Creamer, Park still tied for lead in Singapore

2009-03-06

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SINGAPORE (TICKER) —Americans Paula Creamer and Jane Park remained tied atop the leaderboard after both fired 1-under-par 71s during the second round at the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore on Friday.

Brazilian Angela Park, the other player to open the event at Tanah Merah with a 5-under 67, fell all the way back to 20th spot with a 3-over 76.

World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa, winner by a massive 11 shots over the now-retired Annika Sorenstam last year, slipped from sixth to 11th after a 73.

“I got myself into a bit of trouble out there today,” Ochoa said. “For some reason it didn’t happen for me today, but hopefully I can play better tomorrow.”

Creamer, bothered by an upset stomach on the first day, again managed to take the turn in 34, but bogeys at the 11th and 14th lost her the outright lead before she added another birdie on the 16th.

“Obviously the score showed that(the course) played harder today,” Creamer said. “I think it was just a little bit more wet. The greens were a bit slower. That’s probably why you didn’t see as many putts go in.

“A lot of tricky spots (on the course), places you couldn’t miss. But I felt like I hit the ball as well as I did yesterday. I just really never capitalized with my putter.”

Park matched that, however, to join her at 6-under overall and echoed Creamer’s comments about the course.

“I feel like the greens were a little slower today,” Park said. “Obviously, fatigue might come into play a little bit because of the heat. But it was a bit more tough.

“The conditions, the pins were not as easy as yesterday. … In terms of hitting longer irons into the greens, you really can’t hold them.”

Both Creamer and Park fired their approaches to the final hole over the green and close to the water, but they managed to save pars to stay one shot ahead of Australian Katherine Hull and Korean Mi-Hyun Kim.

American Juli Inkster, who at 48 is trying to become the oldest winner in the history of the LPGA Tour, bogeyed the last two holes to drop from two behind to four strokes back.