Creamer yet another rising star in female game
IN: News | LPGA | Sybase Classic (2005) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 23 May 2005
The female golfing world is currently full of prodigious young talents perhaps all capable of stepping up to the number one position in the female game when Annika Sorenstam loses her form or her interest.
In Japan overnight the brilliant 19-year-old Ai Miyazato won her second tournament of the season, Lorena Ochoa has already realised much of her potential and in the wings and awaiting her coming of age is Michelle Wie.
This week the LPGA Tour witnessed yet another who is clearly headed for the top of the game. 18-year-old Paula Creamer had already, in her rookie season, shown enough to suggest that her first win was not far away. In just eight starts this season she has been inside the top twenty on four occasions but she has been in contention on a few occasions. In her two best finishes this season she has powered home with strong finishing rounds and today would be no exception. On a tough day and a strong golf course she closed strongly with three birdies over the closing five holes to win from what could have been described as the Korean armada.
After a second place at the Shoprite LPGA Classic last year and five top twenties in starts on the LPGA Tour as an amateur, Creamer was the medallist at tour school late in 2004 and she has made an almost immediate impact as a member of the LPGA.
Today she was surrounded by Koreans or those of Korean descent. Of the top twenty finishes in this tournament eleven are of Korean descent along with Taiwan's Candie Kung and Malaysia's Siew-Ai Lim also in that mix of players.
Creamer came from one behind Christina Kim on the final day to set up her first victory with Jeong Jang and Gloria Park holding second, just one back. Christina Kim was back in fourth after losing her way on the front nine. The beautiful swinging Heather Bowie lost her chance early on the back nine but she seems close to a win. There are not many players on the LPGA Tour who swing it better than the girl from Fort Worth.
The Australians did not perform well with Rachel Hetherington in 28th the best ahead of Shani Waugh in 43rd place, Jo Anne Mills 58th and a struggling Karrie Webb. Webb was 71st with weekend rounds of 76 and 78.
The LPGA Tour now stays in New York State for the LPGA Corning Classic
