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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, July 23, 2005

Wie cards 68, but trails by 11 at Evian Masters

Advertiser News Services

Michelle Wie made seven birdies, but a triple-bogey 7 prevented her from shooting lower than her 4-under 68 in the Evian Masters.

patrick gardin | Associated Press

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EVIAN, France — Teenager Michelle Wie made her move in yesterday's third round of the Evian Masters.

But so did another one of golf's young guns.

Paula Creamer fired a 6-under-par 66 to open a seven-stroke lead over Karine Icher and Laura Davies heading into today's final round round at the Evian Masters Golf Club.

The 18-year-old Creamer, with a 14-under 212 total, was eight strokes ahead of Annika Sorenstam, who carded a 72, and 11 in front of Wie. The 15-year-old amateur from Hawai'i shot a 68 after rounds of 75 and 70 and is at 3-under 213.

Icher managed a 68 and Davies had a 70, but both lost ground to Creamer, who is poised to claim her second title in her rookie season.

"Tomorrow it will be like everybody's starting out at zero," Creamer said. "I'll aim to get the lead as big as possible as quickly as possible."

Creamer, known for wearing something pink every time she plays, won the Sybase Classic two months ago and is fourth on the LPGA money list with $739,650.

"But when I won the Sybase I was a shot back going into Sunday," Creamer said. "Here I've got seven shots. I feel good with that."

Sorenstam knows she has a tough final-round task.

"I've got to play a real good round, a 64 or maybe even better, to give myself a chance tomorrow," she said. "Paula played great today and I didn't make anything."

Wie finally converted some of the birdie chances she has had this week. She birdied the second hole, had a triple-bogey 7 at No. 4, then made six birdies in eight holes from the sixth before parring the five closing holes.

"It went good, very bad, very good, then sort of OK," Wie said. "Like having all four seasons in one day."

Wie's triple-bogey came when she hit a flyer through the green out of the left rough. She chipped on and then three-putted.

"Painful. I gave myself a lot of great chances," Wie said. "Tomorrow I'll make everything, I promise you."

Wie fired her new Irish caddie Brian Smallwood after the first round and her father, BJ, is now on her bag.

"I usually see him in the crowd. It's nice to see him get all excited when I play well," Wie said.

Lorie Kane of Canada also shot a 66, leaving her nine behind the leader. Karrie Webb (71) and overnight co-leader Christina Kim (75) were also nine back at 211.


PARK, KIM GAIN GIRLS' JUNIOR AMATEUR FINAL

Former champion In-Bee Park cruised to the final of the U.S. Girls' Junior Amateur tournament yesterday in Eagle, Idaho, hoping to duplicate her 2002 title.

"This is totally where I expected to be," Park said after defeating Joanne Lee, 16, of San Carlos, Calif., 6-and-4 in yesterday's semifinals. "I'm happy with where I stand."

Park, from Las Vegas, will face fellow Korean-born In-Kyung Kim, 17, in today's final at BanBury Golf Club.

Kim, of Hilton Head, S.C., advanced with a 2-and-1 victory over 17-year-old Juliana Murcia Ortiz of Colombia.

Ortiz advanced to the semifinals by beating U.S. Women's Open runner-up Morgan Pressel on Thursday.