LEBANON, Ohio - Michelle Wie gave herself just a moment to celebrate her first-round victory, then turned her attention to the next round of the U.S. Amateur Public Links.

One match down, five to go.

Wie rallied to beat Will Claxton 1-up Wednesday in the opening round of match play at the men's Public Links, making a 15-foot birdie putt and following with a quick fist pump. It was the first of six matches she must win for a chance to get an invitation to play in the Masters next year.

"I'm very relieved I got through today," said Wie, who made a 15-foot birdie putt to seal the victory. "It was really tough out there. It felt good after I made that putt. I have a lot more days to go, so hopefully I can keep that trend going."

The 15-year-old, who will be a high school junior this fall, is the first female to qualify for a men's U.S. Golf Association championship. She's playing in the APL because the winner traditionally gets an invitation to play at Augusta.

Wie advances to play C.D. Hockersmith of Richmond, Ind., in the second round today. The third round of match play follows in the afternoon.

"I'm sure it'll be a little harder to stay focused with the crowd, but it's doable," the Ball State junior said.

Wie had to be on top her game against the 23-year-old Claxton, who recently graduated from Auburn. He was a quarterfinalist in the APL last year and didn't buckle despite a large gallery that cheered Wie from the start.

More than 200 people walked the first few holes with the pair, with more gradually joining until the gallery had doubled by the end despite a daylong drizzle.

"She did an incredible job," Claxton said. "I didn't play bad out there. I hit a lot of good iron shots. She hit fairways and greens and she putted really well. Her short game's incredible. I was very impressed."

Wie was 2-down through eight holes and never led until Claxton conceded a birdie putt on the 15th hole. Claxton hit a long, curling putt to square the match at 16. After both parred the 17th, the match was hanging in the balance at No. 18.

Both players hit into the fairway, with Wie drilling a 6-iron to 15 feet. Claxton hit an 8-iron onto the green, but 30 feet short. After he missed his long birdie putt, Wie made the clincher.

"Today was a very important match," said Wie, who hit 10 of 14 fairways, eight of 18 greens in regulation and totaled 27 putts at Shaker Run Golf Club.

It was an upsetting day for some of the top players from the 36 holes of medal play.

The medalist, Oklahoma junior-to-be Anthony Kim, beat Ki Moon of Ellicott, Md., 1-up. But the three players who tied for second lost.

Danny Green of Jackson, Tenn., playing in his 13th APL, fell 2-and-1 to Roger Welch of Benedict, Md.; Iowa State junior Rodney Hamblin Jr. fell to Clay Ogden of West Point, Utah, 1-up; and 16-year-old Sihwan Kim, the reigning U.S. Junior Amateur champion, was beaten 5-and-4 by Royden Heirakuji of Makawao, Hawaii.