Charley Hull, who played through illness Thursday at the Lorena Ochoa Matchplay, was feeling much better on Friday and defeated Pornanong Phatlum to advance to the last sixteen.
Charley Hull, who played through illness Thursday at the Lorena Ochoa Matchplay, was feeling much better on Friday and defeated Pornanong Phatlum to advance to the last sixteen.
She will next face No. 2 seed Sei Young Kim in the Se Ri Pak bracket in Mexico City.
Kim and Hull met in the singles matches at the last playing of the UL International Crown. Kim defeated Hull 5 & 4, which Hull has not yet forgotten and told the media after her round Friday in Mexico that she is looking forward to getting one back this time around.
Ariya Jutanugarn Overcomes Older Sister
It took all 18 holes, but little sister Ariya Jutanugarn knocked off big sister Moriya Jutanugarn by a 2-up margin. Ariya, the 21-year-old top seed in the Annika Sorenstam bracket, never trailed to 22-year-old Moriya, but was also never able to build a lead of more than two holes.
“Today we had fun because we are sisters, and we always have fun anyways, “said Ariya, who carded four birdies to her sister’s two. “She plays so good, I can’t believe I beat her today because she’s so good.”
“We always say, just have a good day. We know that we both are going to try our best, play our games,” said Moriya, who plans to return to their Orlando, Fla., homebase and cheer on her sister from afar. “We don’t try to be easy on each other. Hopefully next time we are not on the same pool. And don’t have to see each other so early in the week.”
Michelle Wie On A Roll
Fan favorite Michelle Wie continued her excellent play on Friday, never trailing en route to a 3-and-2 win over 2017 LPGA rookie Laura Gonzalez Escallon in the Juli Inkster bracket. Today’s success followed her 6-and-5 triumph over Lizette Salas in Thursday’s Round of 64. And for the second straight day, her victory featured an eagle-3 on the second hole, which played to 464 yards in today’s Round of 32.
“I’m happy with how I played,” said Wie, who took control of the match with a 20-foot birdie on No. 11 to take a commanding 3-up lead. “It was a fun but tough match. I am happy the way I’m playing, and just happy to survive.”
Next up for Wie is her good friend and fellow USA Solheim Cup team hopeful Marina Alex, who easily dispatched Jessica Korda, 5-and-4. Wie coined tomorrow’s duel the “El Pastor” match, after the restaurant the pair has frequented most nights here in Mexico City.
“We are already texting each other. We do dinner every night,” said Wie. “It’s going to be fun, it’s going to be a lot of gifs sent tonight or over in the course of the day.”
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