COLORADO SPRINGS — Pink skirt? Check. Pink polo? Check. Pink visor, sunglasses, hair bow and hair color? Check.
No, that wasn’t Paula Creamer, but a bunch of “mini-Paulas” running around The Broadmoor.
A pink posse followed Creamer during the third round in which she was wearing an orange, not pink, shirt. Many were disappointed until she changed into a signature hot- pink polo for the fourth round.
Riley McKibbon, 12, and her sister, Sydney, 8, made the drive from Ar- vada decked out in total pink, all the way to the wash-out pink streaks through their blond hair and two- tier ponytails — just like Creamer.
“We dressed all in pink because we went to the exhibition with Paula and she told us her favorite color was pink. So we’re wearing it for her,” Riley said.
Creamer hosted an exhibition for kids Tuesday and answered questions from an all-pink audience.
Juliana Menichiello, 11, of Colorado Springs sported a pink shirt and wore a hat with the superstar’s signature.
“She says really good things to inspire me to keep playing golf and not give up,” Juliana said.
Let’s hustle to the finish.
There was an odd sight on the 18th fairway after the tournament resumed Sunday night, with players and caddies sprinting toward the putting green.
Several groups of players were told by USGA officials that more bad weather might be approaching within 15 minutes, so they would need to play fast.
“Suzann (Pettersen) tells me, ‘I’m going to run. You better run too,’ ” Yani Tseng said. “I was like, ‘OK, OK, I’ll run with you,’ because we want to make sure everybody get done.”
Bad timing.
Judy Bell knows her way around golf — especially in Colorado Springs and at The Broadmoor — but she can’t hit par as a weather forecaster.
“We haven’t had any rain in Colorado Springs in three years, and this week it opens up and rains for six days,” Bell said.
Bell once dominated The Broadmoor Women’s Invitational and was the USGA’s first woman president.
Amateur status.
Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn was the low amateur in the event, finishing at 10-over-par.
Amy Anderson, who finished Thursday tied for first place with Cristie Kerr, finished at 17-over.
“To play the Women’s Open on my birthday was really awesome,” said Anderson, who wore a Broncos hat. “I learned a lot this week. . . . This whole tournament is emtionally and mentally draining. I’m ready to go back (home) to North Dakota.”
Sarah Kuta and Irv Moss, The Denver Post
