HALF MOON BAY, Calif. — Paula Creamer acknowledges she often lets her emotions get the better of her.

Yesterday, 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.

"Yesterday (Friday), my attitude and my mannerisms got me in trouble," Creamer said.

The Californian had a 6-under 210 total.

Stanford led for much of the day but hurt herself with two double bogeys on the back nine. She birdied the final two holes for a 69.

Australian Katherine Hull eagled No. 4 and also birdied 18 for a 69 to stay within two strokes of the lead on a day when birdies were hard to come by for everybody in the elite 20-player field.

"It's not a birdie-fest out there by any means," Creamer said. "I've never seen a scoreboard go up and down so much in a tournament. Early on people have been starting off so well and haven't been able to finish."

Two-time defending Samsung champion Lorena Ochoa shot a 70, leaving her two strokes back. She's seeking her eighth victory of the year.

"Today I really left a lot of birdies out there," Ochoa said. "I hope tomorrow to make a couple of birdies early to give me a good rhythm."

TURNING STONE

RIDINGS SLIPS INTO A TIE

VERONA, N.Y. — Tag Ridings stood over his ball at the final hole and gently tapped a short uphill putt for par. When he pulled it and his ball stopped just shy of the cup, he found himself tied for the lead in the Turning Stone Championship.

Seeking his first PGA Tour win, Ridings wasn't dismayed as he pondered playing the final round in a twosome with Charles Howell III.

"I putted really well, especially the first two rounds," Ridings said yesterday after shooting a 1-under 71 to match Howell (69) at 8 under. "Today, I made a couple that kept me hanging in."

Ridings has missed 12 cuts this year, including six in a row, and entered Turning Stone winless in 130 PGA starts.

"I've been in position a lot out here and haven't gotten it done," Ridings said. "But a lot of times I have gotten it done on other tours."

Jeff Overton (73), who led both the first and second rounds, was tied for third at 7 under with Brian Davis (69), Jason Day (71) and Kyle Thompson (69).

Hawai'i's Parker McLachlin, a Punahou Schools' alum, shot a 75 for 220.

ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS

TWO SHARE 1-SHOT LEAD

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Sweden's Jarmo Sandelin and Germany's Martin Kaymer shot even-par 72s yesterday, both at Carnoustie, to share the third-round lead after another wet and windy day in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Sandelin and Kaymer have 6-under 210 totals after rounds at Kingsbarns, St. Andrews and Carnoustie. The final round will be played at St. Andrews.

KOREA OPEN

KIM, NOT ANTHONY, LEADS

SEOUL, South Korea— South Korea's Kim Wi-joong shot a 2-under 69 to take a one-stroke lead after the third round of the Korea Open.

Kim had a 10-under 203 total on the Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course. American Anthony Kim (67), Englishman Ian Poulter (69) and South Koreans Bae Sang-moon (67) and Kim Dae-sub (69) were tied for second.