British pair crash out

British interest ended today with defeats for Catriona Matthew and Laura Davies in the HSBC Women’s World Matchplay Championship at Hamilton Golf Club in Gladstone, New Jersey.

But Annika Sorenstam and 16-year-old sensation Michelle Wie, the top two seeds, stayed on course for a possible final showdown on Sunday with straightforward victories on a day of near perfect conditions.

Matthew’s hopes crumbled on the back nine against America’s seven-time major winner Juli Inkster.

All square at the turn, the four-months pregnant Scot lost four out the next five holes in a 4 and 3 defeat.

Davies’ troubles came on the front nine.

She lost five of the first six holes – three of them to birdies – and never recovered in a 5 and 4 loss to South Korea’s Mi Hyun Kim.

Wie beat the US Solheim Cup player Christina Kim 3 and 2 to earn an intriguing last 16 clash with one of her idols, another South Korean Se Ri Pak.

Wie was just eight years old when Pak enjoyed a stunning 1998 rookie season on the LPGA Tour, winning four titles, including two majors.

“This is the first time I’ve played with her, but she’s one of the players I really respect,” said the Hawaiian teenager.

“She came out and did so well early in her career.”

Sorenstam beat American heather Young 3 and 2, and was joined in the last 16 by another Swede, Sophie Gustafson, who scored a shock 4 and 2 win over American No. 6 seed Cristie Kerr.