Posted on: Tuesday, August 10, 2004

Wie opens with 3-over 75

Associated Press

ERIE, Pa. — Michelle Wie failed to build on a fast start yesterday in the U.S. Women's Amateur, playing the back nine in 5 over en route to a 3-over 75 in the first round of stroke-play qualifying.

"I'm not even close to satisfied," the 14-year-old from Hono-lulu said. "It was one of those rounds where you got off to a good start, start making birdies, then I don't know what happened after that."

Wie, the 2003 Women's Amateur Public Links champion, was tied for 24th, seven strokes behind leader Tania Elosegui of Spain. The top 64 players after the second round of qualifying today will advance to match play.

Wie snap-hooked tee shots on Nos. 10 and 18, three-putted the 11th green and missed two other greens on the back nine on the Donald Ross-designed The Kahkwa Club course.

"I've been working on my swing and it felt really good in the beginning, but then I lost it," Wie said.

Morgan Pressel of Boca Raton, Fla., who made history by qualifying for the U.S. Women's Open as a 12-year-old in 2001, was one stroke behind leader Elosegui after a 69.