Unstoppable United States at the LPGA International Crown
The United States team continues its dominance in the LPGA International Crown tournament, securing its place in the semifinals after a successful day in Goyang, South Korea. On Friday, the Americans added two more victories in the fourball matches, maintaining their perfect record and ending the undefeated streak of Jeeno Thitikul, the world number one. Yealimi Noh and Angel Yin, representing the United States, defeated Thitikul and Pajaree Anannarukarn with a score of 5 and 4, inflicting the first defeat on Thitikul after six consecutive victories in the event. Lilia Vu and Lauren Coughlin also contributed to the American success, winning their fourball match against Chanettee Wannasaen and Jasmine Suwannapura with a result of 3 and 2 at the New Korea Country Club. On Thursday, the American team, which leads the tournament, had already defeated China twice. With four points accumulated, they lead Group A and have already secured their participation in Sunday’s semifinals. On Saturday, a third round of fourball matches will be played between the eight participating teams. In other Friday results, Australia and China split their fourball matches in Group A. Australia’s Minjee Lee and Stephanie Kyriacou defeated Zhang Weiwei and Liu Yan with a score of 2 and 1, while China’s Yin Ruoning and Ruixin Liu overcame Australians Hannah Green and Grace Kim 1-up. In Group B, Japan and Sweden also split their matches. Miyu Yamashita and Rio Takeda of Japan won against Madelene Sagstrom and Ingrid Lindblad with a result of 3 and 2, but Maja Stark and Linn Grant of Sweden achieved a victory by defeating Mao Saigo and Ayaka Furue with a score of 3 and 2. The World team added 1 1-2 points against South Korea, leading Group B with three points, the result of two wins and two draws. Charley Hull of England made a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole, securing a 1-up victory for her and her World team partner, Lydia Ko of New Zealand, over Hyo Joo Kim and Hye-Jin Choi. Jin Young Ko and Haeran Ryu tied their match with Wei-Ling Hsu of Taiwan and Brooke Henderson of Canada.The tournament format includes seven countries and a “Rest of the World” team, competing in two groups. The teams and their players were determined according to the women’s world ranking. The top two countries from each group will advance to the semi-finals and Sunday’s final, which will consist of a foursomes (alternate shot) match and two singles matches. Last week, Sei Young Kim was crowned champion of the BMW Ladies Championship, also in South Korea. The LPGA’s Asian tour continues in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, next week and will conclude in Shiga, Japan, from November 6 to 9.“I managed to hit her, but I didn’t want to hit her too hard because I didn’t want to get in trouble,” Hull commented. “So I thought I’d sink it and save myself the stress.”
Charley Hull
