Tipster: Stanley

Kraft Nabisco Championship

Matchup plays (1.5pts unless stated):

Heather Bowie to beat Dorothy Delasin -123 @ Five Dimes [3pts]
Opposing Delasin who may have good course form - three top-15 finishes in the last three years - but is struggling with her game, particularly with accuracy off the tee and so is struggling to hit the greens. Her finishes of 50th and 63rd are no match for Bowie's top-20 finishes in the two Tour events this year.

Lorie Kane to beat Dorothy Delasin -111 @ Stan James [4.5pts]
Did consider Kane for the outrights until I saw the odds for Jones. Se finished in the top-10 here two years ago and apart from a rusty opening event of 2004, she has finished in the top-20 in her last nine starts. Glad to side with her several times in the matchups and there should be no comparison with the struggling Delasin.

Lorie Kane to beat Laura Diaz -110 @ SkyBet [3pts]
Expecting a rusty performance from Diaz who will be making her first competitive start in five months this week. She has good form at Mission Hills, but has had far from ideal preparation.

Lorie Kane to beat Karen Stupples +100 @ Five Dimes [3pts]
In contrast, Stupples has had a very active and profitable start to 2004. She won the opening event on the LPGA Tour having already finished 2nd in the Australian Ladies Masters. But there were signs of fatigue at the weekend as she slipped to 39th in the Safeway International and if she is not at her best, then she is simply not in the same league as Kane. The Canadian holds a 12-7-1 h2h lead in LPGA Tour events over the past year and should not be the underdog.

Rosie Jones to beat Karen Stupples -114 @ Centrebet [3pts]
Jones' h2h record against Stupples is 11-3-2 over the same period, so just a much reason to side with the outright selection against Stupples.
(also available at NordicBet)

Beth Daniel to beat Candie Kung +103 @ Five Dimes [3pts]
I don't see Daniel as the underdog in this matchup. Kung's finishes of 22nd and 30th this season are not particularly impressive, while se has played in this event twice and failed to break par in any round (two of six rounds have been in the 80s). Daniel got rid of some competitive cobwebs last week and will be much better prepared to match her top-5 finish of last year.

Cristie Kerr to beat Laura Davies -110 @ SkyBet [3pts]
No doubting Davies' form - four top-10 finishes in four starts this year, including one win - but the ideal preparation for a major never involves competing in all four weeks prior to the event and across two different continents. I'm just expecting a very strong performance from Kerr and, as last year, Davies' strong early season form to slowly peter out.
(also available at NordicBet)

Grace Park to beat Karrie Webb -125 @ Centrebet
Had this as a successful double-play last week, but only going in again as a single-play this week. Park's form on this course is ordinary and she should do little more than continue her run of top-10 finishes. It should still be enough against Webb, but their course history is definitely working against Park this week.
(also available at NordicBet)

Rachel Teske to beat Michelle Wie -125 @ Stan James [3pts]
Opposing Wie just once this week and doing so with one of the outright selections. The 14-year-old admitted to feeling very tired by the 4th round last week and it was no surprise with all the hype around her. Sorenstam will divert some of the media circus this week, but Wie does not help herself. Another top-20 finish may be in order, but little more. Teske looks far more likely to challenge Sorenstam this week and for some time to come.

Final update: 4-5-0; -7.94pts

Bowie/Delasin LOST by 8
Kane/Delasin TIED (Lost)
Kane/Diaz WON by 11
Kane/Stupples LOST by 7
Jones/Stupples WON by 2
Daniel/Kung LOST by 10
Kerr/Davies WON by 4
Park/Webb WON by 2
Teske/Wie LOST by 12

There looked like being a small profit on the matchups until Kane took a six on her final hole to fall back into a losing tie with Delasin. Disappointing ... but so were the other margins of loss.