Sybase Match Play Championship
Hamilton Farm Golf Club
Gladstone, N.J.
May 17, 2010
First-round match-ups
The Sybase Match Play Championship returns to Hamilton Farm Golf Club for the second year with a field of 64 players. First-round play begins Thursday with the LPGA’s top players competing for a purse of $1.5 million. Here are previews for the first-round matches:
Patty Berg Bracket
Na Yeon Choi of South Korea vs. Catriona Matthew of Scotland
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| Na Yeon Choi | Catriona Matthew |
A four-time LPGA winner, Choi won the 2010 LPGA Official Money List and 2010 Vare Trophy winner with a scoring average of 69.8. This season, she already has three top-10 finishes in five events, coming off a recent tie for third at the Avnet LPGA Classic. Choi is riding momentum and seems to pick up steam as the season goes on. Matthew owns three career wins, including the 2009 RICOH Women’s British Open, and already has two top-10 finishes in four 2011 events. She tied for fifth at the 2010 Sybase Match Play Championship. This five-time European Solheim Cup team member hopes to improve on that finish and knows how to handle adverse weather elements. Like any experienced Scottish player, she is steady when the weather is at its worst.
Se Ri Pak of South Korea vs. Karen Stupples of England
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| Se Ri Pak | Karen Stupples |
In a battle of long hitters and popular veterans, Pak and Stupples have the determination it takes to send this match-up to extra holes. Pak and Stupples both rank in the top-10 in driving average on the LPGA Tour, making this match-up a putting contest to determine the winner. Pak could be considered the pre-match favorite based on her impressive resume which includes 25 LPGA victories and Hall of Fame status.
Sun Young Yoo of South Korea vs. Grace Park of South Korea
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| Sun Young Yoo | Grace Park |
Defending champion Sun Young Yoo knows she has her work cut out for her to retain her title against such a formidable field this year. The scrappy player has recorded two top-10 finishes this season and returns to a course where she is comfortable. Yoo is average off the tee and her putting must step up to move on to the next round. Grace Park has struggled this season, missing three cuts in her first four tournament starts. But when Park becomes inspired on the golf course, she is as good as any player in the field. The six-time LPGA winner and former U.S. Women’s Amateur champion is still av
Full Article: LPGA.com News & Entertainment
Related posts:
- Sybase Match Play Championship – Second-Round Match-Ups
- Sybase Match Play Championship – Third-Round Match-Ups
- Sybase Match Play Championship – Second-Round Notes and Interviews
- Qualification Criteria for the Sybase Match Play Championship
- Sybase Match Play Championship – Quarterfinals Notes and Interviews