Paula Creamer wins U.S. Women’s Open

Paula Creamer won her first major tournament, never giving up the lead during a steady final round of the U.S. Women’s Open at Oakmont, Pa.

Creamer, only 23 but long considered the best women’s golfer to not win a major, went into the final round at sunny Oakmont Country Club with a three-shot lead that never dwindled below two. She played 23 holes Sunday with a sore left thumb, including the final five holes of the weather-delayed third round.

Her final-round two-under-par 69 gave her a three-under 281 for the tournament. Na Yeon Choi of South Korea and Suzann Pettersen of Norway tied for second at one-over 285.

Creamer joins 2007 winner Cristie Kerr as the only Americans to win this tournament in the last six years.

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Steve Stricker repeated his title in the John Deere Classic, holding on for a two-shot victory after leading by seven strokes at Silvis, Ill.

Stricker shot a one-under 70 in the final round to finish at 26-under 258. He edged Paul Goydos, who dazzled the golf world with a 59 in the opening round.

Stricker entered the last round having set a 54-hole PGA Tour record and ahead by six strokes. He went up by seven after a birdie on the first hole.

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Edoardo Molinari of Italy claimed his first European Tour victory, shooting a three-over 74 to beat Darren Clarke by three shots in the Scottish Open at Luss.

Scoring was very high after a long spell of rain in the morning at Loch Lomond, where Molinari finished at 12-under 272.

Clarke, of Northern Ireland, had begun the day a shot behind Molinari but had a 76.

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Scott Travers, with his recent California State Amateur win under his belt, added 111th SCGA Amateur champion to his resume, when he not only broke the Amateur’s scoring record with a 16-under-par 268, but became the first person since 1942 to be the State Amateur champion and SCGA Amateur champion concurrently..

Travers, 22, of Trabuco Canyon, carded rounds of 68-65-66-69 at La Cumbre Country Club in Santa Barbara, to defeat hometown favorite Jack Perry, 18, by two shots (66-67-67-70--270).

The previous SCGA Amateur scoring record is 14-under-par 270, which was set by Tiger Woods in 1994 during his first SCGA Amateur win at the par-71 Hacienda Golf Club.

ETC.

Fish defeats Rochus for title

Mardy Fish won the Hall of Fame Championships, rallying for a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 victory over fourth-seeded Olivier Rochus of Belgium at Newport, R.I.

Fish overcame his frustration at a close line call at the end of the first set to win the fourth title of his career. The fifth-seeded American entered the week ranked 79th.

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Mark Webber won his third Formula One race of the season, cruising to victory in the British Grand Prix after overtaking Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel on the opening lap at Silverstone, England.

The Australian finished 1.36 seconds ahead of championship leader Lewis Hamilton of McLaren in second.

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A 60-year-old drag racing driver became the third person to die at an NHRA event this year when he crashed after crossing the finish line during his semifinal heat at the Northwest Nationals in Kent, Wash.

Mark Niver of Phoenix was competing in the top-alcohol dragster class in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing series, the top feeder circuit for the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing series.

Winners in the Full Throttle series were Cory McClenathan in top fuel, Tim Wilkerson in funny car and Greg Anderson in pro stock.

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Former NBA defensive player of the year Ben Wallace told the Associated Press that he has agreed to a two-year deal to stay with the Detroit Pistons.

Wallace will make $1.9 million each season.

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Bob Sheppard, whose elegant introductions of stars from Joe DiMaggio to Derek Jeter at Yankee Stadium for more than half a century earned him the nickname “The Voice of God,” died. He was 99. Obituary, AA5