Pak Se-Ri Easily Advanced Quarter Finals, ``Sorenstam, Let`s See in the Final.``

Pak Se-Ri (24, Samsung Electronics) is on a smooth cruise toward the top of the CISCO World Ladies Match Play Championship (purse 960,000 dollars).

In a second single match round at Sosei CC in Narita City, Chiba, Japan, Pak Se-Ri defeated yesterday Janice Moodie (Scotland), two shots up in the 17th hole, to face Rachel Teske in the quarterfinal round.

As Pak won the first hole, she made a good start. And then she won the fifth (par 5) and the eighth (par 4) holes to lead the match rather easily.

In back nine, as Pak lost the tenth (par 3) and twelfth (par 4), she was chased by one shot. But she made a 7-m birdie in the fourteenth hole (par 4) to lead by two shots. And then she made a even in next three holes to finish the match.

Right after the match, Pak said confidently, ``I have been in a very good condition. Even though the green speed is still very fast and the greens are firm. But thanks to wide fairways, I could hit a long shot more comfortably to get a good record.``

Meanwhile, Annika Sorenstam (Sweden), who is competing over the personal titles (money leader, wins, player of the year) with Pak, easily defeated Michele Redman, five shots up until the fifth hole, to join the quarterfinal round. Since Pak and Sorenstam belong to the different block in this tournament, they will be able to match face-to-face in the final round if they continue the victory march.

Ahn Young-Sik ysahn@donga.com