GLADSTONE, N.J. >> Michelle Wie was among three prominent American players eliminated Thursday in the first round of the Sybase Match Play Championship.
The 20th-seeded Wie played from behind before being knocked out by No. 45 Mina Harigae, 3 and 2 The 22-year-old former Duke player took the lead for good with a birdie at No. 8.
The other big Americans ousted were Paula Creamer and Brittany Lincicome. Creamer, the No. 8 seed, was beaten 2 and 1 by Jennifer Johnson, the No. 57 seed. No. 9 seed Lincicome was ousted 2 and 1 by No. 56 Ryann O’Toole.
Defending champion Suzann Pettersen didn’t last long either.
The third-ranked Pettersen was eliminated 3 and 1 by relative unknown Jodi Ewart of England on Thursday in the first round of the LPGA Tour event.
Yani Tseng, Na Yeon Choi and Cristie Kerr, the world’s Nos. 1, 2 and 5 players, barely advanced to the second round, while the day ended with No. 4 ranked Ai Miyazato of Japan being surprised 2-up by Mariajo Uribe of Colombia in the final match at Hamilton Farm Golf Club.
“It’s not an easy course to play,” said Tseng, who escaped with a 1-up win after Jeong Jang missed a 6-foot birdie attempt to force a playoff. “This is the top 64; that’s why we play here. So I mean, you cannot expect the first one is going to be easy to win.”
Palmer goes low at Nelson
Ryan Palmer shot a bogey-free 6-under 64 to take the first-round lead in the Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas, a year after losing a playoff to Keegan Bradley in the event.
Marc Leishman and Alex Cejka were a stroke back.
Matt Kuchar, coming off a victory in The Players Championship last weekend, was two strokes back at 66 along with six others.
Snedeker makes do
American Brandt Snedeker used borrowed irons and a putter from the pro shop to win his opener in the World Match Play Championship in Caseares, Spain.
Because Snedeker’s luggage got lost, he started out with just 10 clubs. He beat Thomas Bjorn 5 and 4.
