Creamer one off lead in LPGA return

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, N.J. — M.J. Hur is not only in the hunt again, she has a chance to spoil Paula Creamer’s return to the LPGA Tour.

Hur of South Korea birdied the 18th hole for a 7-under 64 and one-stroke lead over Creamer heading into the final round of the $1.5 million ShopRite LPGA Classic on Saturday.

The 20-year-old Hur had a 36-hole total of 11-under 131 in her quest for her second LPGA victory.

Hur, who won the Safeway event last year, actually had a chance for her second win last week, grabbing the halfway lead in the State Farm Classic in Illinois. She folded over the final 36 holes and finished tied for 16th, well behind winner Cristie Kerr, the first American win on the women’s tour this year.

“I have a bad memory right now,” Hur said of last weekend’s slide. “I try to forget it and get good sleep tonight and get good conditions tomorrow and focus on my ball. That’s all I want tomorrow.”

Creamer didn’t come into this week expecting much, playing for the first time since having surgery on her left thumb in late March.

The stakes are now higher. A second-round 65 that was capped by a 45-foot birdie on the last hole at Seaview’s Bay Course has put her in contention for an eighth career win, and her first since 2008.

“I mean I’m not out there just on a Sunday stroll,” Creamer said. “I mean I want to win. That’s a goal of mine, of course, but it’s also, I have to look at the big picture and I have to realize that this is what I have to go through to overcome these little mounds for my thumb.”

Japan’s Ai Miyazato, a three-time winner on the tour this year, was two shots off the lead along with Australia’s Katherine Hull.

Inbee Park, who has three top-10 finishes this year, and fellow South Korean Hee-Won Han are three shots behind.

First-round leader Sherri Steinhauer, who missed all of last year following surgery on both hips, bogeyed the last two holes and was four shots off the lead along with Morgan Pressel.

Suzann Pettersen of Norway and Seon Hwa Lee, who won the last ShopRite Classic here before the tournament went on a three-year hiatus, were in a big group five shots back.

Hur had eight birdies and one bogey. Her lead could have been two shots had she not missed a 2-footer for birdie on the par 3, No. 17.

“I tried to hit a little hard, stay in the center and hit hard,” Hur said. “I aim in the center and hit it, pulled it. So I am thinking ‘Oh, stupid putter. What are you doing.”

Creamer had seven birdies and one bogey in her second round, which again didn’t get much wind until the afternoon rounds. By then, the 23-year-old was doing interviews.

Creamer rolled in a 25-footer on the first hole and made six birdies in her first 12 holes. She wrapped up her round by making a big breaker on No. 18 and twirling her putter in her right hand, the one with the good thumb.

Her only bogey came on the par-3, 11th hole when she sailed a 4-wood over the green into a bad lie.

Creamer was thrilled being so close to the lead.

“Honestly, coming into this week it’s all about just seeing how far I can go, seeing how much my thumb can handle,” she said. “If I play great, great. You know, and that’s kind of what’s been happening. It shows you how you can definitely over-think things way too much.”

The return has not been without pain. Creamer has been icing her thumb about 10 times a day and the thumb prevents her from hitting knockdown shots and causes problems when she hits into the wind.

Hull has not won since capturing the Canadian Women’s Open in 2008. Her best finish this year has been a tie for 20th, and she missed the cut at the State Farm Classic.

“I mean I’ve kind of gone up and down in terms of my work ethic and my desire to win again, too, as crazy as that sounds,” Hull said. “So I think I’ve got it figured out and I know what I want now, and I’ve set some goals, and yeah, it’s just a matter of executing now.”

Miyazato, who has a chance to take over the No. 1 ranking in women’s golf with a win, had six birdies and two bogeys on Saturday.