Annika Sorenstam through at the 21st hole

Annika Sorenstam survived, barely.

It took 21 holes and a dramatic birdie for the top-seeded Swede to defeat 32nd-seeded Tina Barrett in the second round of the Women's Match Play Championship on Friday.

Sorenstam defeated England's Joanne Morley in an upset-filled first round Thursday and narrowly avoided becoming an upset victim herself.

"It was a tough match. Tina got off to a great start, I thought," said Sorenstam, who fought back from a pair of two-hole deficits. "She birdied the first hole and the second hole and played some really good golf, very, very steady. It really could not have gotten more exciting."

With nothing to lose, Barrett won the first two holes, then won Nos. 10 and 11 to rebuild a 2-up advantage. Down one, Sorenstam won the 16th and 17th to take a 1-up lead, which Barrett negated by winning the 18th hole.

After a pair of matching pars, Barrett hit her tee shot to about 15 feet on the par-3 third hole and was well inside Sorenstam - who showed why she is the world's best female golfer.

Sorenstam drained a 30-footer for birdie that put the pressure squarely back on the underdog. Barrett missed her attempt to extend the match to a fourth extra hole and Sorenstam advanced to face Rachel Hetherington in Saturday's third round.

"I said to myself, 'I'd better get it to the hole this time.' I'd been short all day, all week, really," Sorenstam said. "I just hit it pretty hard, and when my caddie picked up the ball, he said, 'Yeah, that's what happens when you get to the hole.' I think I learned something from that."

"I played it just left edge, maybe outside and I hit it a little too hard," Barrett said. "I probably should have kept it inside the hole. It was a good try."

Five of the top 10 seeds were sent packing Thursday, with the biggest upset victim being third seed Lorena Ochoa of Mexico losing to Laurie Rinker, 2 and 1. Friday saw second seed Cristie Kerr, No. 4 Paula Creamer, No. 10 Gloria Park and 11th-seeded Hall of Famer Juli Inkster eliminated.

Kerr was dispatched, 4 and 3, by Liselotte Neumann and Creamer suffered a 2 and 1 setback to Karrie Webb, who seems to be vastly underrated as the 29th seed.

"I played excellent golf today. I felt very comfortable out there and putted great," said Neumann, who will face Meena Lee, a 4 and 2 winner over Kim Saiki. "I think if I play the way I did, it will be hard for anybody to beat me. I don't think there are too many players out there making seven or eight birdies in 15 holes."

Webb won the first hole from the 18-year-old Creamer and never trailed. Creamer closed to 1-down by winning the 14th hole, but Webb responded by winning the 16th and halving 17 to clinch the match.

"I think three times today I had to make a putt after Paula made a putt for birdie and I did," Webb said. "That was really pleasing to see with that much pressure on a short putt that I would go ahead and make it."

Webb will face Jeong Jang in the third round. Jang, the 13th seed, defeated Shinobu Moromizato, 1-up.

The 42-year-old Rinker could not build on her upset of Ochoa as she lost, 5 and 3, to Christina Kim.

Marisa Baena, seeded 60th, pulled off another upset Friday to advance to the third round. She defeated No. 5 Natalie Gulbis with a birdie on 18 on Thursday and she knocked off Grace Park in 19 holes Friday.

"I love match play. It brings out the best in me and it seems I concentrate better," Baena said.

Next up for Baena is No. 21 Jennifer Rosales. Kim faces Wendy Ward.

Gloria Park lost, 4 and 3, to No. 42 Nicole Perrot and Inkster was edged by 43rd seed Ai Miyazato, 1-up.

"She just played better. That was the bottom line," Inkster said. "In match play, anything can happen. She played good. What can you do? It's golf."

The $2 million event is being played on the hilly 6,523-yard Hamilton Farm Golf Club course.

On Saturday, the "Sweet 16" will tee off in the morning and the winners will play the quarterfinals in the afternoon. The semifinals are slated for Sunday morning with an 18-hole final to follow.

First prize is $500,000, the largest in LPGA Tour history.

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page