EVIAN, France -- Paula Creamer won her second LPGA title
Saturday at the Evian Masters, beating fellow teenager Michelle Wie
and Lorena Ochoa by eight shots.
The 18-year-old Creamer shot a 1-under 71 to finish at 15-under
273. Wie, a 15-year-old amateur, shot a 68 and Ochoa a 69 to tie
for second at the $2.5 million event.
The $375,000 prize boosted Creamer to second on the LPGA money
list behind Annika Sorenstam, who finished 12 strokes back with a
75.
Canada's Lorie Kane (71) finished fourth in the select 78-woman
field.
Creamer, who won the Sybase Classic two months ago, shot rounds
of 68-68-66 to take a seven shot-lead entering the final round and
cruised to victory.
"I've just had a great week," Creamer said. "Just the
strength of this field and the Evian ensemble makes it huge for me
to win here."
Creamer opened with a bogey, but closed with 11 pars and a
birdie over the final 12 holes. She finished with three birdies and
two bogeys.
When asked about a rivalry with Wie, Creamer said Sorenstam is
the player to beat.
"I don't really see it as a rivalry," Creamer said. "We're
all just trying to find our games and play our best golf. I compare
myself to the No. 1 player in the world, which is Annika Sorenstam,
and I'm not quite there yet."
Wie had five birdies and one bogey in her solid 68. But she was
left regretting the putts and shots that went awry, particularly in
the first two days when she shot 75-70.
"It was a good day in some ways," Wie said. "I didn't give
myself so many chances, but took more of them. But when I think of
all the shots I left out there Â… I'm just pleased how I came back
the last two rounds."
Sorenstam had a double-bogey and five bogeys to offset four
birdies.
"It's been a tough week for me," she said. "I fought to the
end, but nothing worked out as I planned. Particularly my play
around the greens. My caddie is as confused as me."
When her drive sailed left at the par-3 14th, Sorenstam threw
her 5-iron away in frustration, an uncommon sight.
"You saw that?" Sorenstam asked. "I guess it just slipped out
of my hands."