Francella Advances To Quarterfinals

NEW ROCHELLE, New York (AP) _ Local favorite Meaghan Francella advanced to the quarterfinals of the HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship, beating U.S. Solheim Cup regular Pat Hurst 2 and 1 on

Saturday, July 21st 2007, 2:31 pm

By: News On 6

NEW ROCHELLE, New York (AP) _ Local favorite Meaghan Francella advanced to the quarterfinals of the HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship, beating U.S. Solheim Cup regular Pat Hurst 2 and 1 on Saturday.

The 33rd-seeded Francella, an LPGA Tour rookie from nearby Port Chester, beat Hurst a day after knocking off top-ranked Lorena Ochoa. Francella won the MasterCard Classic in March in Mexico for her first tour title, beating Annika Sorenstam in a playoff.

``It's been great. I'm really thrilled with the way I've been playing,'' Francella said. ``Hopefully, I can get a few more putts to drop this afternoon.''

Francella and Hurst didn't halve a hole until the par-3 10th, with the 17th-seeded Hurst winning five of the first nine on the hilly Wykagyl course. Francella pulled even with a birdie on the par-3 13th and won the par-4 14th and 15th with pars.

The former University of North Carolina player advanced to face No. 40 Maria Hjorth in the afternoon quarterfinals. Hjorth beat No. 24 Angela Stanford in 19 holes.

Japanese star Ai Miyazato also advanced in the upper bracket, beating No. 37 Christina Kim 2 and 1. The 12th-seeded Miyazato, winless in 42 career LPGA Tour starts, faced No. 61 Amy Hung (61) in the quarters. Hung beat No. 52 Carin Koch in 19 holes.

In the lower-bracket quarterfinals, Mi Hyun Kim _ at No. 10, the highest remaining seed _ faced No. 15 Jee Young Lee, and No. 22 Seon Hwa Lee met No. 35 Lindsey Wright.

Mi Hyun Kim, the SemGroup Championship winner in May in Oklahoma, beat No. 39 Rachel Hetherington 3 and 2. Jee Young Lee edged No. 31 Laura Diaz 2-up.

Wright followed her Friday victory over Sorenstam with a 1-up decision over No. 14 Jeong Jang. Seon Hwa Lee beat No. 27 Laura Davies 2 and 1.