Matthew defeats Hee-Won Han in playoff

Catriona Matthew never saw Hee-Won Han miss her short par putt on the first playoff hole, but the gallery's reaction told Matthew all she needed to know -- she won the Wendy's Championship for Children.

``I thought Hee-Won would hole her putt,'' Matthew said. ``I was getting ready to go down to 10 (the second playoff hole). I heard the crowd. I was obviously delighted.''

Matthew shot a 4-under 68 for a 10-under 278 total for her second career LPGA title, and first since 2001.

``I thought Hee-Won would hole her putt,'' Matthew said. ``I was getting ready to go down to 10 (the second playoff hole). I heard the crowd. I was obviously delighted.''

Matthew shot a 4-under 68 for a 10-under 278 total for her second career LPGA title, and first since 2001.

Matthew and Han, playing in the same group, each parred the 18th to force the playoff. Han's 4-footer barely slid in the side of the cup.

In the playoff, Han's drive was short and she had to hit a fairway wood to reach the first cut of rough near the upper tier of the green. She was about 60 feet from the hole, which was located on the lower tier and perilously close to a creek which runs along the 18th.

Matthew's second shot came up 30 feet short, but on the same level as the pin.

Han's putt down the steep divide between the tiers rolled 5 feet past. Matthew's birdie putt burned the right edge of the cup and she tapped in for the par.

Han, the defending champ who beat Wendy Ward in a three-hole playoff, then pulled her par putt left of the hole. This year's finish at Tartan Fields left Han a little disappointed.

``But I missed a putt at 14, the par 5, for a bogey there and that was my big mistake,'' she said.

Han, who led by as many as three shots and was the leader throughout the final round, closed with a 72. Matthew birdied the last two par-3 holes to catch Han.

Lorena Ochoa had the day's low round, and her 67 left her alone in third place at 279. At the par-3 17th, she hit her tee shot into the pond fronting the green, but hit her next shot close to the pin and settled for bogey. She birdied the closing hole, and finished one shot out of the playoff.

The 17th was also the undoing of Patricia Meunier-Lebouc, who was tied with Han for the lead as she stepped to the tee on the 135-yard hole.

Meunier-Lebouc hit a 9-iron short, landing the ball on the steep bank just beyond the pond in front of the green. The ball bounded back into the water and she ended up with a double-bogey 5. At the 18th, she hit her approach into another pond and closed with a 68 for a 281 total. She finished tied with Nancy Scranton (70), who is almost five months pregnant with twins.

``I hit one really bad shot and a fairly bad shot on 18,'' Meunier-Lebouc said. ``The rest of the day was wonderful.''

Amateur Michelle Wie had a strong finish, shooting a 69 to get to 6-under 282, good enough for a tie for sixth place. The 14-year-old was 3-under on the front side and played even-par on the inward nine.

Wie drew within three shots of the lead with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 ninth, but never got closer.

Joining Wie at 282 were U.S. Open champion Meg Mallon (70), Marilyn Lovander (72) and 2002 Wendy's winner Mi Hyun Kim (72).

Paula Creamer, also an amateur, shot a 69 and finished at 3-under 286, alone in 18th place.

Matthew, a native of Scotland who turns 35 on Wednesday, has been a fixture in the top 50 on the money list for six of the last seven years.

``I'm just absolutely delighted,'' Matthew said after accepting the crystal championship trophy. ``I don't think it's quite sunk in yet. I've played well the past few years but haven't managed to win. To kind of hold it together and come out with the win, it's fantastic.''

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