Paula Creamer leads U.S. Women’s Open by three shots

Paula Creamer kept her game together as others were losing theirs on a grueling day at the rain-hampered U.S. Women’s Open at Oakmont, Pa., on Saturday, taking a three-shot lead into the final round as she chases her first major victory.

Creamer, who has eight top-10 finishes in majors at age 23 but no wins, is playing in only her fourth tournament since sitting out four months to have a hyperextended thumb joint surgically repaired.

Creamer, who played 29 holes Saturday, is one under for the tournament with five holes remaining in a third round that will be completed Sunday morning. Second-place Wendy Ward has only No. 18 to play. Suzann Pettersen is four back with four holes to go, and 15-year-old Alexis Thompson, Amy Yang and Brittany Lang are five back. Only Thompson completed the third round.

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Steve Stricker continued his sizzling play at the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill., pulling away from the field with a nine-under 62 for a six-shot lead entering the final round.

Stricker’s mastery of the TPC Deere Run course left him at 25-under 188 for the tournament, the best 54-hole score in PGA Tour history. With a 65 on Sunday, he’d break the 72-hole record of 254.

So dominant was Stricker that Jeff Maggert shot a 63 and lost ground. Paul Goydos, who shot a magical 59 on Thursday, played well enough to keep pace in most tournaments, just not this one.

Maggert, who started the day five shots behind Stricker, was at 19-under 194 and tied with Goydos.

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Edoardo Molinari of Italy shot an eight-under 63 to take a one-stroke lead over Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland going into the final day of the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond in Luss.

Molinari was at 15-under 198 after a round that included an eagle and seven birdies. Clarke had a 67.

Molinari’s younger brother, Francesco, had a 67 and was tied for third with Peter Hedblom of Sweden (69) seven shots back. John Daly was in a three-way tie for ninth at four-under after a 69.

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PRO BASKETBALL

Clippers sign first-round picks

The Clippers have signed draft picks Al-Farouq Aminu of Wake Forest and Eric Bledsoe of Kentucky.

Aminu, a forward, was the eighth overall pick in last month’s NBA draft. Bledsoe, a guard, was the 18th pick, whom the Clippers acquired in a draft day trade after he was chosen by Oklahoma City.

The Cavaliers made sure they got something back for LeBron James.

The Cavaliers signed James and traded him to Miami for two future first-round draft picks and two future second-round draft picks.

Cleveland gets two first-rounders starting no sooner than 2013 and continuing through 2017, and the Heat’s 2012 second-round pick from New Orleans and a future second-round pick Miami acquired from Oklahoma City. The Cavaliers also have the right to swap first-round picks with the Heat in 2012.

According to multiple sources, the Golden State Warriors have reached an agreement with Miami Heat unrestricted free-agent small forward Dorell Wright. The deal is for three years and just shy of $11 million.

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The New Jersey Nets have reached a contract agreement with center Johan Petro.

An NBA official said the deal is for $10 million over three years. Petro will be a backup for Brook Lopez.

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ETC.

Fish in Hall of Fame final

American Mardy Fish advanced to the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships final at Newport, R.I., by beating British qualifier Richard Bloomfield, 7-6 (5), 6-4. Fish will play Olivier Rochus of Belgium, a 6-3, 6-2 winner over Brian Dabul of Argentina.

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Aravane Rezai won her second title of the year by defeating Gisela Dulko, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, in the Swedish Open final at Bastad.

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Tyson Gay of the United States edged Asafa Powell in the 100 meters at the British Grand Prix at Gateshead, England. Gay won in 9.94 seconds, just 0.02 faster than his Jamaican rival

American Bianca Knight held off Rosemarie Whyte of Jamaica in the 200, clocking 22.71. Jamaican Shericka Williams won the 400 ahead of American Debbie Dunn in 50.44.

Other U.S. victories included Walter Dix in the 200, Lolo Jones in the hurdles and Carmelita Jeter in the 100.