SYLVANIA, July 20, 2013 (AFP) - Both players enjoyed a bogey-free round to finish 54 holes on 12-under par 201, three strokes ahead of Japan's Chi Arimura and Americans Lexi Thompson and Jacqui Concolino.
"I gave myself some opportunities I didn't really capitalize on," Creamer said. "I've always hit the ball well. It's just making those putts."
Creamer, who won the event in 2008, seeks her 10th LPGA title and her first since taking her only major crown at the 2010 US Women's Open. Since then, she has had 21 top-10 finishes without a victory.
"I'm in a good spot going into tomorrow," Creamer said. "If I get on a run with some putts going in, who knows what can happen."
Recari, a winner both times she has led or shared the lead entering the final round of an LPGA event, seeks her third career crown after a win at this year's Kia Classic and the 2010 LPGA Challenge.
Creamer has seven triumphs and four runner-up efforts from 15 events she has led or co-lead entering the last round.
Creamer birdied the fourth and ninth holes, sank a testy eight-foot downhill birdie putt at the 13th and sank a dramatic 20-foot chip-in birdie from just off the edge of the green at the par-5 17th.
"She's a real fighter and a big competitor," Recari said of Saturday and Sunday playing partner Creamer. "It was no surprise to see that chip-in for biride on 17. She's not going to give up and she's going to be fighting all day."
A February auto accident in Thailand left Creamer with some neck pain but she was third the next week in Singapore and is healthy now with a new attitude toward the sport.
"The accident put me in a place where I realize things could be taken away so fast. I'm just happy to be out here and playing," Creamer said. "Having that happen so early in the year really allowed me to put a lot of things in perspective."
Recari opened with a birdie, added another at the 13th and then birdied the par-5 17th and 18th, closing with a tense six-foot birdie putt to match Creamer for the lead.
"I hit my irons well and gave myself chances all day," Recari said. "I had some putts run by the hole. I just had to stay patient and I finally got the birdies at 17 and 18.
"You defeinitely have to be smart off the tee. The greens are rolling really true. I'm feeling really good and the putts are rolling true so that's a bonus."
World number one Park In-Bee of South Korea, who has won the season's first three majors, stumbled to a 73 to stand eight strokes off the pace.
Before she tries to continue her Grand Slam bid in two weeks at the Women's British Open, she will return home to South Korea for the first time since April.
"I'm going to be in Korea for five days," Park said. "A lot of people will be wanting me and I will have a lot of attention. I hope to have some relaxation and practice to get ready for the British Open."
Scores on Saturday after the third round of the $1.3 million LPGA Marathon Classic (USA unless noted, par 71):
201 - Paula Creamer 66-68-67, Beatriz Recari (ESP) 69-65-67
204 - Lexi Thompson 66-71-67, Jacqui Concolino 67-68-69, Chie Arimura (JPN) 69-67-68
205 - Jennifer Johnson 73-66-66, Chella Choi (KOR) 68-71-66, Jodi Ewart Shadoff (ENG) 69-68-68
206 - Park Hee-Young (KOR) 71-68-67, Mo Martin 68-70-68
207 - Lydia Ko (NZL) 69-67-71, Angela Stanford 71-72-64, Ji Eun-Hee (KOR) 68-72-67, Dewi Claire Schreefel (NED) 69-71-67, Morgan Pressel 68-72-67, Gerina Piller 67-72-68, Heather Bowie Young 70-69-68, Ryu So-Yeon (KOR) 68-69-70, Alison Walshe 65-69-73
208 - Brittany Lang 68-72-68, Cindy Lacrosse 71-68-69
209 - Danah Bordner 73-70-66, Brooke Pancake 71-72-66, I.K. Kim (KOR) 70-69-70, Amy Yang (KOR) 69-69-71, Kang Hae-Ji (KOR) 67-71-71, Park In-Bee (KOR) 67-69-73