Laura Diaz barely remembers the last time

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Laura Diaz barely remembers the last time she led an LPGA Tour event. Sarah Kemp never had.
Now those two unlikely front-runners head into the weekend chased by a strong group of pursuers at the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic in Sylvania, Ohio.

With a surprised hop, Diaz tied Kemp for the second-round lead Friday with a birdie on her final hole. Winless in her last 168 LPGA Tour starts, Diaz looked discouraged with the 12-foot birdie putt halfway to the final hole but then hopped in celebration when it fell in the side door.

“I was shocked,” she said, laughing, when asked about her lack of elevation on her jump. “I looked silly.”

The putt capped a 4-under 67 and a share of the lead with Kemp, who shot a 63, at 11-under 131.

Creamer to play in U.S. Open: Paula Creamer plans to play in the U.S. Women’s Open next week despite a sore thumb.

Creamer is resting her injured left thumb after getting two anti-inflammatory shots ahead of the U.S. Open at Saucon Valley in Bethlehem, Pa.

Creamer, the defending champion of this week’s Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic, withdrew before Thursday’s first round because of the thumb. She received a cortisone shot on Monday and another on Thursday and wore a small bandage on it.

Creamer says her thumb was swollen after hitting balls on Thursday, and she decided to pull out of the tournament so she wouldn’t risk further injury.