Teenager Paula Creamer Wins Sybase by One Stroke

Paula Creamer pulled her driver out from under her Pink Panther headcover at the range this morning with confidence. That spunk carried the 18-year old through a soggy day to win her first tournament on the LPGA Tour. Creamer also takes home $187,500 from a total purse of $1.25 million and now moves to fourth place on the offical money list. The winner’s check is $20,000 more than the young superstar made in her eight starts this season. Don’t expect to see the rookie win back-to-back next week at the Corning Classic as she’s heading home to Florida for her high school graduation. “It’s going to be fun going home for graduation, that’s for sure,” she said. “I can’t even speak let alone think right now. It’s awesome. I have so much energy right now.”

Creamer’s best finish this year was a tie for third place at the Takefuji Classic. Her 1-under 71 at Wykagyl Country Club today made Creamer the second-youngest first-time winner on the tour since 1952. “They told me about that when I was signing my scorecard,” Creamer said, “That’s awesome.”

Two par-saving putts on 12 and 13 changed the tournament for Creamer. “Those putts, that’s when I got momentum,” she said. “That was a big swing moment.” Creamer then closed the deal with three birdies in her last five holes. She came close to dunking eagle shots on the par-4 14th and par-5 15th and tapped in for birdie. Rookie Creamer closed the deal on the par-5 18th when she came up short of the green in two and birdied to win one stroke ahead of the competition.

Second place was shared by 2002 Sybase winner Gloria Park (71) and Jeong Jang (67) one shot ahead of a struggling Christina Kim (73) whom I followed today after watching her on the practice range and putting green. I also stayed in close proximity to Creamer as she was one hole ahead of Kim.

It just wasn’t Christina’s day. I could even see it on the range as she missed her practice shots left and right of her targets. Creamer stood in front of Kim on the range and was more focused and took dead aim. The tension was mounting. This carried through to the final round.

As Christina kept getting into trouble throughout her round finding deep rough and unforgiving lies Paula kept getting stronger. As a matter of fact most of Christina’s troubles began early, making four bogeys on her first nine holes. Even though she rebounded with two birdie putts on 11 and 15 she was not at the top of her game today and it showed. The ever-present laughter was gone, replaced by frustration.

Even Jang created excitement with three birdies in her last four holes. A 15-footer on the 18th tied her briefly with Creamer. Gloria Park made a birdie putt on the par-4 17th to tie with Jang and Creamer but narrowly missed a 40-foot birdie attempt on the 18th green.

At one point I looked up at the leaderboard and saw five players at once tied for the lead! It was an exciting and memorable day and Wykagyl Country Club was just as beautiful as the last time I visited.

Michele Redman (73) had her ups-and-downs today coming within one stroke of the lead two times. On the par-3 4th hole she birdied to move to 5-under par. Then she birdied again on the 9th but gave the shot back on the 10th and blew up with a triple-bogey on the par-4 11th to sink her confidence and drop her out of contention.

Grace Park (73) who is always plagued with back problems completed her round admirably tied for 13th. Tracy Hanson (75) whom I met before round one tied for 37th place with a long list of competitors including Erica Blasberg (78) who made an ace on Saturday. Blasberg needs two more aces this season to receive a $300,000 bonus. She made par on today on the 16th.

Cristie Kerr, the number-two golfer on the money list and the only top ten player in the field this week finished strong today with a 68 under very wet conditions.

Pos   Player                  Today    Tot    R1    R2    R3    R4
1     Paula Creamer             -1      -6    69    68    71    70
T2    Jeong Jang                -4      -5    71    71    70    67
T2    Gloria Park                E      -5    67    70    71    71
4     Christina Kim             +2      -4    65    72    70    73
T5    Heather Bowie             +1      -3    69    71    69    72
T5    Joo Mi Kim                +2      -3    72    65    71    73
7     Mi Hyun Kim               +1      -2    69    72    69    72
T8    Tina Barrett              -6      -1    71    75    72    65
T8    Soo-Yun Kang              -2      -1    69    76    69    69
T8    Michele Redman            +2      -1    72    67    71    73

Photo Credit: © AP.