Creamer, McCurdy advance to semifinals

ERIE, Pa. -- Paula Creamer mastered her short game to beat Diana Ramage, 3 and 2, on a rain-soaked golf course yesterday, advancing to the semifinals of the US Women's Amateur for the second straight year.

The 18-year-old Creamer, of Pleasanton, Calif., dominated most of the round with Ramage, of Fayetteville, Ga., who was playing in the tournament for the second time.

Creamer eagled the par-5 No. 8 to go 2 up, but she bogeyed the next hole.

Creamer seemed to take control at the par-5 12th. After missing the green, she chipped the ball about 2 feet from the hole and went 3 up.

Her ability to knock it close helped her maintain the lead after some difficult long shots.

"I'm just feeling really comfortable and really confident out there," Creamer said. Today, Creamer will play Amanda McCurdy of El Dorado, Ark. The 20-year-old McCurdy won, 3 and 2, against 17-year-old Sun-Young Yoo of Korea.

McCurdy had a string of birdies on the front nine and was 6 up through 11. But her lead started to slip away after Yoo won the 12th, 13th, and 14th holes.

McCurdy had pars on 15 and 16 to win the match. Last year's runner-up, Jane Park of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., beat Beth Allen of San Diego, 4 and 2, to advance.

Park plays Sarah Huarte of Shingle Springs, Calif., today. Huarte beat Morgan Pressel of Boca Raton, Fla., 1 up.