Roundup | Creamer in control by six
MOBILE, Ala. - For someone who thinks she needs to hit the ball farther, Paula Creamer has sure distanced herself from the pack in the Tournament of Champions.
Seeking her second victory of the year and fourth in three LPGA Tour seasons, Creamer shot a 4-under 68 Saturday to increase her lead to six strokes.
Five strokes ahead after opening rounds of 67 and 65 at Magnolia Grove, Creamer’s second consecutive bogey-free day pushed her to 16-under 200.
“I didn’t hit the ball as well today as I did the other days,” Creamer said. “I was kind of pulling some shots here and there. … It’s difficult when you go out there and you have such a big lead and everyone is gunning for you.”
U.S. Solheim Cup teammate Pat Hurst (68) was 10 under, and Jin Joo Hong (70) followed at 9 under. Suzann Pettersen, coming off consecutive victories in South Korea and Thailand, shot a 68 to join Annika Sorenstam (70) and Birdie Kim (66) at 8 under.
Jimin Kang, a graduate of King’s High in Shoreline, had a 68 and is tied for 14th at 1-under 215. She is looking for her first top-10 finish since February.
Mickelson in lead
SHANGHAI, China - Phil Mickelson is getting the hang of this travel thing very quickly.
A 35-foot birdie putt on the 15th hole and a tap-in birdie on No. 18 gave Mickelson a 4-under 68 and a two-stroke lead over Ross Fisher going into the final round of the HSBC Champions tournament.
Known for his reluctance to play outside the U.S., Mickelson is set to cash in on Asia’s richest tournament, a $5 million purse with $833,300 for the winner.
Fisher also shot 68 for a 12-under 204. Paul Casey carded a 66 to trail Mickelson by three. American Kevin Stadler, who had a one-stroke lead after two rounds, slipped to a 73.
NOTE
• Se Ri Pak of South Korea will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame on Monday night in St. Augustine, Fla. The 30-year-old has won five majors, two of them during a rookie season in 1998. She picked up her 24th career victory earlier this year.