The United States golf team maintained its flawless record at the LPGA International Crown tournament on Friday in Goyang, South Korea, by securing two more fourball victories. These wins included a significant defeat of world No. 1-ranked Atthaya Thitikul, ending her previously unbeaten streak in the team competition.
American duo Yealimi Noh and Angel Yin triumphed over Thitikul and Pajaree Anannarukarn with a decisive 5 and 4 victory, marking Thitikul`s first loss in seven matches at the event. Later, Lilia Vu and Lauren Coughlin sealed another fourball win for the U.S. team, overcoming Chanettee Wannasaen and Jasmine Suwannapura 3 and 2 at the New Korea Country Club.
Following their two wins against China on Thursday, the top-seeded U.S. team now leads Pool A with four points, making them the only undefeated team in the tournament and guaranteeing their progression to Sunday`s semifinals.
All eight participating teams are scheduled to compete in their third set of fourball matches on Saturday.
In other Pool A action on Friday, Australia and China split their fourball contests. Minjee Lee and Stephanie Kyriacou secured a 2 and 1 win against Zhang Weiwei and Liu Yan, while China`s Yin Ruoning and Ruixin Liu narrowly defeated Australians Hannah Green and Grace Kim 1-up.
Pool B also saw an even split in Friday`s matches between Japan and Sweden. Miyu Yamashita and Rio Takeda won 3 and 2 against Madelene Sagstrom and Ingrid Lindblad. However, Maja Stark and Linn Grant delivered a victory for Sweden, beating Mao Saigo and Ayaka Furue by the same margin, 3 and 2.
The World team earned 1.5 points against South Korea, pushing them to the top of Pool B with three points from two wins and two ties.
England`s Charley Hull clinched a crucial 1-up win for her and World teammate Lydia Ko of New Zealand by sinking a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole against Hyo Joo Kim and Hye-Jin Choi. Separately, Jin Young Ko and Haeran Ryu played to a draw with Wei-Ling Hsu of Taiwan and Canada`s Brooke Henderson.
Commenting on her clutch putt, Hull stated, “I managed to whack it, but I don`t want to whack it too hard because I don`t want to have a fiddler coming back. So just thought hole it and save the stress.”
The tournament format features seven national teams and a `Rest of the World` team, divided into two pools. Player selection for these teams was based on their positions in the women`s world golf rankings.
The top two teams from each pool will advance to Sunday`s semifinals and the subsequent final, which will comprise one foursomes (alternate shot) match and two singles matches.
