Internationals' narrow win over Asia
in Lexus Cup send-off for Annika
American Cristina Kim birdied the last to give the Internationals a 12.5-11.5 win over Asia at the Lexus Cup in Singapore today, thus avenging their heavy defeat in the contest last year.
Going into Sunday's singles at the year-ending LPGA event, the two teams were locked at 6-6 and it remained tight throughout the day, coming down to the last hole.
Japan's Namika Omata and Kim found themselves at the 18th with the Internationals needing half a point each to clinch the championship for their respective teams and give Annika Sorenstam a fitting send-off into retirement.
Both players safely made the green with Kim having two putts to ensure she halved the hole to hand victory to her team, which she calmly did.
Sorenstam, playing her last ever round of LPGA golf before retiring, was first out against Asian captain Pak Se-Ri and set the tone.
Bogeys at the opening two holes put Pak on the back foot and she never recovered, eventually crashing 3 and 2 as Sorenstam sank birdies on the 13th, 14th and 15th.
It was a glorious personal end to Sorenstam's LPGA career but less memorable for Pak who failed to win any of her three matches at the three-day tournament.
Veteran Helen Alfredsson, 43, capped her best season with a comfortable 3 and 2 win over US Open champion Park In-Bee after taking the lead on the third hole and never surrendering it.
It gave the Internationals a two-point cushion but it didn't last long.
America's Nicole Castrale needed to sink an eight foot putt to keep it all square going to the last against the experienced Sarah Lee in her match, but she missed to give her opponent the lead for the first time.
The South Korean wrapped it up on the 18th before seeing her compatriot Choi Na-Yeon draw Asia level with a 3 and 2 win over International vice-captain Paula Creamer.
On a day of top-notch golf, Norway's Suzann Petterson holed a 12 foot putt at the last for an eagle to halve her match against Taiwan's world number two Yani Tseng.
Korea's Kim Song-Hee then came from behind to beat America's Cristie Kerr by one hole after her approach shot to the 18th green hit the roof of a grandstand and rolled on to the edge of the green.
In another tight finish, England's Karen Stupples halved with Ji Eun-Hee.
With Australia's Katherine Hull narrowly beating Jang Jeong by one hole and Angela Stanford cruising past Lee Seon-Hwa 4 and 3, the Internationals were 12-10 in front with only half a point needed to win.
Candie Kung's 3 and 2 win over Australia's Nikki Campbell took it to 12-11 before the last hole drama.
It was Campbell's first loss over the three days while Hull was undefeated.
Sorentam's last event is the Ladies European Tour's Dubai Ladies Masters next weekend.
in Lexus Cup send-off for Annika
American Cristina Kim birdied the last to give the Internationals a 12.5-11.5 win over Asia at the Lexus Cup in Singapore today, thus avenging their heavy defeat in the contest last year.
Going into Sunday's singles at the year-ending LPGA event, the two teams were locked at 6-6 and it remained tight throughout the day, coming down to the last hole.
Japan's Namika Omata and Kim found themselves at the 18th with the Internationals needing half a point each to clinch the championship for their respective teams and give Annika Sorenstam a fitting send-off into retirement.
Both players safely made the green with Kim having two putts to ensure she halved the hole to hand victory to her team, which she calmly did.
Sorenstam, playing her last ever round of LPGA golf before retiring, was first out against Asian captain Pak Se-Ri and set the tone.
Bogeys at the opening two holes put Pak on the back foot and she never recovered, eventually crashing 3 and 2 as Sorenstam sank birdies on the 13th, 14th and 15th.
It was a glorious personal end to Sorenstam's LPGA career but less memorable for Pak who failed to win any of her three matches at the three-day tournament.
Veteran Helen Alfredsson, 43, capped her best season with a comfortable 3 and 2 win over US Open champion Park In-Bee after taking the lead on the third hole and never surrendering it.
It gave the Internationals a two-point cushion but it didn't last long.
America's Nicole Castrale needed to sink an eight foot putt to keep it all square going to the last against the experienced Sarah Lee in her match, but she missed to give her opponent the lead for the first time.
The South Korean wrapped it up on the 18th before seeing her compatriot Choi Na-Yeon draw Asia level with a 3 and 2 win over International vice-captain Paula Creamer.
On a day of top-notch golf, Norway's Suzann Petterson holed a 12 foot putt at the last for an eagle to halve her match against Taiwan's world number two Yani Tseng.
Korea's Kim Song-Hee then came from behind to beat America's Cristie Kerr by one hole after her approach shot to the 18th green hit the roof of a grandstand and rolled on to the edge of the green.
In another tight finish, England's Karen Stupples halved with Ji Eun-Hee.
With Australia's Katherine Hull narrowly beating Jang Jeong by one hole and Angela Stanford cruising past Lee Seon-Hwa 4 and 3, the Internationals were 12-10 in front with only half a point needed to win.
Candie Kung's 3 and 2 win over Australia's Nikki Campbell took it to 12-11 before the last hole drama.
It was Campbell's first loss over the three days while Hull was undefeated.
Sorentam's last event is the Ladies European Tour's Dubai Ladies Masters next weekend.
Labels: LPGA TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | 12:33:00 PM
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