Kirk beaten in LPGA match-play thriller

Katherine Kirk has been beaten at the second play-off hole of her LPGA match-play contest against Brooke Henderson.

Katherine Kirk, of Australia

Katherine Kirk has been beaten at the second play-off hole of her LPGA match-play contest. (AAP)

Australia's Katherine Kirk has finished on the wrong end of an extra-hole thriller, while Sarah Jane Smith upset Candie Kung in the first round of the Lorena Ochoa Match Play.

Kirk clawed her way back from 4-down against Canadian star Brooke Henderson only to lose at the 20th hole at Club Golf de Mexico.

Henderson's spectacular eagle at the par-5 second put an end to Kirk's comeback.

Henderson drained a 45-foot putt, leaving Kirk philosophical about her first-round exit.

"Brooke played solid all day," Kirk told LPGA.com.

"She didn't really make any mistakes.

"It was a good match, and not much I could do when she makes an eagle on two from at least 45 feet. But she played well all day. She deserved it."

A late flurry of birdies gave Smith the upset win over Kung.

In a match of fluctuating fortunes, Smith birdied the par-3 16th before winning 1-up.

Fellow Australian Su Oh crashed out, losing 7 and 6 to Danielle Kang.

In other matches New Zealand's Lydia Ko beat home favorite Ana Menendez, and the Jutanugarn sisters set up a second-round showdown.

The top-ranked Ko edged Menendez 3 and 2.

Third-ranked Ariya Jutanugarn will face older sister Moriya in the second round. Ariya beat Amy Anderson 5 and 4, and Moriya topped Alena Sharp 2 and 1.

Ko will face Jennifer Song, a 3-and-2 winner over Mi Hyang Li.

The event is the LPGA Tour's first match-play tournament since 2012.


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Source: AAP



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