Top-seed Minjee Lee defeated by Mason, exits LPGA Match-Day

Caroline Masson of Germany defeated top-seeded Minjee Lee of Australia 2&1 on Friday to complete a perfect 3-0 round-robin and knock the Australian out of the LPGA Match-Play in Las Vegas, Nevada.

On Saturday at Shadow Creek, Masson will face Andrea Lee in the round of 16.

Lee won her four-woman group by defeating Stephanie Meadow of Northern Ireland 2&1.

Lee, the world number four, won the 14th and 15th holes to trim her deficit to one hole after winning the Founders Cup two weeks ago.

Masson, on the other hand, finished the match with a par at the 17th hole.

“I knew it was going to be tough,” Masson said. “Minjee is a great player. She has been playing great the last — well, years really, but the last few weeks as well. Also, it’s match play, and I feel like pretty much anybody can beat anybody out here.”

Masson was pleased with her ability to maintain her composure while Lee pushed her, something she thought she had done well throughout the three days of round-robin play.

In addition, the German won 2&1 against Brittany Altomare and Chun Young-in, never trailing in a set.

“I kind of went a little longer than I could’ve in all three matches, but I closed it out in the end,” she said.

Six other players that advanced to the knockout stages swept their groups, with Madelene Sagstrom of Sweden, Jodi Ewart Shadoff of England, Paula Reto of South Africa, Tiffany Chan of Hong Kong, American Lilia Vu, and Choi Hye-jin of South Korea all going 3-0.

On Friday, Sagstrom defeated Ryann O’Toole 2&1 to set up a match against American Emma Talley.

Shadoff topped defeated Jasmine Suwannapura 3&2 to advance to the quarterfinals, where she will face Chan, the next-to-last seed who is competing on a sponsor’s invitation.

Jenny Shin from South Korea battled to tie her match with Kang Hae-ji and advance.

Ji Eun-hee of South Korea advanced with a thrilling tie against Kelly Tan of Malaysia. With two holes to go, Tan was 2-up, but Ji made a few clutch putts to get the half-point she needed to advance.

Two groups were decided in playoffs, with Gemma Dryburgh of Scotland defeating Gaby Lopez of Mexico and Thai Moriya Jutanugarn defeating Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa, both deciders finishing at the first hole.