EVIAN, France (AP) – Paula Creamer shot a 6-under 66 Friday, taking a seven-stroke lead over Karine Icher and Laura Davies after the third round of the Evian Masters.

The 18-year-old Creamer was eight strokes ahead of Annika Sorenstam, who carded a 72, and 11 in front of Michelle Wie. The 15-year-old amateur shot a 68 after rounds of 75 and 70.

Icher managed a 68 and Davies had a 70, but both lost ground to Creamer, who is poised to claim her second title in her rookie season.

“Tomorrow it will be like everybody’s starting out at zero,” Creamer said. “I’ll aim to get the lead as big as possible as quickly as possible.”

Creamer, known for wearing something pink every time she plays, won the Sybase Classic two months ago and is fourth on the LPGA money list with $739,650.

“But when I won the Sybase I was a shot back going into Sunday,” Creamer said. “Here I’ve got seven shots. I feel good with that.”

Sorenstam knows she has a tough final-round task.

“I’ve got to play a real good round, a 64 or maybe even better, to give myself a chance tomorrow,” she said. “Paula played great today and I didn’t make anything.”

Wie finally converted some of the birdie chances she has had this week. She birdied the second hole, had a triple-bogey 7 at No. 4, then made six birdies in eight holes from the sixth before parring the five closing holes.

“It went good, very bad, very good, then sort of OK, ” Wie said. “Like having all four seasons in one day.”

Wie’s triple-bogey came when she hit a flyer through the green out of the left rough. She chipped on and then three-putted.

“Painful,” she said. “I gave myself a lot of great chances,” Wie said. “Tomorrow I’ll make everything, I promise you.”

Wie fired her new Irish caddie Brian Smallwood after the first round and her father, B.J., is now on her bag.

“I usually see him in the crowd. It’s nice to see him get all excited when I play well,” Wie said.

Lorie Kane of Canada also shot a 66, leaving her nine behind the leader. Karrie Webb (71) and overnight co-leader Christina Kim (75) were also nine back.

AP-ES-07-22-05 1321EDT

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