World No. 1 Jiyai Shin and red-hot Ai Miyazato of Japan booked their second-round berths at the LPGA Sybase Match Play with comfortable victories on Thursday.
As Tuesday’s rainy weather gave way to sunny skies over a wet course, Shin beat fellow South Korean Kyeong Bae 3 and 2.
Miyazato, the second-seed and winner of three of the first six LPGA events of the season, downed South Korea’s Jeong Jang 4 and 3.
PHOTO: REUTERS
However, third-seeded Norwegian Suzann Pettersen tumbled as US veteran Juli Inkster rallied for a 21-hole triumph.
Inkster, 49, made a birdie putt on the par-five 18th to force extra holes, then finished off Pettersen with a four-footer for par at the par-three third.
Michelle Wie emerged from a tight match with a 2-up victory over fellow American Stacy Prammanasudh.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Wie took the lead with a birdie putt on the par-three 16th and won 2-up with a conceded birdie on 18.
Wie, the eighth-seed, will face Park Hee-young, a 19-hole winner over Oh Ji-young, in the second round yesterday at Hamilton Farm.
Shin will play another South Korean, Han Hee-won, in the second round, while Miyazato will face South Korea’s MJ Hur. Inkster will face South Korea’s Amy Yang.
Taiwanese player Amy Hung lost to Angela Stanford 4-and-3, while compatriot Candie Kung won 5-and-4 against Natalie Gulbis.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY STAFF WRITER
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