Wie misses qualifying for men's Public Links

Associated Press

Michelle Wie will be an alternate for the Public Links championship. Associated Press

The only female in the field, the 14-year-old Wie trailed David Bradshaw and Alex Knoll, who each shot 4-under 140s and advanced to the 156-man July Publinx in Minnesota. Wie will be one of four alternates for the July tournament should Bradshaw or Knoll be unable to participate.

The Punahou School sophomore will now shift her focus to the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links, which starts Tuesday in Williamsburg, Va., followed by the 2004 U.S. Women's Open, held July 1 to 4 in Massachusetts.

Had she been victorious, Wie would have been invited to the Minnesota event as one of two southeastern Pennsylvania representatives. The top 64 players will qualify for a match-play and would have to win six matches to make it to the Masters. Wie said earlier that winning the Public Links would have been her best hope of getting to Augusta.

Wie finished the morning round yesterday tied for fourth at 1-under 71 and shot another 71 in the afternoon, missing several birdie chances.

In 2003, she became the youngest player to win an adult USGA championship at age 13, beating Virada Nirapathpongporn in the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links.