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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 9:50 a.m., Thursday, August 7, 2003

Auburn sophomore ousts Wie at U.S. Women’s Amateur

Advertiser Staff

The best round of the day one day, ousted in the first round of match play the next.

Honolulu’s Michelle Wie lost 1 up in the U.S. Women’s Amateur today to Venezuela’s Maru Martinez, who had to win a playoff to advance to match play.

Wie shot 67 yesterday, the same day Martinez shot an 80, and easily qualified for the 64-player match-play field.

Wie’s total of 140 over two rounds on the Philadelphia Country Club course in Gladwyne, Pa., placed her No. 2 overall. Martinez’ total was 153, which tied her with nine others for 60th place and forced her to earn a spot in match play.

The 13-year-old Wie, who in June became the youngest to win the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, was 1-up after six holes. But she bogeyed No. 7 to fall into a tie. She never led again against the 19-year-old who is a sophomore at Auburn.

With the match all square, Martinez made a 4-foot par putt on 17 and Wie missed a short par. Martinez made par from 3 feet on 18 to clinch the win.

Martinez’ score was 74 while Wie shot 73.

Martinez, who made it to the Women’s Amateur semifinals last year, was penalized a hole during the match for accepting a ride on a golf cart.

Wailuku’s Shayna Miyajima, the only other Hawai‘i competitor remaining in the event, lost 5 and 4 to California’s Charlotte Mayorkas.

usga.org contributed to this report.