Creamer makes slow start at Sybase

Paula Creamer did not have the start she hoped for at the site of her historic first triumph, the Sybase Classic.

The teenager struggled at the Wykagyl Country Club, recording a pair of double-bogeys en route to a one-over-par 72 in the first round.

Play was delayed for nearly 90 minutes by heavy rain and ultimately suspended due to darkness. Fifteen golfers will resume their first rounds on Friday morning.

Last season, Creamer buried a 17-foot birdie putt on the final hole to become a first-time winner on the LPGA Tour just four days before graduating from high school. She entered the final round down by one shot before pulling out a victory over Jeong Jang by a similar margin.

“I’m expected to win again,” she said. “Of course, I’m pretty nervous. It’s definitely not like any other tournament feeling that I’ve ever been at because it’s a new thing. I just have to forget about (last year) and go on.”

With the win, Creamer became the youngest winner of a multi-round event in LPGA history at 18 years, nine months, 17 days.

She went on to record 11 top-10 finishes in 2005, including a win at the prestigious Evian Masters, where she became the youngest and fastest player to reach one million US dollars in career earnings.

Creamer is tied for 24th place, alongside world number one Annika Sorenstam.

“I thought I played well,” Sorenstam said. “It’s very difficult, very, very difficult. I hit a lot of good shots. It would have been nice if I converted. I would say it’s maybe two or three holes that got away.”

Beth Bauer, South Korea’s Hee-Won Han and Natalie Gulbis produced solid first rounds to share of the lead on three under par.