Sybase Match Play Championship
Hamilton Farm Golf Club
Gladstone, N.J.
May 19, 2010
Second-round match-ups
Patty Berg Bracket
Na Yeon Choi v. Karen Stupples
Choi, the 2010 LPGA Official Money List and 2010 Vare Trophy winner, outlasted Catriona Matthew with a 3&2 victory. In the battle of veterans, Stupples bounced back from three down after the first three holes to come out with a 2&1 victory over Se Ri Pak. Both Choi and Stupples are playing solid and gaining positive momentum as the season progresses.
Sun Young Yoo v. Alena Sharp
Defending champion Sun Young Yoo won a hard fought, 21-hole battle with Grace Park to inch her way closer to a repeat in the winner’s circle. Sharp was in command over Mika Miyazato throughout the first-round match. In search of her first LPGA victory, Sharp will be forced to lean heavily on her consistent play and steady putting if she wants to send Yoo packing.
Sophie Gustafson v. Paige Mackenzie
Neither Gustafson, nor Mackenzie needed 18-holes to close out their first-round matches. While Gustafson’s résumé includes 18 international titles, don’t count out Mackenzie who is prime for a breakout season on Tour. Mackenzie ranks in the top-10 in rounds under-par while Gustafson is consistently one of the LPGA’s longest hitters.
Michelle Wie v. Anna Nordqvist
Wie and Nordqvist both closed out their Thursday matches with 4&3 victories. With both players ranking in the top-30 in birdies and rounds under-par, tomorrow’s match could go down to the wire with both players exchanging birdies. Wie’s length off the tee could give her a slight advantage over Nordqvist. Both have a year of Solheim Cup experience under their belts.
Kathy Whitworth Bracket
Yani Tseng vs. Jenny Suh
Rolex Rankings No. 1 Yani Tseng defeated Marcy Hart 3&2 to advance to the second round against Jenny Suh, who pulled off what might be the upset of the tournament in defeating LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame member Juli Inkster, 2&1, in the first round. Friday’s matchup leans heavily in Tseng’s favor, but Suh, a winner on the LPGA Futures Tour in 2009 and former Curtis Cup Team member, has proven that she cannot be taken lightly.
Julieta Granada vs. Seon Hwa Lee
Julieta Granada took out former amateur golf foe Morgan Pressel, 1 up, in the first round to setup a match against Seon Hwa Lee, who defeated Avnet LPGA Classic winner Maria Hjorth, 3&2. Lee, the winner of the 2007 HSBC Match Play Championship at Wykagyl Country Club, is a four-time winner on Tour, while Granada has one career victory, the 2006 ADT Championship where she banked a record $1 million paycheck.
Suzann Pettersen vs. Amy Hung
It took all 18 holes, but Suzann Pettersen outlasted sponsor exemption Natalie Gulbis, 1 up, on Thursday to move onto the second round. Amy Hung won seven holes in her 2&1 victory over Vicky Hurst, setting up a Friday showdown with the Norwegian, who admitted to being under the weather this week. Pettersen’s Solheim Cup experience may give her the edge.
Shanshan Feng vs. Stacy Lewis
China’s Shanshan Feng knocked out No. 11 seed Katherine Hull, 2&1, on Thursday, while 2011 Kraft Nabisco Championship winner Stacy Lewis defeated fellow Texan Katie Futcher in 20 holes. Lewis, who lost in the first round last year, is hoping to continue the momentum from her major victory earlier this season, while Feng is hoping to become a Rolex First-Time Winner this week.
Mickey Wright Bracket
Meena Lee v. Mi Hyun Kim
In one of the biggest upsets of the day, Meena Lee earned a two up victory over Rolex Rankings No. 2 Jiyai Shin. Lee recorded back-to-back birdies on her final holes to earn a berth into tomorrow’s second-round. Kim carded two birdies and one eagle to defeat M.J. Hur 3&1. Look for this match to be a short game clinic with both players not being short hitters.
Wendy Ward v. Angela Stanford
Tenacious match-play competitor Stanford defeated Candie Kung 4&2. Ward, seeded No. 46h, pulled off an impressive upset over No. 15 seed Brittany Lincicome. Stanford could be considered the favorite in tomorrow’s match-up but don’t count out Ward. The four-time winner on the LPGA Tour proved today she won’t go down without a fight.
I.K. Kim v. Brittany Lang
In a match-up of 2009 U.S. Solheim Cup teammates, Lang prevailed over Christina Kim, 5&4, with the help of a hole-in-one on the par-3 8th. Kim, returning from a thumb injury that sidelined her for several weeks, boarded the birdie train in the final holes to closeout her match with a 3&1 victory over Mindy Kim. Kim’s impeccable short game and Lang’s distance off the tee will make this match anyone’s to win.
Paula Creamer v. Karrie Webb
Creamer won Thursday’s first-round match in commanding fashion with a 5&4 victory over Aree Song. LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame member Webb only needed 16 holes to defeat fellow Aussie Sarah Kemp. Webb’s two LPGA victories in 2011 combined with Creamer’s impressive match play record of 3-0-0 in single matches of the 2009 Solheim Cup will make this match-up one to watch tomorrow. Look for this to be a back-and-forth battle.
Annika Sorenstam Bracket
Cristie Kerr v. Belen Mozo
Kerr got off to a blazing to start to go 4-up through five against Amanda Blumenherst. Mozo needed 21 holes to earn a victory over best friend and fellow Spaniard, Azahara Munoz. Kerr, in her 14th year on the LPGA, and Mozo, a 2011 rookie, will serve as a veteran vs. rookie match-up. Look for Kerr’s Solheim Cup match-play experience to give her the advantage over sponsor exemption Mozo. Don’t count out Mozo however. Her fiery personality and impressive amateur résumé could allow her to put a good fight against Kerr.
Kyeong Bae v. Hee Kyung Seo
In a back-and-forth match, Kyeong Bae carded an impressive eight birdies to overtake Amy Yang one up. Carding four birdies, rookie Hee Kyung Seo only needed 14 holes to close out a 5&4 victory over Jee Young Lee. Tomorrow’s match-up of Bae and Seo is poised to a potential birdie extravaganza.
Ai Miyazato v. Hee-Won Han Miyazato needed 21 holes to earn a victory over Hee Young Park, while Hee-Won Han cruised to a 3&2 victory over Kristy McPherson. With veterans Miyazato and Han combining for 12 LPGA Tour victories, this match could rely on extra holes to determine the winner.
Inbee Park v. Chella Choi
Former U.S. Junior Girls Champion Park took command of the match early and never looked back. After going two up after two holes Park recorded a birdie at 16 to close out the match with a 3&2 victory. She will face Chella Choi in the second round. The match has potential to be a putting contest with both players ranking in the top-30 in putts per green.
Topics: Sybase Match Play Championship
