Paula Creamer traveled to Japan to compete in the MastersGC Ladies-an event on the Japan LPGA (JLPGA) schedule-in Kobe, Japan. This is the second time Creamer has traveled to Japan to compete and both times she has come home with a win.

Rookie Paula Creamer birdied the first playoff hole to beat Chieko Amanuma to claim her second Japan tour title at the Masters GC Ladies on Sunday.

Overnight leader Creamer shot an even-par 72 to finish the regulation 54 holes tied at 4-under-par 212 with Amanuma, who made five birdies against three bogeys for a final-round 70 at the Masters Golf Club in Hyogo Prefecture. In the playoff held at the par-4 18th, both players reached the green in two shots and it came down to a putting contest in which Amanuma missed a birdie putt from about 15 feet before Creamer calmly holed an eight-footer to claim the win.

LPGA rookie Paula Creamer won her third title this year with a victory at the NEC Karuizawa-an event on the Japan LPGA (JLPGA) schedule-in Karuizawa, Japan, on August 14th. Creamer, who recently turned 19, shot a 4-under-par 68 in the final round to hold off 20-year-old Japanese star Ai Miyazato.

She posted three straight bogey-free rounds to finish the tournament at 197 (-19). With the win in Japan, Creamer has won three tournaments this year in three different countries. Her first two victories were on the LPGA Tour, at the Sybase Classic presented by Lincoln Mercury in New Rochelle, N.Y., in May and at the Evian Masters in Evian-les-Bains, France, last month. The win marked Creamer's first appearance on the JLPGA. Creamer, who became the youngest and quickest player in LPGA history to earn more than $1 million in her career, currently ranks second on the ADT Official Money List behind Annika Sorenstam in earnings this year. 

Creamer Outlasts Miyazato for Japan Win
August 14, by Associate Press

Paula Creamer in PINK - a traditional Japanese YUKATA (By Par Golf Magazine)

American teenager Paula Creamer shot a 4-under 68 Sunday to hold off Ai Miyazato — Japan's most popular player — to win the NEC Karuizawa tournament.

Creamer, who turned 19 earlier this month, finished at 19-under 197, three strokes ahead of Miyazato, who shot a 69.

"I feel great," said Creamer, who carded four birdies in her third straight bogey-free round. "I knew I had to play good golf coming down the stretch. I knew if I just stayed patient and kept giving myself birdie looks everything would be OK."

Miyazato, who turned 20 in June, won five titles last year when she made her debut on the Japan tour. She played in four overseas events during a two-month absence from the Japan this year, including the U.S. Women's Open and the Women's British Open.

"The biggest difference between Creamer and I today was the putting," Miyazato said. "I feel there's still a big gap between myself and the world's top players."

Paula Creamer, enjoying her first experience in Japan (By Par Golf Magazine)

Creamer was making her first appearance in a Japanese LPGA tour event after winning twice on the LPGA Tour this year. She became the second-youngest first-time winner in tour history — and the youngest winner of a full event — when she captured the Sybase Classic by one stroke in May. She also won the Evian Masters in July.

Despite graduating from high school only three months ago, Creamer is second on the LPGA money list behind Annika Sorenstam.

Shiho Oyama, playing in the same group as Creamer and Miyazato, also fired a 69 to finish third at 15-under 201. Defending champion Rui Kitada was tied for 10th at 9-under 207.