MARANA, Ariz., Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Defending champ Matt Kuchar and top seeds Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy each advanced Wednesday at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.
Kuchar, the No. 2 seed in the Gary Player bracket, rolled to a 3 & 2 win over Bernd Wiesberger in the tournament's first round.
Next up for him will be seventh-seeded Ryan Moore, who moved on with a 2 & 1 win over Joost Luiten at the Golf Club at Dove Mountain.
Rose, seeded first in the Player bracket, rebounded from 1-down to post a 1-up win over Scott Piercy after the pair halved the final hole.
Stenson, heading the Bobby Jones bracket and holding the No. 1 overall seed, battled to get past Kiradech Aphibarnrat 2 & 1. He now goes on to face Louis Oosthuizen, who bested Nick Watney 1-up.
Top Ben Hogan bracket seed McIlroy advanced with a 3 & 2 win over Boo Weekley, advancing to face Harris English, who bested Lee Westwood 5 & 3.
Zach Johnson was the only top seed to fall Wednesday, falling to Richard Sterne in a 5 & 4 rout in the Sam Snead bracket.
