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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Wie to play in women's match play

Associated Press

GLADSTONE, N.J. — Michelle Wie confirmed yesterday that she will play in the HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship, joining Annika Sorenstam and Paula Creamer in the July 6 to 9 tournament at Hamilton Farm Golf Club.

"I'm particularly happy that the championship is hosted in the summer when I don't have to miss school," the 16-year-old Honolulu resident said. "I really enjoy the match play mind-set and think it suits my game. I've had some of my best results in match play."

Colombia's Marisa Baena won the inaugural tournament last year as the No. 60 seed, beating South Korea's Meena Lee, 1-up, in the final.

Lee recently won the Fields Open in Hawai'i, a tournament in which Wie finished third, one stroke back.

Sorenstam reached the quarterfinals of the match-play event last summer.

"I'm looking forward to returning to Hamilton Farm to try to improve on last year's performance," Sorenstam said.

The 19-year-old Creamer won twice last year as a rookie on the LPGA Tour and also was a two-time winner on the Japan LPGA.

"I really enjoyed the HSBC event last year," Creamer said. "Match play is a nice change from regular stroke play. I was fortunate enough to represent the U.S. in last September's Solheim Cup and was thrilled to have done so well in all of my matches."

The winner will receive $500,000 from the $2 million purse.

Wie's next event is the Kraft Nabisco Championship March 30 to April 2 in Rancho Mirage, Calif.