Catriona Matthew holds nerve to progress

SCOTLAND'S Catriona Matthew maintained a run of close matches to beat American Kristy McPherson and reach today's third round of the inaugural Sybase Matchplay Championships at Hamilton Farm in Gladstone, New Jersey.

The Ricoh Women's British Open champion had come from four down to scrape through at the 18th against South Korea's Grace Park in the first round, and she was again taken all the way by McPherson.

However, this time the North Berwick 40-year-old was never behind.

One up after three holes she was two up at the turn against the US Solheim Cup player.

Matthew then lost the 12th and won the 15th before losing the short 16th to a birdie two to ensure there would be another nail-biting finale. A half in par at the 17th and a winning four at the testing 18th secured a two-hole victory and clinched Matthew's place in the last 16.

In a late finish to a marathon first-round tie, the other Scot in the field, Janice Moodie, lost to a par-4 at the fourth extra hole to South Korea's Eun-Hee Ji.

Moodie had looked well placed to progress at one up with two to play but lost the 17th to a birdie-3.