Wie makes match play at men's Public Links
Associated PressThe 15-year-old continues her quest to compete against - and defeat - male players in today's round of 64.
Published July 13, 2005
LEBANON, Ohio - Michelle Wie bounced back with 2-over 72 in the final round of stroke play at the U.S. Amateur Public Links on Tuesday, good enough for a spot in the match play portion of the championship.
"Match play is a lot more intense," she said after completing the 36 holes of medal play in 148.
Wie, a high school junior-to-be from Honolulu, is playing in the men's Public Links because the winner is traditionally invited to play at the Masters.
The first female to qualify for a men's U.S. Golf Association championship, the 15-year-old Wie shot 76 in Monday's first round.
The top 64 in stroke play moved on to match play, which culminates with a 36-hole final on Saturday.
Wie's score was above the cut line when she finished, but scores went up in the afternoon and she ended up tied for 49th.
She will play Will Claxton, a quarterfinalist a year ago, in her first-round match this morning. Claxton, 23, a recent graduate of Auburn, is from Swainsboro, Ga.
"I've obviously seen her play on TV," Claxton said. "I'm just going to try to treat her like any other player and things will take care of themselves. I won't be ashamed to lose to her, and I'm not afraid to play her."
For the second day in a row, a huge gallery cheered every one of Wie's shots. About 300 people, including Wie's parents, stuck with her for most of her round. Numerous USGA officials and two deputy sheriffs attempted to clear the way for Wie and her fellow players.
Not everyone was a Wie fan, however.
"I don't think she should be here," said Danny Green, who tied for second in medal play after matching the tournament low at 65 for 138 total. "I think she should play in the women's tournaments because they don't let the men play in women's tournaments. I just don't agree with that, but it's not my call. She qualified and she is going by the rules. She's here and she is a great player. I've got nothing against that."
Wie responded, "I don't really care what they think because I actually qualified for this event. So I feel I belong here. I'm not looking for 100 percent support. I know there are going to be people against me. I'm not going to stop just for them."
The low medalist was Anthony Kim, who shot 65-136, a dozen shots better than Wie. Kim is a two-time All-American who will be a junior at Oklahoma this fall.
Green, playing in his 13th Public Links, was tied for second with Iowa State junior Rodney Hamblin Jr. (70-68) and 16-year-old Sihwan Kim (69-69), the U.S. Junior Amateur champion.
Wie began the day tied for 84th in the 156-player field.
Starting on the 10th tee at Shaker Run Golf Club, she bogeyed three of four holes during one span early in her round.
But she countered by birdieing three holes in a row at holes 17, 18 and 1.
Plant City's Chase Baldwin shot 71 to end up at 140, tied for eighth. Former Bradenton resident Chan Song, a co-leader after one round and the brother of Aree and Naree Song, shot 76 to wind up at 142. The final seven players emerged from a 10-man playoff after finishing at 149.
WOMEN'S PUBLIC LINKS: Mari Chun, a 17-year-old from Hawaii, and Angela Park, a 16-year-old from Torrance, Calif., finished at 6-under 136 and were co-medalists after two rounds of stroke play in Kansas City, Mo. The field of 144 was trimmed to 64 for the first round of match play today.
NICKLAUS HONOR: Jack Nicklaus, who says he'll retire from tournament golf after the British Open, will receive another honor at next month's PGA Championship. Nicklaus will be honorary chairman of the PGA Championship from Aug. 11-14 at Baltusrol Golf Club.