South Korea won the UL International Crown on home turf, overcoming challenges from England and defending champions, USA, to win four points in the final day's matches.
South Korea won the UL International Crown on home turf. After overcoming strong challenges from England and defending champions, USA, they triumphed four points in the final day's singles matches.
The conditions on the final day of the UL International Crown in South Korea couldn't have been any more different than the rest of the weekend; play was abandoned on Saturday thanks to heavy rain and strong winds caused by a typhoon. But on Sunday, event hosts South Korea soared to victory in glorious conditions and in front of thousands of their adoring fans. With four major winners in their line-up, the home side thoroughly deserved their victory in the third edition of the tournament.
World number one, South Korea's Sung Hyun Park, and world number two, Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn, went head-to-head in a seriously impressive singles tussle. Making her best impression of Patrick Reed shushing the crowd, Jutanugarn eventually defeated Park 2&1. IK Kim displayed a master class in composure to defeat England’s Bronte Law 2 up to secure the crown, while American Lexi Thompson halved with So Yeon Ryu in a superb contest which went to the 18th.
British Open champion Georgia Hall claimed 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 commented that she'd been hoping to draw Kerr in the singles: "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 fourball partner Charley Hull led the way for England earning their first win in the final round with a narrow 1-up victory against Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum.
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.
UL International Crown Results
Final Team Results
No. 1 Republic of Korea – 15 points
No. 2 USA – 11 points
No. 3 England – 11 points
No. 5 Thailand – 10 points
No. 4 Sweden – 9 points
Final Round 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)
Image credit: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
