Rushing not good
for Kerr

A slow start by the final threesome eventually put them on the clock, which was not a good thing for Cristie Kerr.

A four-time winner on the LPGA Tour, Kerr was trailing eventual winner Jennifer Rosales by only one shot when tour officials told them at the ninth hole they weren't playing fast enough.

Whether that did in Kerr's chances of tracking down Rosales, no one will ever know. But the nine-year veteran from Miami believed playing quickly early on the back nine didn't do her any favors, especially after making a birdie from 20 feet at the eighth.

"Then we got timed, which really threw me off a little bit because I had gotten within a shot of Jennifer coming into the ninth hole," Kerr said. "We got timed for nine, 10, 11, then got off the clock at the 12th tee.

"Once we started on the clock, I bogeyed four out of the next six holes. It just really threw me off. And in windy conditions when you really have to think through your shots and what you're trying to do out there. It's not that easy."

The time issue didn't seem to bother Rosales as much.

"It did, just kind of your timing and your routine gets messed up a little bit," Rosales said. "But it helps us play a little bit faster. It makes it easier to finish, but it didn't bother me at all."

Kerr was partnered with Rosales for two of the three rounds. She praised the Filipina golfer for being able to keep it together down the stretch.

"I played as well as I could under the circumstances," Kerr said of her finish. "I definitely had some shots I'd like to take over. Reilley (Rankin) got into trouble early in the round, Jennifer got into trouble, then Reilley got into trouble, which put us out of position.

"I just wish we wouldn't have been timed because maybe it would have made a difference. I just made too many mistakes. I could have put a little pressure on her, maybe. But she played great. She didn't make that many mistakes. Maybe it was just her week."

Kerr finished in a tie for second with Wie. Because of Wie's amateur status, Kerr was able to pocket the $91,544 check.

"She tied with me, but she doesn't get any money," Kerr said, then laughed. "So it didn't really affect me. It's good for her. She had a great tournament. She's a veteran at 15 if you can be called that. She's got an amazing game and she's a real sweet girl. I'm glad she's doing well. She's going to be really good for our tour. I just hope our tour is ready for her."

Creamer makes some money: It wasn't exactly the start Paula Creamer was looking for, but it will have to do. The 18-year-old has played in 10 LPGA events before, including seven last year where she made the cut in each.

Her phenomenal finish at the 2004 ShopRite Classic, where she finished second to Kerr, proved to her that she's ready for that next step. But her first tournament as a professional wasn't quite what she was looking for this week.

She had rounds of 73, 73 and 74 to finish in a tie for 40th at 4-over 220. Her first paycheck was $5,012. Creamer will play in the next two events. She needs to be in the top 15 overall to qualify for the Kraft Nabisco Championship held next month.

Rarick falters in final round: After shooting a second-round 69 to assure she would be playing yesterday, Cindy Rarick had a hard time mastering the wind.

The former University of Hawaii golfer's final-round 76 left her at 5-over 221 for the tournament. It was the first cut she had made in her last 14 events, earning the 45-year-old $3,826.

Inside the numbers: The wind kicked up yesterday to send the scores over 74 for the second straight day. With 131 golfers in the field on Friday, the scoring average was 74.327. After the cut, there were only 75 golfers in the field yesterday, but the average was still a lofty 74.040.

The most difficult hole for the second time was the par-3 fourth with a scoring average of 3.347. There were only two birdies by Loo-Yun Kang and Catriona Matthew, 50 pars, 18 bogeys and five double bogeys. For the tournament, the par-4 10th was the most difficult hole with a 54-hole scoring average of 4.385.

The easiest hole for the day and the tournament was the par-5 third hole. During yesterday's round, the scoring average was 4.640 with one eagle by Shi Hyun Ahn, 28 birdies, 44 pars, one bogey and one double bogey by Young Jo. The scoring average for the week at this hole was 4.627.

Owens turns to wardrobe
to help break ties

Chad Owens isn't really a coat-and-tie kind of guy. But the receiverkick returner from Roosevelt High School and the University of Hawaii knows the NFL combine in Indianapolis is a massive job fair, and it can't hurt to look sharp for prospective employers.

Most prospects report for their round robin of 15-minute interviews with team officials wearing casual shirts and slacks or sweatsuits. Owens literally suited up for his.

The extra effort doesn't go unnoticed, a veteran scout said.

"He's making a real serious effort without trying to trick anyone or be anything he's not," said the Bears' Marty Barrett, who has tracked Owens the past two years as an area scout. "He understands that these football teams are companies looking for employees. He's talked to millions of scouts, and he remembers names. Only a couple of guys wear suits, and he's able to do it without appearing to be brown-nosing or showing off."

Owens was dressed more casually when he bench-pressed 225 pounds 23 times on Friday. The weightlifting is optional for receivers at the combine. Michigan's Braylon Edwards, a projected first-round pick, was also among the receivers who chose to lift. He pushed the 225 pounds 22 times. Owens is 5-feet-7 and 183 pounds, Edwards is 6-3 and around 210.

The receivers were scheduled to be timed at 40 yards today. It's an important test for Owens, who did not display exceptional straight-away speed in college.

DBs run Tuesday: Defensive backs, including Hawaii graduate Abraham Elimimian and Kahuku alum Aaron Francisco (BYU) reported yesterday.

Their big day is Tuesday, when they are timed in the 40. Elimimian said last week that the hamstring that bothered him most of last season is completely healed.

Some pundits are beginning to call the undersized Elimimian a sleeper in the draft, even though he doesn't have top-notch speed. Scouts like his instincts, and say he got better as the week went along at the Senior Bowl.

A good showing in the 40 is also important for Francisco. He was an aggressive tackler and playmaker for the Cougars, but scouts want to know if he has enough speed to play safety in the NFL.

QBs throw today: Former Saint Louis School and UH quarterback Tim Chang was scheduled to throw today.

Chang, whose height seems to fluctuate wildly depending on who is measuring, was recorded at 6-1 1/4 at the combine. He weighed 211, the heaviest he's been. A scout at the combine said it's "good weight," and a plus for Chang, who has been labeled as frail at times.

Chang, the NCAA career passing-yardage record-holder, is doing a draft diary for SI.com.

Kemoe'atu weighs in: Former Kahuku and Utah guard Chris Kemoe'atu was measured at 6-3 1/2 and 344 pounds.

Kemoe'atu is projected as a middle-round draft pick.