Hamilton Farm Golf Club
Gladstone, N.J.
Saturday, May 22, 2010 (MORNING THIRD-RD MATCHES)
Third-round interviews and notes
Third-Round Results
Kathy Whitworth bracket
Jiyai Shin (1) v. Beatriz Recari (62) Shin def. Recari 4&3
Rolex Rankings No. 1 Shin defeated rookie Beatriz Recari in the third round by a margin of 4&3. Recari jumped out to an early lead against the world’s number one, winning holes two and four. Shin bounced back quickly, taking holes five, six and seven. Shin would not relinquish the lead for the rest of the match. Shin will face Michelle Wie in the quarterfinals.
Michelle Wie (8) v. Karine Icher (57) Wie def. Icher 3&2
Michelle Wie did not have her best game in round three, but it was enough to defeat France’s Karine Icher. Icher, who upset higher seeds Na Yeon Choi and Eun-Hee Ji in the first two rounds, had several opportunities to tighten up the match against Wie. Wie will meet the world’s number one player Jiyai Shin in the quarterfinals
Mickey Wright Bracket
Catriona Matthew (15) v. M.J. Hur (31) Matthew def. Hur 19 Holes
M.J. Hur birdied the 18th hole to square the match with Catriona Matthew. Matthew, who carries a 4-1-0 singles record in Solheim Cup competition, birdied the first playoff hole to defeat Hur. Matthew’s impressive match-play skills will be put to the test in the quarterfinals when she faces Angela Stanford.
Angela Stanford (10) v. Amanda Blumenherst Stanford def. Blumenherst 19 holes
Stanford and Blumenherst battled for 20 holes before a winner was determined. Stanford finally handed Blumenherst the defeat on the 20th hole with a par. The match was tight all day, with only six holes halved through 18 holes. Stanford will meet Catriona Matthew in the quarterfinals.
Annika Sorenstam bracket
Morgan Pressel (15) V. Amy Yang (30) Yang def. Pressel 4&3
After trading two holes with Pressel on the opening eight holes, Yang took charge of the match on the ninth. She won holes nine through eleven and closed-out Pressel on 15. Pressel, who launched comebacks in both round one and two, could not repeat the feat against Yang. While most players take an aggressive approach in match-play, Yang prefers a different plan. Yang commented after her third round victory, “ I’m just going to play safe…I think that’s the most important. If you go too aggressive, maybe make mistakes.”
Jee Young Lee (27) v. Haeji Kang (61) Kang def. Lee 1 UP
Haeji Kang upset Jee Young Lee in the third round 1 UP. Kang, who gained entry into this week’s tournament via her good play last week at the Bell Micro LPGA Classic, made a par on the 17th hole and a birdie on the 18th to advance to the quarterfinals. She will play Amy Yang in the quarterfinals.
Patty Berg bracket
Yani Tseng (4) v. Inbee Park (13) Tseng def. Park 5&3
Rolex Rankings No. 3 Tseng took a 1 UP lead over Park on the ninth hole and never looked back. She won holes 12-15 to defeat Park by a margin of 5&3. She advances to the quarterfinals and will play Sun Young Yoo.
Song-Hee Kim (12) v. Sun Young Yoo (28) Yoo def. Kim 1 UP
Yoo handed another higher seed a defeat in the third round. Yoo birdied the par-5 18th hole to defeat Rolex Rankings No. 12 Kim. Yoo upset Rolex Rankings No. 5 Cristie Kerr in the second round. She will meet Yani Tseng in the quarterfinals.
MICHELLE WIE (def. Karine Icher 3 & 2)
MODERATOR: This morning you got up early and you kind of batted it around with Icher in the first part of the match, and then you had trouble closing out once you got the lead.
MICHELLE WIE: Yeah, it's just early, I woke up at 4:50 again and this is like I'm not awake. But, you know, I just grinded out there today, had a couple missed shots. Just going back on the range to try to get that feeling back. But, you know, I'm proud of myself for grinding out there. You know, I hit a couple of shots where I didn't want to hit it and I made a couple of putts which is good.
Q: Now, this afternoon, this is going to be a 36-hole day, or roughly a 36-hole day, two matches in one day and you're going to play world number 1, Jiyai Shin this afternoon. What are your thoughts on that?
MICHELLE WIE: You know, I'm awake now. I'm looking forward to lunch and just another round, you know. Just going to play my own game, hit it in the fairway, hit it on the green, try to make some birdies.
Q: What are the tough parts of Jiyai's game that you think are going to come forward to give you a bit of a challenge?
MICHELLE WIE: Well, you know what, she's obviously a really good putter, she hits it straight, gets it on the green, makes putts. So it's going to be a challenge, for sure.
Q: And how do you think your length will stack up against that?
MICHELLE WIE: You know, hopefully I can hit it on the fairways, hit it on the greens and make some putts as well. I've got to play my own game.
MODERATOR: All right, Michelle. Good luck.
MICHELLE WIE: Thank you.
JIYAI SHIN (def. Beatriz Recari 2 & 1)
MODERATOR: Jiyai Shin. Jiyai, tell me, are you pleased with how you're playing right now?
JIYAI SHIN: Well, actually I woke up really early morning this morning. I tried to make wake-up, and then first few hole play a little bit tough. First uncomfortable, but after my body getting warmer, so I play getting better.
Q: Are you not much of a morning person?
JIYAI SHIN: I think so, but I should change it for the tournament.
Q: So you feel like you'll be more comfortable out here this afternoon?
JIYAI SHIN: Yes, of course, because I already played the morning time and so I have a good feeling and I'm confident right now.
YANI TSENG (def. Inbee Park 5 & 3)
MODERATOR: I have Yani Tseng here. Yani, just tell me how you played this morning.
YANI TSENG: I played very consistent this morning. I had like four birdies and then Inbee too, so it was a really tough match and I'm looking forward to the next match going on.
Q: Now, your strategy today, were you more aggressive or were you playing pretty conservative, or was that in mind at all?
YANI TSENG: I just kind of stay my strategy, I just play smart, not really aggressive, but if I can go for it, I will.
Q: Now, you have some time off before your quarter-final match this afternoon. What's your routine like, your mind frame? Tell us a little bit about what you'll do to prepare for this afternoon.
YANI TSENG: I would just do the same thing, I'll go to lunch, I'll practice, go stretch again, just do the same thing in the morning.
AMY YANG (def. Morgan Pressel 4 & 3)
MODERATOR: Amy Yang here. Can you just tell me a little bit about your round? It looked like you were playing really well out there.
AMY YANG: You know, yeah. I mean, everything was working good and I just tried to play against par, you know, just play safely. I think that that really helped today.
Q: Tell us about your stretch 9 through 11, 9, 10, 11. I think you hit some good shots, had some birdies.
AMY YANG: Was it 9?
Q: 9 with the mansion in the background, par 4.
AMY YANG: Oh, yeah, because my swing like first couple holes wasn't that feeling good, but from 9th hole it came back, you know, it was feeling good. Swinging was good.
Q: So how do you feel going into this afternoon?
AMY YANG: I don't know. I'm just going to play safe and just play the same, safely, yeah.
Q: Okay.
AMY YANG: I think that's the most important, you know. If you go too aggressive, maybe make mistakes.
CATRIONA MATTHEW (def. M. J. Hur 1 up)
MODERATOR: Just kind of summarize the round for me first.
CATRIONA MATTHEW: Yeah, it was just a little bit up and down. I kind of would get 1, 2 up and then kind of give a couple back. It was pretty close all the way. Obviously she kind of gifted me the 19th, which is always nice for me.
Q: Now, was it a grind-it-out feel out there? How did you feel just overall with your rhythm and swing this morning?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: It was a bit of a grind today. As I say, you know, I kind of hit a couple of bad t3-putts, a couple bad shots, so I'm ready to go this afternoon.
Q: Okay. Any mindset or strategy heading into the afternoon, anything different?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: No, just try and keep winning.
ANGELA STANFORD (def. Amanda Blumenherst 20 holes)
MODERATOR: Are you pleased with the way you played this morning, Angela?
ANGELA STANFORD: Yeah, you know, I mean, it was a tough match. I think I was kind of scrappy at times, but you know, it was tough all in all, so yeah.
Q: Going 20 holes, does that affect you at all being a veteran coming back in the afternoon?
ANGELA STANFORD: I don't think so. I mean, it is what it is, no.
Q: To see the way Amanda made the birdie on 14 and then unfortunately bladed one out of the bunker on 2, do you feel she kind of gave it to you? Is that disappointing at all to kind of win it that way?
ANGELA STANFORD: Well, I wouldn't say she gave it to me. You know, she drops the putt on 18 and you know, that was the best putt of the match. You know, she's a great competitor and she was just -- I hit it in there tight and she was just trying to get it tight and match play sometimes does that to you. So no, I think she -- we both for you to hard and that's just the way it goes. Thank you, good luck.
SUN YOUNG YOO (def. Song-Hee Kim 1 up)
MODERATOR: All right, Sun Young. Tell me a little bit about how you're playing right now.
SUN YOUNG YOO: I wasn't playing too good on front 9, but I tried to (inaudible) on back 9 and I just did my best and then here I am.
Q: Now, do you typically play pretty well in the mornings, or does it take a little while to get into the routine?
SUN YOUNG YOO: I think I don't mind playing the morning or afternoon. I just need some time to warm up myself.
Q: You had a big win over Cristie Kerr yesterday. Are you surprising yourself at all with how well you've played this week?
SUN YOUNG YOO: I don't know. I think this week everybody is very good, so you never know what's going to happen.
Q: Have you had much experience playing match play?
SUN YOUNG YOO: No, not really, just once, but it was like a couple years ago. It's fun.
Q: Okay. And the course today, do you like this course? Does it shape up well for you?
SUN YOUNG YOO: Yeah, the course is in great shape. We had a couple long holes and then into the wind, so it's pretty tough out there today.
Q: Do you think the superintendent's done a good job this week?
SUN YOUNG YOO: Yeah, very good.
HAEJI KANG (def. Jee Young Lee 2 & 1)
MODERATOR: Okay. Tell me a little bit about how well you're playing right now.
HAEJI KANG: Actually, this round I struggled a little bit. My iron shots weren't good enough as yesterday, but I came back with my putter, so I'm pretty happy.
Q: You had a big putt on 18 there to close it out, didn't give Jee Young a chance to make it. Have you been putting this well all week?
HAEJI KANG: Yes, I'm putting very good this week, and last week, yeah, really.
Q: So you just earned your way in through last week's tournament. What were your expectations when you got here?
HAEJI KANG: My expectations were just make the first round and I'll just do my best, but I'm just keeping my work and doing great.
Q: Are you surprised with how well you've played?
HAEJI KANG: Yeah, a little bit. I haven't played match play since junior, so I was kind of nervous, but I tried my best.
Q: How long ago was that?
HAEJI KANG: It was almost three years ago, so yeah.
Topics: Notes and Interviews, Sybase Match Play Championship
