|
GLADSTONE, New Jersey -- Defending champion Suzann Pettersen ofNorway didn't last long at the Sybase Match Play Championship, andneither did three well-known Americans. Pettersen, the world's No. 3-ranked player, was eliminated 3 and 1by Jodi Ewart of England on Thursday in the first round. PaulaCreamer, Brittanny Lincicome and Michelle Wie were upset by fellowAmericans. Creamer, the No. 8 seed, was beaten 2 and 1 by Jennifer Johnson.No. 9 seed Lincicome was ousted 2 and 1 by Ryann O'Toole. Wie wasknocked out by Mina Harigae 3 and 2. Yani Tseng, Na Yeon Choi and Cristie Kerr, the world's Nos. 1, 2and 5 players, barely advanced to the second round, while the dayended with No. 4 ranked Ai Miyazato of Japan being surprised 2-upby Mariajo Uribe of Colombia in the final match at Hamilton FarmGolf Club. It's not an easy course to play, said Tseng, who escaped with a1-up win after Jeong Jang missed a 6-foot birdie attempt to force aplayoff. This is the top 64, that's why we play here. So I mean,you cannot expect the first one is going to be easy to win. However, it was still surprising to see the field lose a ton of itsstar attractions, with the biggest surprise being the loss ofPetterson to Ewart, who is ranked No. 202 in the world and seeded62nd in the event. What made the exit even more surprising was Pettersen, stilllooking for her first win of the season, won the first two holes togo 2-up. Ewart even had doubts after her shaky start. Ewart calmed down after making a par at the third hole and thenmade a long birdie putt at the next hole after getting a read offPettersen's birdie attempt. A 7-footer for birdie tied the match atthe fifth hole and it was game on. Ewart took the lead for good at No. 12 when Pettersen conceded thehole and followed that with a tap-in birdie at No. 13. Pettersenwon the 14th when Ewart three-putted, but the 24-year-old made a10-footer at No. 15 to halve the hole and restored her 2-up leadwith a short birdie at No. 16. She closed out the match at No. 17when Pettersen conceded after missing a birdie putt. Pettersen refused to comment after her match. Creamer never led in her match against Johnson, who is in hersecond year on tour. Creamer was 3-down after five holes, but twicemanaged the get back all square. She fell behind for good with abogey at No. 14 and another one at No. 17 ended the match. Lincicome, who will defend her title in the ShopRite Classic nearAtlantic City in two weeks, also never led against O'Toole, whoalso is in her second year on tour. This marked the second straightyear Lincicome has been eliminated in the first round. Wie also played from behind against Harigae, who took the lead forgood with a birdie at No. 8. Choi was all square with fellow South Korean Grace Park after 16holes, but she birdied the final two for a 2-up win. Uribe won four of the last five holes to eliminate Miyazato. Natalie Gulbis staged the best comeback of the day, rallying from4-down with eight holes to play to stun Mika Miyazato norelation to Ai. Gulbis made a 5-foot birdie putt at No. 18 toadvance. Kerr, who lost in the final to Pettersen last year, broke a tiewith birdies at the 13th and 14th holes en route to a 2-and-1 winover Belen Mozo of Spain. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Stainless Steel Angle Bars , Stainless Steel Flat Bars, and more. For more , please visit Stainless Steel Sheets today!
Related Articles -
Stainless Steel Angle Bars, Stainless Steel Flat Bars,
| 
