Shin Ji-yai sits 2 shots behind the leader


WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia (AP) ― Paula Creamer moved into position to end a two-year victory drought, shooting a 6-under 65 on Saturday to take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the Kingsmill Championship.

The nine-time LPGA Tour winner chipped in for birdie on the par-4 13th in her bogey-free round on Kingsmill’s River Course. She had a 16-under 197 total, the lowest 54-hole score in the history of the event.

“I haven’t won in two years. That feels like forever, but it also feels like yesterday when I did just win, so it’s kind of a give or take,” Creamer said. “I’ve been in contention a lot, so it’s not that I’m not used to this, that’s for sure.

“No matter what happens tomorrow, I’m just going out there and continue what I’ve been doing this whole year and it’s just starting to come together and one round isn’t going to make or break it, that’s for sure.” 

Second-round leader Shin Ji-yai was second after a 69.

Shin also is winless since 2010.

“Well, I think when I following the leader, it makes me feel better because I knew the target,” Shin said. “When I started on the leader, when I miss the shot, it make more pressure. So I really very comfortable with my position at the moment.”

Dewi Claire Schreefel and Danielle Kang were 12 under. Schreefel had a 69, and Kang shot 70.

Second-ranked Staci Lewis was 11 under along with Ai Miyazato and Azahara Munoz. Lewis shot a 68, Miyazato had a 67, and Munoz a 69. Lewis and Miyazato each have two victories this year, and Munoz also won this season.

Two strokes behind Shin entering the round, Creamer birdied Nos. 3-5, added a birdie on the par-4 11th, chipped in on 13 and made her sixth birdie of the round on the par-5 15th.

“I hit the ball really well,” Creamer said. “I gave myself tons of opportunities, and when I did get into a little bit of trouble I just kind of took my medicine and scrambled out some pars. Just hitting it really solid, so I’m able to go at a lot of these flagsticks and giving myself within 10 feet on a lot of holes. You’re not going to make all of them, but you’ll make most, especially with the confidence that I have right now in my putting.”

Shin bogeyed the par-3 second hole and par-4 fourth, then rallied with birdies on Nos. 8-9 and 11-12.

BMW Championship

CARMEL, Indiana (AP) ― The BMW Championship turned into golf’s version of an All-Star game Saturday with Phil Mickelson making 10 birdies to share the lead with Vijay Singh, and a host of other proven players lined up behind them Saturday at Crooked Stick.

Mickelson shrugged when asked about all the stars on the leaderboard, only because he figured his name wasn’t at the top and there was still work to be done. That was before Singh had his only three-putt of the tournament from about 45 feet on the last hole that made him settle for a 69.

They were at 16-under 200 going into a final round loaded with possibilities.

Rory McIlroy, going for his second straight FedEx Cup playoff win and his PGA Tour-leading fourth of the year, birdied the 18th to salvage an ordinary day with a 69. He was one shot behind with Lee Westwood, a former world No. 1 who made all five of his birdies on the back nine for a 68.

Dustin Johnson, who has finished no worse than fourth in the other two playoff events, had a 67 and was in the group two shots behind that included Adam Scott and Robert Garrigus, who is trying to play his way into the FedEx Cup finale at East Lake in two weeks.

Not to be forgotten is Tiger Woods, who turned his sloppy play around by chipping in from 25 feet on the ninth hole that began a run of four birdies in a five-hole stretch. He had to settle for a 71, ending his streak of six straight rounds in the 60s.

Woods was only three shots behind.

Westwood is playing these FedEx Cup playoffs for the first time, and already he found out what he was missing. Put some of the world’s best players together, and it’s not unusual to see them all at a high level.

“The cream has risen to the top, hasn’t it?” Westwood said.

KLM Open

HILVERSUM, Netherlands (AP) ― Graeme Storm of England blew a five-stroke lead midway through the third round and dropped into a four-way tie for the KLM Open lead on Saturday.

Storm, leading since the first round, began the day with a three-stroke advantage, which he extended to five when he birdied the 12th hole on the Hilversumsche course.

But consecutive bogeys at 13 and 14 and a string of pars left him at 1-under 69 and tied with Pablo Larrazabal (64), Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (66) and Scott Jamieson (66) at 12 under.

Peter Hanson of Sweden was a stroke behind after carding a 67. and three shots off the pace were Scotland’s Richie Ramsay (64) and England’s Danny Willett (66) were three shots off the pace.