REPUBLIC OF KOREA WINS INTERNATIONAL CROWN

South Korea won the UL International Crown for the first time when they saw off strong challenges from England and the defending champions, USA, to triumph four points. In glorious conditions and in front of thousands of their adoring fans the hosts, with four major winners in their line-up, thoroughly deserved victory in the third edition of the event.

Spectators were treated to the sight of the world No 1 (Sung Hyun Park) and the No 2 (Ariya Jutanugarn) going head-to-head in a fascinating singles tussle.

On an enthralling final day the outcome was never certain with the top three sides all in contention, but IK Kim displayed a master class in composure to defeat England’s Bronte Law 2 up to secure the crown while the American Lexi Thompson halved with Korea’s So Yeon Ryu in a superb contest which went to the 18th.

Georgia Hall, the British Open champion, enjoyed one of the best wins of her fledgling career beating the US veteran Cristie Kerr, one of the most formidable opponents in the world. Never behind in the contest, Hall went round in 4-under in her first singles encounter against Kerr.

Hall said she’d been hoping to draw Kerr in the singles saying: “She’s so strong mentally and I wanted to test myself. I know what a great player she is and I knew it would be an exciting match.

“It’s been an amazing week and it’s the proudest I’ve felt wearing an England shirt. Even though we didn’t have a designated captain we all enjoyed working together and making the decisions.”

Hall’s four ball partner Charley Hull led the way for England earning their first win with a narrow 1 up victory over Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum – the player who finished runner-up to Hall in the British Open.

Sweden failed to match their second place in the 2014 tournament finishing 5th but there was a gutsy win for Pernilla Lindberg who birdied four of the last five holes to beat England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff 2 up.

“I really had to dig deep” said the 2018 ANA Inspiration champion. “I was just never giving up and you can never count anything out. I played my best golf of the week on the back nine in the singles, so that was nice.”

Her compatriot Caroline Hedwall also showed great spirit with birdies at the final two holes to salvage a point.

After Saturday’s play was abandoned because of high winds and dangerous conditions, round 3 was completed early on Sunday to determine which five teams would advance to the singles. Sweden clinched their spot finishing second in Pool B courtesy a first win for Lindberg and Madelene Sagstrom who beat Thailand 2&1.

Despite coming up against two Korean pairings in stunning form, England secured their place in the singles edging out Australia for the second spot in their group by virtue of a win in the match between the two countries.

In the play-off to determine the fifth and final place in the singles, Australia, Japan and Thailand each nominated two players for a sudden-death outcome with Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn chipping in for eagle on the par-4 14th to send her side through.

THIRD-ROUND RESULTS

Pool B – Thailand (THA) vs. Sweden (SWE)

Moriya Jutanugarn/Ariya Jutanugarn (THA) def. Anna Nordqvist/Caroline Hedwall (SWE), 2 and 1

Pernilla Lindberg/Madelene Sagstrom (SWE) def Pornanong Phatlum/Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong (THA), 2 and 1

Points – Thailand, 2; Sweden, 2

Pool B – United States (USA) vs. Japan (JPN)

Nasa Hataoka/Ayako Uehara (JPN) def. Jessica Korda/Michelle Wie (USA), 2 and 1

Cristie Kerr/Lexi Thompson (USA) def. Misuzu Narita/Mamiko Higa (JPN), 4 and 3

Points – United States, 2; Japan, 2

Pool A – Australia (AUS) vs. Chinese Taipei (TPE)

Minjee Lee/Sarah Jane Smith (AUS) def. Candie Kung/Teresa Lu (TPE), 2 up

Su Oh/Katherine Kirk (AUS) def. Wei-Ling Hsu/Phoebe Yao (TPE), 5 and 4

Points – Australia, 4; Chinese Taipei, 0

Pool A – England (ENG) vs. Republic of Korea (KOR)

Sung Hyun Park/In-Kyung Kim (KOR) def. Charley Hull/Georgia Hall (ENG), 4 and 2

In Gee Chun/So Yeon Ryu def. Bronte Law/Jodi Ewart Shadoff (ENG), 4 and 3

Points – England, 0; Republic of Korea, 4

WILD-CARD PLAYOFF RESULTS

Japan – X, X; Australia – X, X; Thailand – X, 2

RE-SEEDING FOR SINGLES

No. 1 Republic of Korea, No. 2 United States, No. 3 England, No. 4 Sweden, No. 5 Thailand

SINGLES RESULTS

Caroline Hedwall (SWE) halved with Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong (THA)

Charley Hull (ENG) def. Pornanong Phatlum (THA), 1 up

Pernilla Lindberg (SWE) def. Jodi Ewart Shadoff (ENG), 1 up

Moriya Jutanugarn (THA) def. Michelle Wie (USA), 2 and 1

Ariya Jutanugarn (THA) def. Sung Hyun Park (KOR), 2 and 1

Jessica Korda (USA) def. Madelene Sagstrom (SWE), 4 and 3

In Gee Chun (KOR) def. Anna Nordqvist (SWE), 1 up

Georgia Hall (ENG) def. Cristie Kerr (USA), 2 and 1

In-Kyung Kim (KOR) def. Bronte Law (ENG), 2 up

So Yeon Ryu halved with Lexi Thompson (USA)