Swedes still going in Matchplay Championship

Swedes Annika Sorenstam and Sophie Gustafson kept the European flag flying as they advanced to today’s quarter-finals of the HSBC Women’s World Matchplay Championship at Hamilton Golf Club in Gladstone, New Jersey.

Michelle Wie – the 16-year-old number two seed – was another third round winner with an impressive two and one win over five-time major winner Se Ri Pak.

All square after missing a tiny putt to loose the tenth, the Hawaiian teenager showed her determination by winning the long 11th and 14th holes with birdies to earn a last eight meeting with American Brittany Lincicome.

Sorenstam, the top seed and winner of the US Women’s Open at the start of the week was also in dominant form.

She had three birdies and an eagle at the ninth in a runaway six and five victory over American youngster Brittany Lang. She now meets another American, Juli Inkster.

Big-hitting Gustafson, with a game that is perfect for a long, wide open course beat the US Solheim Cup player, Laura Diaz, by two and one to go through to a clash with number three seed, Mexico’s Lorena Ochoa.

In the final quarter-final, Australia’s Karrie Webb, who holed out from the fairway for an eagle two at her first hole in a three and two win over Pat Hurst, faces teenage American Paula Creamer.