(2) Sei Young Kim Defeats (1) Ariya Jutanugarn – 1-Up
In an exciting finish to this year's Citibanamex Lorena Ochoa Match Play Presented by Aeromexico and Delta, Sei Young Kim held off Ariya Jutanugarn in the championship match to pick up her sixth victory on the LPGA Tour and first of the 2017 season.
Kim and Jutanugarn squared off in the championship match. Kim never trailed en route to her 1-Up win over Jutangarn.
Kim, knowing she needed to play well against Jutanugarn, was off to a quick start winning the first three holes to go 3-Up. The two matched each other shot for shot over the next six holes before Jutanugarn won the 10th hole to cut into Kim's lead. Kim answered with a birdie on the 12th to once again take a 3-Up. Jutanugarn would go on to birdie No. 14 and No. 17 to sit just one back with one hole to play. Kim upset No. 1 seed Jutanugarn to win in Mexico.
“I am really pleased, because it’s been one year that I have not played good,” said Kim, whose last win came in June 2016 at the Meijer LPGA Classic. “I got really disappointed, and even last week, I missed the cut. But this week I bounced back and had a really good result. So, I’m really happy with that.”
(5) Mi Jung Hur Defeats (9) Michelle Wie – Win in 22 Holes
It took 22 extra holes to determine a winner.
Michelle Wie proved to be the dominant player on the front nine by winning five holes to hold a 4-Up lead at the turn, but Hur wasn’t ready to concede the match. Hur answered Wie’s birdie brigade with a flurry of her own, winning five holes on the back. Then, when Wie dropped a shot on No. 17 the match was All Square with one hole to play.
Wie missed a critical par putt for the win on No. 18 which sent the match extra holes. The match remained All Square as the pair headed the 20th hole where Hur chipped in for birdie and Wie made a 2-footer for birdie to extend the match. Hur outlasted Wie, birdied the 22nd hole to win the match.
“Michelle played really good on the front nine and I was struggling, I was 5 down going into 11 holes,” Hur explained. “I was so frustrated with my game. I played 36 holes on Saturday and today as well, my mind was trying to keep it up. My caddie kept saying positive things and trying to keep my focused.”
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