Oct 4, 2008 - 7:45 PM
0 shoutsHALF MOON BAY, California (Ticker) -- A late push put Paula Creamer in front at the Samsung World Championship.
Creamer fired a bogey free 4-under-par 68 in Saturday's third round and has a one-stroke lead at the $1 million event.
After struggling to a 74 on Friday in wind-swept conditions, Creamer was steady to start the third round, parring the first six holes. She carded her first birdie of the day at No. 7 and settled back into par mode with eight straight.
"Yesterday, definitely my attitude and my mannerisms on the golf course got me in trouble the last six or seven holes.
So today my goal was to go out and have fun and not get too upset when things happen out here," Creamer said. "I've never seen a scoreboard go up and down so many times in a tournament."
Creamer then made her move, birdying her final three holes to get to 6-under 210 and a stroke in front of Angela Stanford, who is at 5-under 211 after a 3-under 69.
"I stayed patient until the last three holes. I made some putts down the stretch," Creamer said. "I hit the ball well. It played so different than the other days. It was unbelievable. It was like a whole new golf course."
Looking for her third straight win in this event, Lorena Ochoa is tied for third after a 70 on Saturday. Katherine Hull (69) and Song-Hee Kim are tied with Ochoa at at 4-under 212.
Na Yeon Choi took a two-stroke lead into Saturday's third round but slipped to 10th at 1-under 215 after a 3-over 75 at Half Moon Bay Golf Links' Ocean Course.
Ochoa is looking to become the fourth player to win this event at least three times, including five-time winner Annika Sorenstam.
"I'm happy with my day. I still think today was a tough day," Ochoa said. "I played a lot more consistent, just making one bogey and three birdies. I'm happy with my finish on 18. That birdie was important."
Sorenstam has struggled this week and carded a 75 on Saturday to drop to 16th at 5-over 221.
First prize is $250,000.
