buick Championship in Cromwell, Conn., Justin Rose went over par on No. 37. He kept his poise, though, and was still one stroke in front after three rounds.

Rose missed a 14-foot par putt on the opening hole and scrambled all day for an even-par 70 that left him at 12-under 198. It was just enough to hold off Ben Curtis, his playing partner and friend.

Curtis, the 2003 British Open champion, shot a 3-under 67. His only mistake was driving into the water on No. 17, costing him a share of the lead.

"We've both worked hard on our games this year and it's starting to pay off," Rose said. "It was nice playing with him today."

Four golfers, including Corey Pavin (67), who got within two strokes of the lead midway through his round, were at 202. That group also included defending champion Woody Austin (65), Jerry Kelly (67) and Tjaart van der Walt (68).

Rose, who has four international wins, is looking for his first victory since joining the Tour last year. This is the first time on tour he led after 54 holes.

Darren Stiles began the day at even par and made the biggest jump, shooting a 7-under 63 and was five strokes back.

EUROPEAN PGA: Luke Donald shot a 5-under 67 to lead the BMW International Open in Nord-Eichenried, Germany, by a stroke after three rounds while John Daly finished with a 65 that left him three behind. Donald, bidding for his first title in a year, eagled the ninth hole and made a 10-foot putt on his final hole for a total of 17-under 199. FUTURES: Katie Futcher of the Woodlands, Texas, maintained her one-shot lead, shooting 3-under-par 69 for an 8-umder 136 total at the YWCA Classic in York, Pa. Kelly Lagedrost of Brooksville shot 71-145, tied for CHAMPIONS TOUR: Doug Tewell shot a 6-under 66 to climb into a share of the lead with Gil Morgan after three rounds of the Jen-Weld Tradition in Aloha, Ore.

Morgan, who led the field by two strokes heading into Saturday's third round, settled for a 2-under 70 at the par-72 Reserve Vineyards Golf Club.

[Last modified August 28, 2005, 01:15:11]