Sun May 4 19:12:13 2008

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Creamer downs Inkster in SemGroup playoff

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Broken Arrow, OK (Sports Network) - For the second day in a row, Paula Creamer struggled down the stretch, but she was able to right the ship Sunday and walk off with a playoff win at SemGroup Championship after making birdie at the second extra hole.

Creamer, who lost to Annika Sorenstam last week in a playoff, bogeyed the final hole of regulation after knocking her second over the green. That bogey, coupled with Juli Inkster's closing birdie, forced the extra session.

Creamer closed with a one-over 72, while Inkster posted a one-under 70 to tie her at two-under-par 282.

The pair headed back to the 18th tee for the first playoff hole, where Creamer gave herself a chance to win by leaving herself 12 feet for birdie.

After Inkster two-putted for par from over 40 feet, Creamer's birdie putt missed on the left edge. In regulation, she had missed a par-saving putt on a similar line to the right of the hole.

They headed to the 10th at Cedar Ridge Country Club and again Creamer put the pressure on her Hall of Fame opponent. Creamer's approach stopped within eight feet of the hole.

Inkster again left herself a long birdie try. Her birdie effort just slid by the right edge and she tapped in for par.

Creamer, who struggled throughout the round with her putter, calmly drained her birdie putt for her sixth LPGA Tour crown.

Jeong Jang (68) and Angela Stanford (71) shared third place at two-over-par 286.

Women's world No. 1 Lorena Ochoa had won her last four starts, but never mounted a challenge this week. She closed with a two-under 69 to share fifth at plus-three. She was joined there by Dorothy Delasin (68) and Brittany Lang (73).

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