Golf: Catriona Matthew digs deep to progress in New Jersey

NORTH BERWICK golfer Catriona Matthew had to stage a couple of fightbacks against South Korea's Grace Park to reach the second round of the Sybase Matchplay Championships at Gladstone in New Jersey.

The 40-year-old Ricoh Women's British Open Champion was four down at the turn and seemed to be heading for a first-day defeat from Park, the former world No.2 who is working her way back to fitness after a long time sidelined by a back injury.

Matthew battled back to three holes in a row from the tenth before falling two down after taking a double-bogey six at the 13th.

But she again made a great comeback, winning another three in a row from the 14th to take the lead for the first time. The No.15 seed then held her nerve to go through courtesy of a one-hole victory.