Creamer among the leaders in Hawaii

Golf Betting Lines

02/16/2007 - Oahu, HI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Paula Creamer posted a five-under-par 67 on Thursday to join Paige MacKenzie and reigning Women's British Open champion Sherri Steinhauer atop the leaderboard after the first round of the SBS Open at Turtle Bay Resort.

Natalie Gulbis, Julieta Granada, Sung Ah Yim and Wendy Ward are knotted in fourth place at minus-four.

This is the season-opening, stroke-play event for the 2007 LPGA Tour.

Creamer, the eighth-ranked player in the world who went winless on tour last year, parred her first two holes before a two-putt birdie at the par-five third.

She tallied one additional birdie on her front nine. At the par-five ninth, Creamer reached the green with her second shot and once again two-putted for a birdie.

Creamer used her length to take advantage of a par five, this time at the 12th. She rolled in a four-footer for birdie there and two holes later cashed in from six feet for her fourth birdie.

Creamer's final birdie came at the par-four 17th. She knocked a wedge to 15 feet and sank the birdie try to join the logjam at the top of the leaderboard.

"I played really consistent," acknowledged Creamer. "I think I missed only two greens, maybe three, but I think it was two. No bogeys and five birdies so I played solid and it was a good day."

Creamer also spoke of her winless 2006 campaign, which was a shock to most since Creamer established herself as one of the best players in the world during her rookie year of 2005.

"I just feel it was one of those years where my expectations were incredibly high and I kind of put a lot of pressure on myself," she admitted. "Just too many mistakes. Too many bogeys and not enough birdies to cancel it out."

MacKenzie made her LPGA Tour debut a great one as she started on the back nine at the Palmer Course at Turtle Bay Resort. She holed a 20-footer for birdie at the 14th, then dropped a stroke at the 16th when a bee flew by her during her backswing.

With all insects out of the way, MacKenzie played great golf on her second nine. At the first, she hit a five-iron to seven feet to set up birdie. MacKenzie made it two in a row thanks to a 23-foot birdie putt at the second.

MacKenzie closed out well to get into a share of the lead. She tapped in a short birdie putt at the sixth, and ran home a nine-foot birdie putt at the seventh. Her final birdie came at the par-five ninth when her eight-footer found the bottom of the cup.

"It was just a very steady day," said MacKenzie. "I love the front side, it was the first nine I played on Monday and everything about it just felt great."

Steinhauer opened with three consecutive pars, then drained a 35-foot birdie putt at the fourth. She added another 35-foot birdie putt at the sixth, but dropped her only shot of the tournament at the 10th thanks to a three-putt.

She atoned for the error at 11 when she hit a six-iron to two feet to set up birdie. The biggest shot of Steinhauer's round came at the par-four 14th when she holed a sand-wedge for an eagle.

"I was blocked out a little by the trees because I hit it a little to the left, but my caddie Joe Connelly said you've got the wind and you've got the green. Everything is going that way," said Steinhauer. "So I did and it just kept rolling, rolling, rolling and it just disappeared. It is a great feeling."

Steinhauer got her share of the lead at the 18th when she holed a 20-footer for birdie.

Yu Ping Lin, Janice Moodie, Irene Cho, Alena Sharp, Hee-Won Han, Stacy Prammanasudh, Morgan Pressel and Hall of Famer Juli Inkster are knotted in eighth place at three-under-par 69.

One player that did struggle on Thursday was defending champion Joo Mi Kim. She carded a five-over-par 77 and is tied for 114th place.