Paula Creamer birdied her final three holes en route to a flawless, four-under 68 on Saturday and the third-round lead of the Samsung World Championship.

Creamer finished 54 holes at six-under 210 and is one shot clear at the Ocean Course at Half Moon Bay Golf Links.

Angela Stanford held as large as a three-shot lead on Saturday, but double- bogeys at 13 and 15 cost her first place. She closed with a pair of birdies for a three-under 69 and second place at minus-five.

Two-time defending champion Lorena Ochoa managed a two-under 70 in round three and is tied for third place with Katherine Hull (69) and Song-Hee Kim (70). The trio is knotted at four-under 212.

While conditions were still cold and sometimes blustery on Saturday, it was nothing like Friday's round. Ochoa dropped six strokes in her last 10 holes Friday and Stanford lost four in her last four, but Saturday was much easier.

In this elite, 20-player field, only one golfer in the top-10, overnight leader Na Yeon Choi, failed to break par on Saturday.

Creamer may be in front, but this tournament seemingly belonged to Stanford through 12 holes. Stanford birdied three and seven, then took sole possession of the lead with a 20-foot birdie putt at nine.

Stanford kicked in a short birdie putt at the par-five 10th and drained a 14- footer for birdie at No. 11. She missed the green at the par-three 12th, but sank a 10-foot par save to keep her three-shot cushion.

Things fell apart quickly for Stanford.

A couple poor drives led to double-bogeys at 13 and 15, knocking Stanford well down the leaderboard. But birdies at 17 and 18 kept her within striking distance of a second title in as many starts.

"It is deflating to do that," said Stanford, referring to her pair of double- bogeys. "The tournament still isn't over. It's one of those things, you get down on yourself, but you have to remind yourself without those birdies you will be in real trouble."

To get that trophy, she'll have to top Creamer, who posted the best finish of anyone in the field.

Creamer made only one birdie through her first 15 holes, a two at the par- three seventh. She kept her game and composure over her round one day after appearing to become very agitated with her caddy when some approaches bounced off the greens.

Creamer birdied 16 after a beautiful seven-iron to two feet. She knocked that same club to 20 feet at 17 to set up another birdie and, at 18, Creamer played a 54-degree wedge to eight feet and converted the putt for the overnight lead.

"The way that I have been playing, I've been so patient hitting the middle of the greens, two-putts here and there," said Creamer. "I've been kind of down when I missed the ones that I hit to six or seven feet and I miss those. It's very important to make your par and move on."

If Creamer can keep the lead on Sunday, she will earn her fourth LPGA Tour title of the season and eighth of her career.

"You are at the top and there are so many people that want to get there," said Creamer. "I can't control what other people do. I can only control what I do out on a golf course."

Juli Inkster fired a four-under 68 and vaulted into a tie for sixth with Suzann Pettersen (69) and first-round leader and reigning Women's British Open champion Ji-Yai Shin (70). The group came in at three-under 213.

Cristie Kerr also carded a 68 on Saturday and moved into ninth place at minus- two, one shot better than Choi, who struggled to a three-over 75 in the third round.

Annika Sorenstam's bid to become the first LPGA Tour player to win the same event six times is almost over. In her last chance with retirement looming, the Swede managed only a three-over 75 on Saturday. Sorenstam is in 16th place at plus-five.

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