Golf: Creamer takes early lead as Ochoa sits six shots behind

The Associated Press |

5/2/2008 - 5/3/08

The Associated Press

BROKEN ARROW, Okla. — Paula Creamer and Lorena Ochoa played together for the first 36 holes at the SemGroup Championship, battling a vicious wind that came from two directions and getting two very different results.

Creamer has made enough birdies that another sloppy finish Friday — two bogeys on the final three holes — still left her satisfied.

She shot an even-par 71 and was the only player remaining under par at Cedar Ridge, giving her a one-shot lead over Ji Young Oh.

Ochoa was six shots behind after a 3-over 74, the first time since the 2006 Women's British Open that she has had two rounds over par in the same tournament.

Even more troublesome was that Ochoa, going for her record-tying fifth consecutive LPGA Tour victory, finished the second round without a birdie.

It was the first time in more than two years Ochoa played a round without a birdie, and she has gone 26 holes without a birdie or an eagle at Cedar Ridge, surprising for a player who came into this tournament averaging 5.39 birdies a round.

"I don't know what happened," Ochoa said. "I don't feel bad. It's hard to hit the ball close to the hole. I have nobody to blame. I didn't give myself enough birdie chances."

Not surprisingly, both players had different reactions to a forecast for less wind on the weekend.

Ochoa's brown eyes came to life, followed by a smile. "That's good news," she said.

Creamer pursed her lips, clearly disappointed. She prefers tough conditions, when there is a premium on par, especially when she has a six-shot cushion over a player who has won six of her last seven tournaments.

Told of Ochoa's reaction, Creamer laughed.

"Because she wants to go out and make as many birdies as she can," Creamer said.

They both arrived at one conclusion — there's a lot of golf still to be played.

"It's not over," Ochoa said. "(Today) is very important."

Wachovia Championship

In Charlotte, N.C., As Phil Mickelson's round imploded with a series of wayward shots, the field flew in a different direction.

Jason Bohn fired a 5-under 67 on Friday to take a two-shot lead at 9 under after the second round, while Mickelson's double bogey on Quail Hollow Club's easiest hole began a horrible closing stretch that left him seven shots back.

Anthony Kim's 67 put him at 7 under and in second place, while 2006 champion Jim Furyk, Dudley Hart and George McNeill were three shots back after 67s.

Mickelson, the biggest draw in this event with defending champion Tiger Woods home nursing his surgically repaired left knee, finished with two double bogeys in his final four holes on the way to a 74.

While Mickelson was hitting his ball into the creek on No. 18 for another double bogey, the loose Bohn was joking with reporters.

Bohn, whose sixth-place finish at the Verizon Heritage two weeks ago secured his playing privileges after his injury-filled 2007, followed his 68 Thursday with six birdies and a bogey.

"I'm just excited to play. I don't have a lot of pressure now that my medical status is taken care of," Bohn said. "I can just go out and free swing it."

FedEx Kinko's Classic

In Lakeway, Texas, Nick Price shot a season-best 7-under 65 to take a one-shot lead over fellow major champion Mark O'Meara after the first round of the Champions Tour's contest.

"I'm starting to play a little better. I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel," said Price, winless on the 50-and-over tour.

Defending champion Scott Hoch was two shots back at 67 along with D.A. Weibring, Fred Funk, Denis Watson and Tom McKnight.

Price made 15 Champions Tour starts last year after turning 50, with his best result a third-place finish in the Senior PGA Championship.

This year, he has five top-10 finishes in seven events.

The Crowns

In Aichi, Japan, teenager Tadd Fujikawa made his first cut as a professional on a recognized tour, shooting a 1-over 71 to move into a tie for 36th in the Japan Golf Tour event.

Ryoken Kawagishi (65), Steven Conran (66) and Satoru Hirota (66) shared the lead at 6 under, six shots ahead of Fujikawa.

Fujikawa was 16 when he made the cut at the Sony Open last year on the PGA Tour as an amateur.

He turned pro that summer and had not made a cut on any tour recognized by the Official World Golf Ranking.

He's coming off a victory two weeks ago in the Mid-Pacific Open in Hawaii.

Spanish Open

In Seville, Spain, Ignacio Garrido shot a course-record 9-under 63 to take a four-shot lead.

John Daly followed his opening 75 with a 70, but still missed the cut.

Garrido had nine birdies on the Real Club de Golf de Sevilla to break the record of 65 set Thursday by Martin Erlandsson. Garrido had a 15-under 129 total. Erlandsson was second at 11 under after a 68.