LPGA International Crown: Intrigue and Dominance in Goyang
GOYANG, South Korea — The LPGA’s International Crown kicked off with a thrilling day at the New Korea Country Club, where the United States showcased its prowess by triumphing over China in both of their fourball matches. Leading the charge was world No. 1, Jeeno Thitikul, who maintained her undefeated streak in this prestigious team event.
Thitikul’s Unstoppable Momentum
In a standout performance, Thitikul, playing alongside Thailand’s Pajaree Anannarukarn, clinched a narrow victory against the Australian duo of Hannah Green and Grace Kim, finishing 1-up. This win marked Thitikul’s impressive sixth consecutive victory at the International Crown, highlighting her consistent excellence in team play.
Australia Competes Vigorously
Despite the setback against the Thai pairing, Australia’s Minjee Lee and Steph Kyriacou managed to secure a victory of their own, defeating Chanettee Wannasaen and Jasmine Suwannapura 2-up. This split of points provided some balance for the Australians on the opening day of competition, setting a competitive tone for the tournament.
American Domination on Display
The American team, represented by Yealimi Noh and Angel Yin, showcased their skill by decisively overwhelming Liu Yan and Yin Ruoning from China with a 5 and 4 victory. Further solidifying the U.S.’s dominance, Lilia Vu and Lauren Coughlin triumphed in a closely contested match against Zhang Weiwei and Liu Ruixin, finishing 1-up. With both matches won, the U.S. emerged as the front-runner, proving to be the only team to secure victories in both their opening contests.
Japan’s Mixed Results
Japan faced an uphill battle on the first day, where they led early in both their foursome matches but ultimately fell short of securing full victories. In a thrilling duel, Charley Hull and Lydia Ko salvaged a tie against Rio Takeda and Miyu Yamashita, thanks to Ko’s clutch 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole. Meanwhile, Brooke Henderson and Wei-Ling Hsu rallied to claim a 2 and 1 victory over Ayaka Furue and Mao Saigo, earning crucial points for their team.
South Korea’s Strong Start
The host nation, South Korea, began their campaign positively. Hyo Joo Kim and Hye-Jin Choi delivered an impressive win, overcoming Sweden’s Maja Stark and Linn Grant 3 and 2. Jin Young Ko and Haeran Ryu concluded their match against Ingrid Lindblad and Madelene Sagstrom in a tie, helping South Korea secure a total of 1.5 points from their matches on the day.
Tournament Format and Structure
This year’s format features a pool system where seven countries and a “rest of the world” team face off. The United States, China, Australia, and Thailand comprise Pool A, while Pool B includes South Korea, Japan, Sweden, and a World team that blends players from various nationalities, allowing the likes of New Zealand’s Ko and Canada’s Henderson to participate.
Exciting Matches Ahead
As the competition progresses, fourball matches will continue through Friday and Saturday, with the top two countries from each pool vying for the semifinals on Sunday. The final rounds will consist of one foursomes match and two singles matches, ensuring an exhilarating finish to this prestigious event.
Thitikul: The Returning Champion
Thitikul isn’t new to this arena; she played a crucial role in the Thai team’s 2023 win at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. As the only player in the field with a previous crown victory, her experience could be a significant asset as teams compete for glory in Goyang.
This tournament is not only a test of skill but also a celebration of women’s golf, with players like Thitikul accumulating notable accolades on the LGPA Tour, including her recent victories at the Mizuho Americas Open and the Shanghai tournament. As excitement builds, the LPGA’s Asian swing is set to continue in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, before concluding in Shiga, Japan, in early November.