Paula Creamer shot a 2-over-par 73 and did just enough to make a big lead stand, going wire-to-wire to win the LPGA Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic by two strokes in Sylvania, Ohio, yesterday.
Creamer, who captured her seventh career win and her third this season, had higher scores every day after breaking the tournament record with an 11-under 60 in the first round. She followed that with a 65 and a 70 to finish at 16-under 268, two shots better than Nicole Castrale, who closed with a 64.
The 21-year-old Californian saw her lead whittled to a shot when rookie Shanshan Feng - the first exempt player from China to play on the LPGA Tour - pushed her with five birdies through the first 11 holes. But Feng fell back with three straight bogeys down the stretch.
South Korea's Eun-Hee Ji, second to Creamer after each of the first three rounds, shot a 72 and was third at 271. Feng had a 69 for a total of 272, followed by Karrie Webb, who shot a 70 and was at 273.
After her lead was cut to one stroke, Creamer recovered with her only birdie of the round at the 13th hole - around the time Feng began her string of bogeys. After Creamer missed a 3-foot par putt at the 16th hole, she had safe, two-putt pars on the final two holes to clinch the victory.
* PGA John Deere ClassicKenny Perry beat Brad Adamonis and Jay Williamson in a playoff in Silvis, Ill., to get his third victory in five starts. Perry had a one-stroke lead at 17-under through 17, only to bogey No. 18. On the first playoff hole, Adamonis and Williamson both hit approach shots into the pond on No. 18, and Perry tapped in for par.
* European PGA Scottish OpenGraeme McDowell won with three straight birdies on the back nine for a 3-under 68 and a two-stroke victory in Luss. Phil Mickelson had a 73 and finished 11 shots off the lead in a tie for 38th.
* AmateursChanya Nilanont from Ellicott City shot a 79 to win the annual Women's Publinx championship of the Baltimore Municpal Golf Corporation by two shots at Forest Park Golf Club.