WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia: Paula Creamer had six birdies in a six-under 65 on Saturday to seize a two-shot lead over former world No. 1 Jiyai Shin after three rounds of the LPGA’s Kingsmill Championship.
Creamer had a 54-hole total of 16-under par 197 while overnight leader Shin, of South Korea, carded a 69 for 199.
Dewi Claire Schreefel of the Netherlands carded a 69 for a share of third on 12-under 201 alongside American Danielle Kang, who shot 70.
Sunday will see both Creamer and Shin trying to get back to the LPGA winner’s circle for the first time since 2010.
Creamer will be seeking a 10th career title on the LPGA Tour and her first since the 2010 US Women’s Open. That tournament also marked the last time she took the lead into the final round.
“I can’t get too far ahead of myself,” Creamer said. “It’s all about confidence and right now I have a great swing thought and I’m just going to try and keep it going.”
Creamer began the round two off Shin’s lead. She birdied three straight holes from the par-five third.
She drained a 20-foot birdie putt at the 11th to take the lead and Shin got within one with a birdie of her own at 11.
After missing the green at the par-three 13th, Creamer chipped in for birdie. Shin stayed in touch with back-to-back birdies at 11 and 12, but Creamer extended her advantage with a birdie at the par-five 15th, where she hit her third shot six feet from the pin.
Shin, who won the last of her eight LPGA titles in November of 2010, gave up ground with bogeys at the second and fourth.
She got back on track with back-to-back birdies at eight and nine and added another brace at 11 and 12.
“Well, I think when I following the leader, it makes me feel better because I knew the target,” Shin said. “When I started on the leader, when I miss the shot, it makes more pressure. So I really very comfortable with my position at the moment.”
Creamer seizes lead at Kingsmill
