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Newcomer Lewis takes one-shot lead

Story Highlights
Stacy Lewis leads the US Women's Open by one stroke with a round to go
The 23-year-old is playing her first tournament as a professional
Paula Creamer lies second and six players are within four of the leader
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EDINA, Minnesota (AP) -- Stacy Lewis is making her professional debut one to remember.

Lewis shot six birdies and did not drop a stroke during her third round.

Nineteen days after she turned pro, 23-year-old Lewis showed the poise of a veteran at Interlachen with a bogey-free 6-under 67 that gave her a one-shot lead over Paula Creamer going into the final round of the U.S. Women's Open.

Lewis, a former NCAA champion at Arkansas, might have been the only one not surprised to see her name atop the leaderboard.

"I've accomplished my goal for the week," Lewis said. "It was just to put myself in contention. And whatever happens tomorrow, it happens."

She will have to hold off a half-dozen players within four shots of the lead, starting with Creamer.

Creamer is two years younger but already in her fourth season on the LPGA Tour with six victories, enough for some to already anoint the 21-year-old product of a golf academy as the best player without a major.

She had a chance to share the 54-hole lead with Lewis until missing a 6-foot birdie putt on the 18th for a 69.

Lewis was at 9-under 210, setting up an All-American final group at the U.S. Women's Open for the first time in five years.

Helen Alfredsson of Sweden, 15 years removed from her Women's Open heartache, stayed close to the lead throughout an afternoon of scattered clouds and came in at 71 to finish two shots out of the lead at 7-under 212, along with Inbee Park (71).

In-Kyung Kim had a 69 and was another shot behind, while eight-time LPGA Tour winner Mi Hyun Kim had a 70 and was at 214.

Lorena Ochoa was desperate for a quick start to get back in the game, but this isn't what she had in mind. She played the first four holes in 4 over and wound up with a 76, her highest score of the week, to end her chances. She was at 4-over 223.

Annika Sorenstam, the three-time Open champion who is retiring at the end of the year, wasted another day filled with birdie opportunities by converting only two of them in a round of 72 that left her seven shots behind.

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