2010 U.S. Women’s Open: Paula Creamer Wins First Major Of Career

At age 23, Paula Creamer has won her first LPGA major. After leading for most of the U.S. Women’s Open, Creamer extended her lead in Round 4, capitalizing on a field that had trouble mounting a serious charge for the lead.

Creamer was the only golfer to finish the tournament under par. Fellow American Wendy Ward entered Round 4 with a chance to contest for the lead, but a disappointing score of 77 brought her out of the top ten entirely.

Paula Creamer, who has sat at the top of the leaderboard throughout much of the U.S. Women’s Open, may have company soon. Na Yeon Choi has shot an eagle on the ninth hole to place her at 5-under through the front nine -- quite a feat, considering that Creamer, still the leader, is only 1-under for the tournament.

The 22-year-old Choi has three LPGA Tour wins to her name, as well as five LPGA Tour of Korea wins.

Weather has left its mark on the U.S. Women’s Open this year. Round 2 was halted due to weather, and on Saturday, Round 3 was suspended on account of darkness. This, coupled with some slow play, frustrated at least one of the golfers involved:

Paula Creamer remains in control, having shot under par in round 3 to bring her to 1-under for the tournament. If she can hold on, it will make her ninth career LPGA Tour win.

Round 3 of the U.S. Women’s Open started minutes ago, on the heels of a Round 2 that spilled into Saturday due to Friday’s thunderstorms. Here are the groups and tee times, via the LPGA website:

Tee #1

Start Time : 2:35 PM

*Kelli Shean

Allison Fouch

Chella Choi

Start Time : 2:46 PM

Song-Hee Kim

Candie Kung

So Yeon Ryu

Start Time : 2:57 PM

Jee Young Lee

Inbee Park

Louise Stahle

Start Time : 3:08 PM

Sarah Kemp

Meaghan Francella

Na Yeon Choi

Start Time : 3:19 PM

Jiyai Shin

Ai Miyazato

Alexis Thompson

Start Time : 3:30 PM

Chie Arimura

Karrie Webb

Sandra Gal

Start Time : 3:41 PM

Natalie Gulbis

Jeong Jang

Wendy Ward

Start Time : 3:52 PM

In Kyung Kim

Angela Stanford

Maria Hjorth

Start Time : 4:03 PM

Amy Yang

Stacy Lewis

Sophie Gustafson

Start Time : 4:14 PM

Suzann Pettersen

Christina Kim

Brittany Lang

Start Time : 4:25 PM

Cristie Kerr

Sakura Yokomine

Paula Creamer

Tee #10

Start Time : 2:35 PM

Yani Tseng

Heather Young

Start Time : 2:46 PM

Vicky Hurst

Mhairi McKay

Meredith Duncan

Start Time : 2:57 PM

Morgan Pressel

Shinobu Moromizato

Azahara Munoz

Start Time : 3:08 PM

Shi Hyun Ahn

Maria Hernandez

Alena Sharp

Start Time : 3:19 PM

Karen Stupples

Hee Young Park

Kristy McPherson

Start Time : 3:30 PM

Paige Mackenzie

Tamie Durdin

Jeong Eun Lee

Start Time : 3:41 PM

Libby Smith

*Lisa McCloskey

Jennifer Rosales

Start Time : 3:52 PM

M.J. Hur

Lindsey Wright

*Jennifer Johnson

Start Time : 4:03 PM

Brittany Lincicome

Jennifer Song

Ashli Bunch

Start Time : 4:14 PM

Katherine Hull

Naon Min

*Christine Wong

Start Time : 4:25 PM

Anna Rawson

*Tiffany Lim

Heekyung Seo

Midway through Round 2 of the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open on Friday, rain clouds rolled over Oakmont and disrupted play. The decision was eventually made to suspend play until 7:30 AM Eastern on Saturday.

As things stand on Friday evening, Sophie Gustafson holds sole possession of the tournament, but she’s only completed one second-round hole so far. Of all the golfers who have completed Round 2, Brittany Lang and Cristie Kerr have the best scores (1-over for the tournament).

The days since Michelle Wie was considered a phenom and the future of women’s golf have long since passed, but she had always managed to stay in the picture. Entering the U.S. Women’s Open in Oakmont, Pennsylvania on Thursday, Wie was the 10th ranked woman in the world. That ranking will most likely take a major hit after Wie shot an 11-over 82 to shoot herself out of contention on the first day of the tournament.

South African Kelli Shean is the only golfer under par right now. Shean is at 2-under after her first nine holes. The world’s top female golfer, Cristie Kerr, is currently tied for second through seven holes at an even par.