Paula Creamer and Mariajo Uribe Share Lead at LPGA's Kia Classic

Paula Creamer and Mariajo Uribe share a one-shot lead over four golfers entering today's second round of the $1.7 million Kia Classic at the Park Hyatt Aviara Golf Resort in Carlsbad.

Creamer and Uribe both shot five-under-par 67s Thursday. Shanshan Feng, Jodi Ewart Shadoff, Mi Hyang Lee and Cristie Kerr are tied for second at four- under-par 68.

Creamer, who is eighth on the Rolex World Golf Rankings, had two birdies on the front nine and four in her final six holes, along with a bogey on the par-4 15th.

"I played pretty solid," said Creamer, who is seeking her second victory in three tournaments. "I had one bogey, but I gave myself a bunch of opportunities and putted pretty well. I think it's an advantage playing early in the morning."

Uribe birdied the second through fifth holes and the 11th for her low round of the year.

"I took advantage of the first couple of holes where the greens weren't that bad," said Uribe, a Colombian who played at UCLA and missed the cut at three of her first four tournaments this year.

Uribe played in the second to last group and finished her round under a nearly set sun at 7:30 p.m.

"It was just a rush at the end," Uribe said. "You don't want to come at 5 a.m. to warm up and play one hole. We were trying to do it as fast as we could and we were always waiting, but I just tried to stay calm. It had affected me in the past and I am glad it didn't today."

Players, staff and fans were encouraged to wear pink to help raise awareness for breast cancer and in support of LPGA Tour player Lisa Ferrero, who was diagnosed with the disease in January.

"It's very important," Creamer said. "We have October, breast cancer month, but every month, every day we have to take such an importance into that. I think, as a woman, and as I'm getting older it's even more important to teach the generations about that."

Suzann Pettersen, second on the Rolex World Golf Rankings, withdrew before the start of the round due to back spasms.

"I tweaked my back Monday and haven't been able to do much since," Pettersen wrote on her Twitter account.

Pettersen would have moved into the top spot in the rankings if she had won the tournament and Inbee Park, the No. 1-ranked player for 50 consecutive weeks, finished in a tie for second with four or more players or had a worse finish than Pettersen.

Park is among five players two shots behind the leaders at three-under- par 69.

Today is Military Appreciation Day, which will include a color guard presentation with local military representatives.

Active military members with valid identification and their families will receive free admission throughout the tournament. Children 17 and under accompanied by adults will also receive free admission.

The tournament concludes Sunday. The winner will receive $255,000 and a 2015 Kia K900, the automaker's first luxury sedan.

—City News Service