Wie struggles to 74 in final round in South Korea

INCHEON, South Korea, May 7 (Reuters) Hawaiian schoolgirl Michelle Wie struggled in strong winds to card a two-over-par 74 in the final round of the Asian Tour's rain-shortened SK Telecom Open today.

After becoming the first woman to make the cut at a major men's tour event in 61 years on Friday, 16-year-old Wie finished with a combined three under par, eight shots off the clubhouse leaders and tied for 34th at the event in Incheon, west of Seoul.

Prom Meesawat of Thailand was leading with a score of 15 under with one hole to play. Rain washed out play yesterday and organisers reduced the tournament to 54 holes.

Wie had no trouble matching the men with drives of over 300 yards today but lacked the control and accuracy she showed in the previous two rounds.

''Strong winds made it difficult out there, but I had fun playing,'' Wie said in a televised interview.

''I wasn't satisfied with the way I played today but I kept going and hitting away.'' After birdies on two of the first three holes, Wie's round started to unravel at the par-three fourth when her tee shot landed out of bounds in shrubs in front of a water hazard. She took a drop and carded a bogey.

Wie then bogeyed the fifth hole and carded two more bogeys on the back nine.

Prior to Wie, the last woman to make the final rounds of a senior men's event was Babe Zaharias at the 1945 Los Angeles Open.

Despite her American nationality, Wie has been embraced as a hometown hero in South Korea, where she is known by her Korean name Wie Sung-mi. Wie's parents are from South Korea.

''I want to win an LPGA title next,'' said Wie, adding that she is looking forward to graduating from high school and going to university.

''I want to study economics and business,'' she said.

REUTERS PDS VC1420