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Sorenstam prevails over 20 holes at World Match Play

Amy Hung of Taiwan plays her second shot on the ninth hole during the first round of the HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship at Wykagyl Country Club in New Rochelle, New York, on Thursday. PHOTO: AFP

Annika Sorenstam outlasted 62nd-seeded Katherine Hull in 20 holes on Thursday, prevailing in hazy, humid conditions in the first round of the Women's World Match Play Championship.

The 36-year-old Swede is making her fourth start since returning from disk injuries in her back and neck.

"It's key for me to just get to play and the more holes the better," said Sorenstam, seeded third in the 64-player event. "It's good for me to really get some pressure on myself again. I really haven't had that this year because I really haven't been in contention or I just haven't even played."

All square after 12 holes, Sorenstam and Hull each won three of the final six holes of regulation. Sorenstam took the 200m 13th with a par and won the 16th and 17th with birdies, while the Australian won 14, 15 and 18 with birdies.

"It was a thriller. There was a lot of drama," said Sorenstam, a stroke-play winner at Wykagyl in 1998 and 2000.

After halving the first extra hole with a par, Sorenstam won the match with a conceded par on the par-4 second. Hull made a double bogey, hitting into two bunkers.

Top-seeded Lorena Ochoa easily advanced, while No. 2 Karrie Webb, major winners Cristie Kerr and Morgan Pressel and last year;s winner, Brittany Lincicome, were eliminated.

Ochoa, last year's Sybase Classic winner at Wykagyl, routed South African teenager Ashleigh Simon 6 and 5, matching the largest margin of victory in the three-year history of the event.

"It was a good day," Ochoa said. "In match play, it's always important to get off to a good start. ... I hope to keep going the same the next few days."

Charlotte Mayorkas, at No. 63 the highest seed to advance in tournament history, beat Webb with a birdie on No. 18. Down three holes after five, Mayorkas tied Webb with a birdie on No. 12.
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