Paula Creamer Sensational in Japan

Paula Creamer added an international trophy to her growing list of wins this weekend after defeating 20-year-old Ai Miyazato at the NEC Karuizawa tournament in Japan. After carding three straight bogey-free rounds Creamer finished the tournament with a 4-under 68 yesterday, three strokes ahead of Miyazato who shot a 69. “I feel great!” said Creamer. “I knew I had to play good golf coming down the stretch. I knew if I just stayed patient and kept giving myself birdie looks everything would be okay.”

With her first tournament win achieved in May at the Sybase Classic and her second victory two months later at the Evian Masters in Paris, Creamer is certainly on a roll. Paula is now currently in second place on the LPGA money list right behind Annika Sorenstam and is in good standing to gain entry into the U.S. Solheim Cup team in Spetember and to win the Rolex Rookie of the Year Award.

Annika better start looking behind her. The teens are starting to gain momentum while Annika seems to look a bit more complacent.

Miyazato is also an exciting golfer to keep an eye on in the LPGA. Recently out of her teens with a birthday this past June, Ai made her debut with a splash on the JLPGA winning five titles last year and has now begun competing on the LPGA Tour. Ai needs to work on her game, however, as she told reporters after her loss to Creamer.

“The biggest difference between Creamer and I today was the putting,” Miyazato said. “I feel there’s still a big gap between myself and the world’s top players.”

Shiho Oyama played in the same group as Creamer and Miyazato and finished in third place with a 69.

Defending champion Rui Kitada finished in a tie for 10th place.

Pressel Loses Playoff at Pinehurst No. 2
After a terrific victory last week at the U.S. Women’s Amateur, Morgan Pressel probably thought she could steamroll over almost any golfer in her path.

That wasn’t the case as defending champ Pressel was defeated in the third playoff hole at the 105th Women’s North and South Amateur this weekend. A routine par was all that Tseng needed as Pressel had trouble with a greenside bunker shot.

Pressel played valiantly but Ya-Ni Tseng confidently showed the 17-year-old amateur that she still needs to work on her game. But Morgan’s attitude has improved. Hopefully these tournaments will give her more tolerance to accept the things she cannot change and to learn from her experiences so when Pressel enters the LPGA she is ready to deal with defeat like a champion.