U.S. Women's Open - 3rd Round

Paula Creamer leads by three strokes going into the final round of the U.S. Women's Open.  Wendy Ward is in second place at +2, Suzann Pettersen, Amy Yang and Christina Kim are tied for third at +3 while Lexi Thompson is sixth at +4.

Play was halted Saturday evening due to darkness with several groups still on the course, including Creamer's.  This morning Paula played her final four holes of the round in even par - a bogey at 16 reduced her lead to two but a birdie at 18 made her the only player in red numbers.  Amazingly, this layout seems to be getting even tougher.  Just three players completed the round in less than par (Creamer, Ward and Thompson) and they only posted 70.  Yang, Azahara Munoz (+7 T18), Brittany Lincicome and amateur Jennifer Johnson (both +9 T22) registered the only rounds of even par.  If Paula repeats her performance she will certainly win her first major this afternoon.

Ward suffered a double-bogey at 2 to stand +5 but took no more bogeys and birdied three times to make the final group.  Kim was +5 through 14 but birdied 15 and 17 to move back in contention.  Yang birdied 17 to stay within striking distance.  Pettersen birdied 14 to go +3 but only managed pars the rest of the way.  Thompson birdied 16 and 17 to reach +3 but dropped a big shot with bogey at 18.  Lexi stands five behind as the final round begins.

The final round will begin at 10:30 EDT with threesomes going off of 1 and 10.  The final group of Creamer, Ward and Yang tees off at 12:20.