Gulbis seeks first Tour win in Jamie Farr event

She's currently in a three-way tie for the lead going into today's final round.
SYLVANIA, Ohio (AP) -- Natalie Gulbis isn't concerned about the mounting pressures of not winning on the LPGA Tour. In fact, she's looking forward to her latest shot.
Gulbis birdied her final hole Saturday to pull into a three-way tie for the lead in the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic before play was suspended late in the third round of the storm-plagued tournament.
"Sundays are always fun, especially if you're in the hunt," said Gulbis, 0-for-125 on tour heading into the final round. "That's what we all play for. You want to be up there and give yourself a chance."
Gulbis birdied the par-5 17th to tie Reilley Rankin and Mi Hyun Kim at 12 under. Kim also birdied 17 just before play was stopped, while Rankin completed 16 holes.
Still in hunt
Paula Creamer and Se Ri Pak were a shot back, and Annika Sorenstam also made a birdie putt on her last hole -- the 15th -- to pull within four shots of the leaders. Pak is trying to match Mickey Wright's LPGA Tour record of five victories in one event.
Play was stopped at 8 p.m. to afford course workers some daylight. Play will resume early this morning, with the final round to follow.
"It's been crazy," Creamer said. "It just seems like it's not a normal tournament if we don't have more than 18 holes on Sunday."
Gulbis, the tour's cover girl, is trying to shed the image that she's all looks but doesn't have the game to play with the sport's elite. Despite cashing checks and threatening to win, she's never followed through.
Made strong finish
She led at 9 under after rounds of 67 and 66, then dropped off the pace with a three-putt bogey from short range at the ninth hole. She recovered with birdies at the 10th, 15th and 17th holes to get a piece of the lead.
"I knew they wanted to get the golf course ready," she said. "The staff has really been busting their rear ends to come out here at 3 or 4 in the morning to get the course in shape for us to play. They've done a phenomenal job."
Rankin has not finished better than fourth in her 63 previous LPGA Tour events. She followed an opening 66 with a 68 that left her a shot behind Gulbis at the tournament's midpoint. She played steady throughout the third round, with five birdies and one bogey before play was called.
Asked what she's learned about the course this week, she cracked, "It drains well."
Rankin said remained patient throughout the day.
"I was giving myself good opportunities and trying to capitalize," she said.
Kim completed her second-round 66 on Friday, then took a while to get warmed up in the third round. She had birdies at holes 9, 11, 12, 13, 16 and 17 before play was halted.
Creamer makes charge
Creamer, after two rounds of 67, was 3 under through 17 holes while chasing her first victory in more than a year. She led after birdies at 7, 8 and 11, but dropped back with a bogey at the 15th.
"I have a lot of golf left," she said. "I can't get too far ahead of myself. But I've got to keep putting the pressure on people."
Sorenstam had rounds of 69 and 68 and was 3 under through 15 holes when the horn sounded.
She planned on being aggressive in her final 21 holes.
"I've got to make some birdies," she said. "It seems like the leaders are making birdies. I need to climb a little bit more."
A series of thunderstorms pounded Highland Meadows Golf Club with 2 inches of rain late Friday afternoon, suspending second-round play with almost half the field on the course. They returned to complete their second rounds late Saturday morning, with the third round starting midway through the afternoon.
A sign just across from the entrance to the course read: "Parking $4. Free Water Rides."
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