Three late birdies boost Creamer out front at Samsung Championship

10/5/2008

Paula Creamer acknowledges she often lets her emotions get the better of her.

On Saturday, she vowed to be steady and keep her head in check.

It paid off as Creamer birdied the final three holes for a 4-under 68 and a one-stroke lead over Angela Stanford in the Samsung World Championship.

The Californian had a 6-under 210 total.

Two-time defending Samsung champion Lorena Ochoa shot a 70, leaving her two strokes back. She's seeking her eighth victory of the year and wants to take advantage of her powerful long game on the course's five par 5s come Sunday.

Players hit through a light drizzle at times on a cool fall day in the Bay Area but the rain never lasted for long.

Juli Inkster (68) jumped up the leaderboard and for a short time got to 4 under after going 5 under with five birdies for the day through the first 10 holes. She had bogeys on Nos. 12, 13 and 15 to go to 3-under 213 for the tournament. Also three strokes back is Suzann Pettersen after she shot a 69.

Leaderboard – Round 3:

1.   Paula Creamer                    68 74 68 210 - 6
2.   Angela Stanford                  69 73 69 211 - 5
3.   Katherine Hull                     70 73 69 212 - 4
      Lorena Ochoa                     69 73 70 212 - 4
      Song-Hee Kim                    69 73 70 212 - 4
6.   Julie Inkster                       73 72 68 213 - 3
      Suzann Pettersen               74 70 69 213 - 3
      Ji-Yai Shin                         67 76 70 213 - 3
9.   Cristie Kerr                         73 73 68 214 - 2
10. Na Yeon Choi                     69 71 75 215 - 1

Source: AP, LPGA Tour