The United States misplaced Pool A to Sweden however nonetheless certified for the semifinals on the Hanwha LifePlus International Crown on Saturday in San Francisco.
The Americans (3-2-1) dropped one fourball match and clawed again to halve the second match towards Sweden (5-0-1) within the staff match-play occasion. The U.S. clinched a berth within the semis when China misplaced its second match to England.
The U.S. will play Pool B winner Thailand in Sunday’s semis whereas Sweden will get Australia, the runner-up to Thailand, the one staff to go undefeated in pool play (6-0-0). Thailand swept Australia on Saturday.
Lexi Thompson opens towards Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand on Sunday morning. Patty Tavatanakit will then battle Lilia Vu adopted by Moriya Jutanugarn and Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand versus Danielle Kang and Nelly Korda.
The International Crown is being performed for the primary time since 2018 as a result of COVID-19 pandemic. The prime eight international locations in girls’s golf have been decided by final yr’s Rolex Rankings and every nation despatched 4 of its prime gamers to the distinctive staff occasion.
The international locations have been seeded and cut up into two swimming pools, with groups competing in 4 ball (finest ball) in a single round-robin format from Thursday to Saturday. One level might be awarded for a win and a half-point for a tie, with the highest two international locations advancing from every pool.
Two semifinal matches might be performed Sunday morning, every consisting of two singles matches and one foursomes (alternate-shot) match. The profitable semifinal international locations will compete within the ultimate match on Sunday afternoon within the semifinal format.
Sweden clinched Pool A when Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall defeated Korda and Vu 1 up. Hedwall and Nordqvist went 3-0-0 in four-ball competitors.
“You knew it was going to have to be really strong play, and I think (we’re) just proud of ourselves,” Nordqvist stated. “We finished really strong yesterday to gain some momentum, and we came out firing pretty strong this morning.”
In the second match, the U.S. staff of Thompson and Kang birdied three straight holes (Nos. 14-16) to take the lead earlier than Maja Stark drained a birdie putt on the 18th to halve the match.
“I kind of liked it because it felt like they got mad, and that’s kind of funny,” Stark stated of her birdie putt on 18. “I just really wanted to make that putt. Just being able to perform under pressure like that is not something that I’ve really felt before because it’s usually been, everything has just been about myself, but now I do it for my team and for Sweden. It’s really nice to be able to come in clutch like that at the end.”
In different motion Saturday, South Korea swept each matches from Japan whereas England and China cut up.
Standings (W-L report, factors)
Pool A
1. Sweden 5-0-1, 5 1/2 factors
2. United States 3-2-1, 3 1/2 factors
3. China 2-4-0, 2 factors
4. England 1-5-0, 1 level
Pool B
1. Thailand 6-0-0, 6 factors
2. Australia 3-2-1, 3 1/2 factors
3. South Korea 2-4-0, 2 factors
4. Japan 0-5-1, 1/2 level
–Field Level Media