Paula Creamer coasts to eight shot win

American rookie Paula Creamer became the youngest ever winner of a Robe di Kappa Ladies European Tour (LET) event today at the US$2.5 million Evian Masters.

Finishing with a total of 15 under par, Creamer exacted an eight shot margin of victory over the 15-year-old Hawaiian amateur Michelle Wie and the 23 year old Mexican Lorena Ochoa, at the age of 18 years, 11 months and 18 days.

Creamer, who lives in Bradenton, Florida, became the youngest member in LPGA history to win a multi-round event, just two months and a day ago when she won the Sybase Classic presented by Lincoln Mercury, on her own Tour, in May. 

Now she has set another record, not only by becoming the youngest ever player to win an event on the LET schedule, but the youngest winner in the history of the Evian Masters, which is co-sanctioned by both the LET and the LPGA.

The previous youngest LET winner was Florence Descampe from Belgium , who set the record at the age of 19 years and 74 days at the 1988 Danish Ladies Open.

This, Creamer's second professional victory, comes at the second richest tournament in women's golf, which is only second in prize money to the US Women's Open.

For her efforts, the teenager will take home US$375,000 (€282, 356, 25) in prize money, making her the youngest player in history to earn US$1 million.

With US$1,114,650 in total earnings, s he becomes the youngest millionaire in LPGA Tour history. She also becomes the second rookie in LPGA history to earn $1 million in her first year on Tour, after Australian Karrie Webb set the record, in 1996.

In addition, she becomes the fastest player to earn $1 million in her career, breaking Webb's record on 10 months and 10 days.

Creamer carded a final round 71 to finish at 15 under par (273), setting a record for the widest margin of victory at the Evian Masters, by four shots. Wie fired a 68 and Ochoa had a 69 to finish tied at seven under par (281).

She moves into one of the top ten automatic qualifying places on the US team and her dream - to debut as a member of the US team, when the cup is contested at Crooked Stick G&CC, Indiana, this September - becomes increasingly likely to become reality.

“I can't even talk right now.  I am speechless,” said Creamer.

“It has been a great couple of days, that is for sure.  Today was incredibly exciting.  At the beginning I was very nervous because of just knowing that I had a seven-shot lead, but still it is hard to imagine that I had a seven-shot lead with the players here.  They are the best players in the world.”

After the third round, s he was tied with fellow American Christina Kim at 8-under- par but built on her overnight lead by a shot, with two bogeys and three birdies, on a day when most of the field failed to keep pace.

Karine Icher from France , also playing in the final group, carded a 74 (+2) to slip into tied fifth position with Swedes Carin Koch, who had a 70 (+2), Maria Hjorth, who had a 68 (-4) and Helen Alfreddson, who had the best round of the week; a seven under par 65.

Sorenstam, also in the final group had a 75 (+3) to finish as the next best placed European alone in twelfth position with a three under par total.

The 40-year-old Alfreddson, like many other players in the field this week, was looking forward to the links challenge of Royal Birkdale at the Weetabix Women's British Open next week in England .

“It's a completely different game next week,” said Alfreddson's, adding: “you've got to be more creative and manufacture a range of different shots, especially the grip down shots and bump and runs.”

Icher said: “I feel positive going into next week's British Open, it's a different game but I'm really looking forward to it.”

The event will be the final major of the season and the cream of women's golf will be there. Not least of whom, will be the newly crowned Evian Masters Champion 18-year-old Paula Creamer; one of a young new breed of superstars in the women's professional game.

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