HALF MOON BAY, California: Paula Creamer kept her composure when it counted, and came away with a victory in the elite LPGA Samsung World Championship.

Creamer drained a long birdie putt at the 15th to regain the lead and held on for a one-stroke victory in the one million-dollar tournament. It was the fourth victory of the year and eighth career for the 22-year-old Californian, who finished with a three-under-par 69 for a nine-under total of 279.

“That is big win for myself,” Creamer said.

Creamer carried a one-stroke lead into the final round. However, that advantage evaporated on the back nine as South Korean Song-Hee Kim birdied the 14th to pull even at eight-under. As if losing the out right lead was not enough, two-time defending champion and world No 1 Lorena Ochoa and Hall of Famer Juli Inkster both notched a birdie on 16 to pull within a stroke, ratcheting up the pressure on the young Californian.

Norway’s Suzann Pettersen was also pressing, moving to seven-under with a birdie at 15. Creamer, however, kept her focus. After her birdie at 15, she maintained her lead, and even though she couldn’t polish off a birdie at 18, but she did get a par putt to drop at the last to seal the victory.

Creamer admitted she found it hard to take a conservative approach at 18, but she did it. “I had a one shot lead,” she said. “I probably would have hit a three-wood down there. You have to play it smart. It was hard to hit a four-iron.

“It was a smart way to do it. Unfortunately the putt, I hit a little too firm, but we two-putted,” she explained. Creamer rolled her birdie attempt from 25 feet past the hole, but made the four-footer coming back.

Creamer was especially pleased to have pulled herself together after a frustrating day on Friday, to capture the win in front of a crowd that included family and friends. Kim, seeking her first win on the USLPGA Tour, posted a 68 for a 280 total and the runner-up spot — matching her career best finish in the United States.

Kim had briefly seized a share of the lead when she chipped in for a birdie from 20 feet at 14. She admitted to some frustration at her inability to do more. “Going in yesterday I didn’t have a great feel for my shots, so I was a little worried going into the round today,” Kim said. “I had some opportunities but I wasn’t able to convert all of them, so I’m a little frustrated,” she added.