KAHUKU (Hawaii) - MICHELLE Wie squandered a three-stroke lead with eight holes remaining on Saturday and Angela Stanford rallied to defeat the American prodigy by three strokes at the US$1.2 million (S$1.8 million) SBS Open.

Wie, a Hawaiian of Korean heritage, has not won an event since the 2003 Women's Amateur Public Links despite being in contention late in a number of LPGA events and several attempts to make the cut against elite men's fields.

But when the 19-year-old seemed on the verge of a breakthrough in her first event as a member of the LPGA Tour after earning a spot from last year's qualifying tournament, Wie blundered badly and Stanford seized the opportunity.

'It's a good start to the year, I guess,' Wie said. 'It's disappointing.

It's not what I wanted. At the same time I had a good week. I had a good run. I take a lot of positive aspects out of the week.' US veteran Stanford won for the third time in her past seven starts, firing a final-round 70, two-under par, to finish the 54-hole event on 10-under par 206 with Wie settling for second on 209 after a last-day 73.

'I didn't think she was going to make a mistake,' Stanford said of Wie.

'She did a lot of things smart for 10 holes. She's going to be around out here for a long time.' South Korean Na Yeon Choi and Brazil's Angela Park shared third on 212, one stroke ahead of Taiwan's Yani Tseng and Japan's Ai Miyazato. But it was clear early that the fight for the title would be a two-woman affair.

'It has been a long time since I had been in that situation,' Wie said. 'I was shocked it got away. Now I know what it takes again.' Wie made the turn at 10-under par after birdies at the par-3 fourth and par-5 ninth and Stanford tumbled three strokes back with a birdie at the 10th as brisk winds quickened their pace. -- AFP