Wie advances
to next round

The teen phenom birdies the final
hole to beat Will Claxton 1-up

LEBANON, Ohio » Michelle Wie took another step toward a possible Masters invitation.

Wie made a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole to edge Will Claxton 1-up in her first match at the men’s Amateur Public Links today.

The 15-year-old Punahou junior-to-be is the first female to qualify for a U.S. Golf Association championship. She's playing in the APL because the winner traditionally gets an invitation to play at Augusta.

Wie still has a long way to go. She would have to win five more matches before getting the coveted invitation.

Wie was 2-down through eight holes and never led until Claxton conceded a birdie putt on the 15th hole.

Claxton came back on the next hole, rolling in a 40-foot putt for birdie. Wie had a 20-footer to go 2-up which she missed, squaring the match.

Claxton, a 23-year-old who just graduated from Auburn, missed a 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole that would have put him ahead.

At the 18th, both players hit into the fairway, with Wie hitting a 6-iron to 15 feet. Claxton hit an 8-iron on the green but 40 feet short. After he missed his long birdie putt, Wie made the clincher.

Wie advances to play C.D. Hockersmith of Richmond, Ind., in the second round tomorrow. The third round of match play follows in the afternoon.