Michelle Wie’s fifth LPGA Kingsmill Championship appearance lasted only one round.
Wie withdrew Thursday, citing a hip injury, after posting a 7-over 78.
“Regrettably, I need to withdraw today due to a left hip injury that has been bothering me this week,” Wie said in a statement. “The Kingsmill Championship is one of my favorite events and I would like to thank the tournament staff and fans for their hospitality.”
The reigning U.S. Women’s Open champion had a double bogey, six bogeys and one birdie and finished the round near the bottom of the 144-player field.
Wie’s only top-20 finish on Tour this season came April 14 in her native Hawaii.
Wie missed the cut in her last Kingsmill appearance in 2013, putting up consecutive rounds of 73.
Creamer makes charge
Paula Creamer’s afternoon surge put her tied for fifth entering the second round.
She had an opportunity to finish 5-under for the day, but missed a putt on 18 to miss par after a birdie on 17.
“It’s nice to kind of be right out there,” Creamer said. “I haven’t been playing my best golf lately but I know it was right around the corner. One day doesn’t make or break you, but it is nice to get a good foot in front of you going into the next three days.”
Ranked 51st on the LPGA money list, the 28-year-old Californian sank seven birdies, including four straight on Nos. 4-7.
“The course is playing tough,” said Creamer. “Some of those pins — you know they’re kind of a Sunday/Saturday pin-like day, but you couldn’t be real aggressive. But when you did hit good shots, you were rewarded.”
Late bogey keeps Burnett out of top 5
After a strong front nine that included four birdies, Katie Burnett sat at 4-under until a slip on 16 for bogey led to a 3-under 68 finish.
Burnett’s putt for par on 16 lipped out, as did her birdie attempt on 13, a par-3. But that was enough to keep her on the leaderboard, tied for ninth.
“I felt really good about my swing and my practice,” said Burnett. “I know this is one of my favorite golf courses all year.”
Burnett is one of nine Americans in the top-16 along with Creamer, Pat Hurst, Alison Lee, Morgan Pressel, Jacqui Concolino, Austin Ernst, Nannette Hill and Angela Stanford.
Burnett missed the cut at Kingsmill last year after making her LPGA Tour debut here in 2013.
“You have to do everything pretty good,” said the 2012 University of South Carolina graduate. “You have to hit it well. You have to place it in the right positions on the green and you really have to putt well. The greens are always in perfect condition here so it’s a lot of fun.”
Best round for France’s Delacour
Perrine Delacour of France shot her best round of the year, a 4-under 67 that put her two shots off the lead.
In seven other tournaments in 2015, she has missed six cuts and her only earnings of $17,092 came from a tie for 16th in the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic in February.
Her previous best round was a 69 two weeks ago at the Volunteers of America North Texas Shootout, but a second-round 75 sent her home.
Sponsor’s exemptions
Brooke Henderson, the Canadian teenager who is in the tournament on a sponsor’s exemption, shot an even-par 71. The other sponsor’s exemption, Kathleen Ekey, finished 3-over.
Monday’s qualifiers, Megan Khang, an amateur, was 1-over 72, while Kristi O’Brien shot 81, the highest score in the field.
Two Rivers to host VSGA women’s events
Two Rivers Country Club is hosting concurrent Virginia State Golf Association women’s events in June, and each amateur tournament is open to all interested female golfers in the state who meet the qualifications.
The 38th Women’s Stroke Play Championship is June 16-18 and the 18th Senior Women’s Stroke Play Championship for ages 50 and older is June 17-18.
Entry deadline is June 8. Find more information at VSGA.org.
