Azahara Munoz' victory at the Sybase Match Play Championship on Sunday might be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

What should have been a joyous occasion for the Spaniard - her first LPGA win - was instead marred by controversy as her opponent in the semi-final, American Morgan Pressel, was penalised for slow play during their match - despite both players being guilty of it.

Munoz went on to beat Thailand's Candie Kung 2&1 in the final, after Kung beat American Vicky Hurst 2&1 in her semi-final.

Pressel was magnanimous in defeat and was the first to congratulate Munoz - a good friend of hers - when she won, but she also couldn't hide her disappointment at how the semi-final transpired, fighting back tears as she spoke to reporters afterwards.

Pressel had gone 3-up at the 12th after both players had been put on the clock at the 11th, but before she could tee off at 13, she was informed that she was being penalized for slow play.

Munoz was given the 12th hole and suddenly found herself only 1 down instead of 3.

Pressel never recovered from that blow and lost the 15th, 16th and 17th - and the match.

"It was tough timing because it was a really big, I think, turning point in the match, going from 2 up to 3 up, and then all of a sudden back to 1 up," said Pressel after she beat Vicky Hurst 2&1 in the consolation match. "You know, it was -- I mean, it was really unfortunate.

"I think that slow play is one of our biggest problems on tour. You know, I think that what bothers me the most is that we were given sufficient warning and she really didn't do anything to speed up and then I was penalized for it."

Munoz was apologetic and was surprised Pressel was penalised.

"I know I was slow and I really apologized for that and I told her, but I do feel both of us were slow and she was the only one getting penalized, and that was not fair and I know that," Munoz said. "I would never make her lose a hole."

There was even more drama at the 15th when Pressel contended that the Spaniard touched the line of her birdie putt before striking the ball, but after video evidence was reviewed, officials could find no evidence of it. Munoz made the putt.

All in all, an eventful match that turned out very badly for Pressel.

"It's an unfortunate situation," said Heather Daly-Donofrio, the senior vice president of tour operations. "This is one of those days where it is very tough to be an LPGA official. It's not an easy thing to deliver a pace of play penalty to a player in a situation like this."

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