Strong finishes for Kim and Wie

Kimberly Kim concluded her week at the Curtis Cup with a victory yesterday as the United States captured the event for the sixth straight time.

THE AMERICAN WAY The United States has won the Curtis Cup in each of the last six meetings 2008: U.S. wins 13-7 2006: U.S. wins 111/2-61/2 2004: U.S. wins 10-8 2002: U.S. wins 11-7 2000: U.S. wins 10-8 1998: U.S. wins 10-8 source: curtiscup.org

The former Big Island resident defeated Breanne Loucks 3 and 1 in the opening match of singles play at the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland and the U.S. went on to finish the three-day event with a 13-7 win over Great Britain and Ireland.

The U.S. began the day needing 21/2 points to clinch the cup. Tiffany Joh posted the team's first point of the day, followed by Kim's win. Stacy Lewis then sealed the victory with a 3-and-2 win over Elizabeth Bennett.

"It felt great because the rest of the team didn't have to worry," Kim, 16, said on the USGA Web site. "We got the points up fast."

In Munich, Germany, Michelle Wie shot a 67 to finish sixth at the Ladies German Open. The Punahou graduate closed the tournament at 14-under 274, the first time since the Evian Masters in July 2006 that she completed a tournament under par - a streak of 13 events that included seven missed cuts. She finished seven strokes behind Amy Yang of South Korea.

"It's been a really long time since I shot that score," Wie said. "So now I know what it feels like and can put it in the memory bank. And I feel like I can go lower."

Kaneohe's Dean Wilson shot a 74 to rise from 75th to 73rd and earn $11,580 at the Memorial in Dublin, Ohio. Punahou's Parker McLachlin had a much rougher day, shooting an 82 to drop from 67th to 75th, better than only one other player who made the cut. Wilson and McLachlin both received 48 FedEx Cup points. Wilson dropped from 89th to 91st on the list and McLachlin dropped from 73rd to 75th.

McLachlin earned $11,400 and dropped from 77th to 81st on the money list. Wilson dropped from 84th to 87th.