Saturday, July 8 2006 14:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Gladstone: Top seed Annika Sorenstam and teen prodigy Michelle Wie advanced to the third round of the LPGA Women's World Match-Play Championship with 3-and-2 triumphs here Friday.

Swedish star Sorenstam, who captured her 10th major title Monday in a US Open playoff, ousted 32nd-seeded American Heather Young while 16-year-old Korean-American Wie ousted 34th-seeded compatriot Christina Kim.

Third seed Lorena Ochoa of Mexico, fourth-seeded Karrie Webb of Australia and US fifth seed Paula Creamer also advanced to the round of 16 at the two million-dollar tournament.

Players will begin the third round Saturday morning and eight winners will advance to afternoon quarter-finals. Semi-finals will be staged Sunday morning with the 18-hole final for a 500,000-dollar top prize set for Sunday afternoon.

Sorenstam and Wie could meet Sunday in a showdown of the era's top player and the brightest hopeful of a new generation.

Next in Sorenstam's path is Brittany Lang. The 17th-seeded American LPGA newcomer defeated South Korean Seon Hwa Lee 3-and-2 in her second-round match.

Fatigue from a 36-hole effort Sunday at the rain-hit Open and an extra 18 holes on Monday has not kept Sorenstam from showing solid form.

"I'm on such a high that I'm not really thinking that I should be worn out," Sorenstam said.

"Sometimes you're just so excited that you just kind of go with things and it's not until you slow down that you realize maybe you are tired," she said.

Wie's third-round opponent will be Korean star Se Ri Pak, a formidable 15th seed who won the LPGA Championship last month. Pak ousted 47th seed Lori Kane of Canada 1-up on Friday.

"I really respect her," Wie said of the five-time major champion.

"When she came out first on Tour, when she won those majors, she was really someone that I looked up to. I'm really looking forward to playing with her," she said.

Sorenstam birdied to win each of the first two holes but lost four and five and remained all square with Young at the turn before taking three of the first four on the back nine to regain control for good.

"I got off to a great start. I thought I played some good golf," Sorenstam said.

"But then Heather fought back real quickly. It was a good match and then I made a little charge on the back. I'm quite happy with the way I played," she said.

"I'm playing very well. My speed is as good as it has been in a long time. I'm very happy with the way I'm putting. First hole, rolled in a good putt. Second hole, rolled in a good putt. I feel very comfortable on the greens," she said.

Wie, who shared third at the US Women's Open, won two of the first three holes but dropped three of the next five as Kim moved 1-up. Wie answered her friend's challenge by taking three of the next four holes and clinching with a par at 16.

"We're pretty close and it's tough to put that out of your mind," Wie said.

"You just have to think that she's just another opponent and try your hardest. She played her hardest. I played my hardest. I just played really solid today," she said.

Ochoa, a first-round loser last year in this event, struggled past France's Karine Icher, rallying from 4-down after 10 holes for a 1-up triumph over the 35th seed.

Webb ousted Korean Gloria Park 5-and-4 while Creamer dispatched Colombia's Marisa Baena 5-and-3. Webb next plays US veteran Pat Hurst, who lost the US Open playoff to Sorenstam. Next for Creamer is US 12th seed Morgan Pressel.

The day's biggest upset belonged to Sweden's Sophie Gustafson. The 27th seed ousted US sixth seed Cristie Kerr 4-and-2. Gustafson next faces American 43rd seed Laura Diaz.