The Sybase Match Play Championship threw up two surprise semi-finals as the world's top two players Yani Tseng and Na Yeon Choi joined England's Jodi Ewart in bowing out in round three.
As Ewart's impressive run was ended by Azahara Munoz of Spain, who claimed a 2&1 victory, Tseng, who has struggled to find her best form all week was beaten 3&2 by Candie Kung and America's Morgan Pressel beat Choi on the 19th.
Kung and Pressel both went on to win their quarter-finals and face Vicky Hurst and Munoz respectively.
While Ewart's run, which has seen her world number three and defending champion Suzann Pettersen as well as Sophie Gustafson, must have been above her expectations, the manner of her defeat would have been hard to take.
The 24-year-old, ranked 210th in the world, led by two after 11, but could not find a birdie on the back nine.
Munoz won three holes in a row from the 12th, then confirmed her victory with a birdie at 17.
Munoz went on to beat sixth seed Stacy Lewis in the quarter-finals, easing to a 5&4 victory, while Pressel beat Anna Nordqvist by the same margin.
Kung overcame Julieta Granada 2&1 and Hurst saw off So Yeon Ryu two up.
