Young Kim returns to defend Corning Classic crown

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CORNING, New York (AFP) - South Korea's Young Kim defends her title at the 1.5 million-dollar Corning Classic, with American Paula Creamer aiming to capture the crown that eluded her last year.

Kim fired four straight rounds in the 60s, including a season-low 64 in the second round, to beat Creamer and South Korean Mi Hyun Kim by three strokes and become the fifth first-time winner of 2007.

"I'm ready for the tournament," Kim said. "I'm going to play nothing different from last year, and I can hopefully win again."

Kim said cooler weather meant conditions were much different from those of last year.

"It's totally different from last year. Because last year it was a little firmer and warmer so my driver was longer than this year," she said. "So I hit short iron wedge shot. But this year I play a lot shorter than last year. I hit middle or long iron for a second shot and the greens a little more soft and slow than last year, so, totally different."

With both world No.1 Lorena Ochoa and No.2 Annika Sorenstam absent, attention will be focused this week on Kim and on Creamer, who entered the final round tied for the lead with Kim and Beth Bader but settled for the runner-up spot.

"You always want to win," Creamer said. "The way that things happened, unfortunately didn't go my way in the last fiveor six holes. But you have to move on. It has made me who I am right now.

"And I think I can go out and I can play good golf. You never know if it's going to be a birdie fest or if it's going to play longer and more difficult. But I am really looking forward to being in contention on Sunday."

Since her disappointment here last year, Creamer has nabbed three titles, one in 2007 and two this season.

Creamer said her approach wouldn't be any different just because Ochoa and Sorenstam are missing from the field.

"Having Lorena and Annika makes it nice, having the best players in the world," she said. "But at the same time, you have to win a golf tournament no matter what. You are in control of yourself and you are not in control of anybody else."

Creamer said she also enjoyed Corning because she has a lot of family in the area, and because the 30-year-old tournament is one of the best-established on the LPGA tour.

"I have a lot of family up here so it's great to come," she said. "I love the golf course. Most importantly I think the history behind it is something special. There are not many LPGA events that can say they've been around 30 years. I think that is pretty neat to be able to come out and play."

The 30th anniversary of the event has drawn 13-time LPGA winner Rosie Jones out of retirement. Jones won back-to-back Corning titles in 1996-97.

"I was thrilled," Jones said of the chance to play. "And it definitely would take this tournament to get me out of retirement, to come out and play."