INAUGURAL INTERNATIONAL CROWN MATCH-PLAY TEAM TOURNAMENT
AMERICANS FIGHT BACK WITH WINS
OVER SPAIN AFTER DAY 1 BLANK
FROM THE LPGA WEBSITE
The drama continued on Day 2 at the inaugural International Crown with upsets, comebacks and dramatic finishes filling the second day of play at Caves Valley Golf Club at Owings Mills, outside of Baltimore, Maryland.
After being shut out on Day 1, the Americans turned the tables, going 2-0-0 in their matches on Friday against Spain and are now tied for second with Chinese Taipei in Pool A with 4 total points. After winning both of their matches against Chinese Taipei on Friday, Thailand took the lead in Pool A with 5 total points.
The match of the day belonged to Ai Miyazato and Sakura Yokomine of Japan who made a dramatic comeback on the back nine to halve the match after being 6-down with seven holes to play.
Yokomine birdied two of the final six holes and while Miyazato birdied the par 4 16th hole putting them 1-down heading to the 18th hole.
The Australian duo of Katherine Kirk and Kent-born Lindsey Wright crumbled, both recording bogeys on Nos. 13 and 18 and double bogeys on the par 4 14th hole.
With their teammates Mamiko Higa and Mika Miyazato defeating Karrie Webb and Minjee Lee 3 and 2, Japan takes the lead in Pool B with 6 points overall.
The Republic of Korea went 1-1-0 on Friday and are second with 4 total points. Sweden (1-1-0 on Friday) and Australia (0-1-1) are tied for third in Pool B with 3 total points.
NOTHING TO LOSE
The United States team gathered their caddies and their team liaison for the week and went to dinner Thursday night after getting swept in the first round – the only team in the field not to earn a point in day one. But the topic of conversation at dinner never turned to golf.
They saved that for the driving range Friday, where world No. 1 Stacy Lewis gathered them together before going to the first tee and issued a simple message.
“Just said, you know, no matter what we’re going to do, win or lose, we’re going to fight and we’re going to grind and we’re going to have fun doing it and be positive,” Creamer said of Lewis’ message.
That they did, winning both their matches Friday to claw right back into the standings and take over No. 2 in points in the pool.
The United States team switched their pairings for Friday’s matches, and Lexi Thompson and Cristie Kerr put the first points on the board for the United States, beating Belen Mozo and Beatriz Recari 3 and 2.
Thompson was particularly special on Friday with four birdies and an eagle over 16 holes.
“I thought Lexi and I had a lot of chemistry out there together. We played with a lot of heart for each other,” Kerr said.
“When she needed to make those big clutch par putts she did. And when I needed to get something going for the team, I did. That’s what really best ball is all about.”
Lewis and Creamer were looking to rekindle the mojo they had together in a 2013 Solheim Cup match when they beat Azahara Munoz and Karine Icher by onr hole.
Munoz partner – Carlota Ciganda - differed this time, but again, the Lewis and Creamer pairing earned a one-hole win. That match was quite similar to Friday’s – the United States got up early and then went backwards but rebounded. Friday, after owning a three-hole lead, Creamer and Lewis lost the 15th and 17th holes and Lewis missed a match-ending 10-footer on No. 16.
But on No. 18, the duo again got it done and held the charging Spaniards off for a full two points.
“We walked off of 17, and I said, ‘There’s still an American flag up there.’ We said, ‘Two balls in the fairway, two balls on the green,’ and we did that,” Lewis said. “That put a lot of pressure on them.”
The United States will face Thailand – the pool leader – Saturday with the chance to become one of five teams that advance to Sunday’s final matches.
ASSIST TO PHELPS
Michael Phelps may have again helped the United States to a victory in a team competition – this time on the golf course as a spectator. Coming off the 8th green with a 1-up lead, Stacy Lewis and Paula Creamer saw Phelps, a Baltimore resident, and got to shake his hand. They went on to win two of the next three holes.
“But I haven’t washed my hand yet,” Creamer said, with a laugh. “Michael Phelps, I almost fell over.”
With Phelps out watching them play, Creamer couldn’t help but talk about it for the next two holes. Usually, she’d try to stay in the moment and avoid distractions, but it was Michael Phelps and she still won the 9th hole.
“I know I was so excited. I said, ‘I’m going to swim my way up there now,’” Creamer said with a laugh. “It was awesome. That’s all I got to say. Derek, sorry, but I got to say, it was pretty awesome.”
IT’S NOT OVER UNTIL IT’S OVER
Things didn’t look good for Ai Miyazato and Sakura Yokomine after 11 holes as they were six down to Australia’s Katherine Kirk and Lindsey Wright but the duo refused to back down and were able to work a halve to keep team Japan undefeated.
“Oh my God, it feels amazing right now,” Miyazato admitted after the match. “Until 12 holes, I and Sakura was like today is just the Australian's day, you know.
"They played really solid and they kept making birdies and we just couldn't take a chance. We said that every hole is just an extra bonus. So it just happened, it was just amazing.“
The duo were able to take advantage of some sloppy play down the stretch from the Aussies and capitalize on some key birdie opportunities including a clutch 15 footer from Yokomine on the par-3 17th to keep the match alive.
“She obviously had a really good stroke,” Miyazato said. “It went in right in the middle. I was just really excited about her, more than her, probably.”
TO VIEW THE SCOREBOARD
http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/IntlCrown.aspxCLICK HERE
OVER SPAIN AFTER DAY 1 BLANK
FROM THE LPGA WEBSITE
The drama continued on Day 2 at the inaugural International Crown with upsets, comebacks and dramatic finishes filling the second day of play at Caves Valley Golf Club at Owings Mills, outside of Baltimore, Maryland.
After being shut out on Day 1, the Americans turned the tables, going 2-0-0 in their matches on Friday against Spain and are now tied for second with Chinese Taipei in Pool A with 4 total points. After winning both of their matches against Chinese Taipei on Friday, Thailand took the lead in Pool A with 5 total points.
The match of the day belonged to Ai Miyazato and Sakura Yokomine of Japan who made a dramatic comeback on the back nine to halve the match after being 6-down with seven holes to play.
Yokomine birdied two of the final six holes and while Miyazato birdied the par 4 16th hole putting them 1-down heading to the 18th hole.
The Australian duo of Katherine Kirk and Kent-born Lindsey Wright crumbled, both recording bogeys on Nos. 13 and 18 and double bogeys on the par 4 14th hole.
With their teammates Mamiko Higa and Mika Miyazato defeating Karrie Webb and Minjee Lee 3 and 2, Japan takes the lead in Pool B with 6 points overall.
The Republic of Korea went 1-1-0 on Friday and are second with 4 total points. Sweden (1-1-0 on Friday) and Australia (0-1-1) are tied for third in Pool B with 3 total points.
NOTHING TO LOSE
The United States team gathered their caddies and their team liaison for the week and went to dinner Thursday night after getting swept in the first round – the only team in the field not to earn a point in day one. But the topic of conversation at dinner never turned to golf.
They saved that for the driving range Friday, where world No. 1 Stacy Lewis gathered them together before going to the first tee and issued a simple message.
“Just said, you know, no matter what we’re going to do, win or lose, we’re going to fight and we’re going to grind and we’re going to have fun doing it and be positive,” Creamer said of Lewis’ message.
That they did, winning both their matches Friday to claw right back into the standings and take over No. 2 in points in the pool.
The United States team switched their pairings for Friday’s matches, and Lexi Thompson and Cristie Kerr put the first points on the board for the United States, beating Belen Mozo and Beatriz Recari 3 and 2.
Thompson was particularly special on Friday with four birdies and an eagle over 16 holes.
“I thought Lexi and I had a lot of chemistry out there together. We played with a lot of heart for each other,” Kerr said.
“When she needed to make those big clutch par putts she did. And when I needed to get something going for the team, I did. That’s what really best ball is all about.”
Lewis and Creamer were looking to rekindle the mojo they had together in a 2013 Solheim Cup match when they beat Azahara Munoz and Karine Icher by onr hole.
Munoz partner – Carlota Ciganda - differed this time, but again, the Lewis and Creamer pairing earned a one-hole win. That match was quite similar to Friday’s – the United States got up early and then went backwards but rebounded. Friday, after owning a three-hole lead, Creamer and Lewis lost the 15th and 17th holes and Lewis missed a match-ending 10-footer on No. 16.
But on No. 18, the duo again got it done and held the charging Spaniards off for a full two points.
“We walked off of 17, and I said, ‘There’s still an American flag up there.’ We said, ‘Two balls in the fairway, two balls on the green,’ and we did that,” Lewis said. “That put a lot of pressure on them.”
The United States will face Thailand – the pool leader – Saturday with the chance to become one of five teams that advance to Sunday’s final matches.
ASSIST TO PHELPS
Michael Phelps may have again helped the United States to a victory in a team competition – this time on the golf course as a spectator. Coming off the 8th green with a 1-up lead, Stacy Lewis and Paula Creamer saw Phelps, a Baltimore resident, and got to shake his hand. They went on to win two of the next three holes.
“But I haven’t washed my hand yet,” Creamer said, with a laugh. “Michael Phelps, I almost fell over.”
With Phelps out watching them play, Creamer couldn’t help but talk about it for the next two holes. Usually, she’d try to stay in the moment and avoid distractions, but it was Michael Phelps and she still won the 9th hole.
“I know I was so excited. I said, ‘I’m going to swim my way up there now,’” Creamer said with a laugh. “It was awesome. That’s all I got to say. Derek, sorry, but I got to say, it was pretty awesome.”
IT’S NOT OVER UNTIL IT’S OVER
Things didn’t look good for Ai Miyazato and Sakura Yokomine after 11 holes as they were six down to Australia’s Katherine Kirk and Lindsey Wright but the duo refused to back down and were able to work a halve to keep team Japan undefeated.
“Oh my God, it feels amazing right now,” Miyazato admitted after the match. “Until 12 holes, I and Sakura was like today is just the Australian's day, you know.
"They played really solid and they kept making birdies and we just couldn't take a chance. We said that every hole is just an extra bonus. So it just happened, it was just amazing.“
The duo were able to take advantage of some sloppy play down the stretch from the Aussies and capitalize on some key birdie opportunities including a clutch 15 footer from Yokomine on the par-3 17th to keep the match alive.
“She obviously had a really good stroke,” Miyazato said. “It went in right in the middle. I was just really excited about her, more than her, probably.”
TO VIEW THE SCOREBOARD
http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/IntlCrown.aspxCLICK HERE
Labels: LPGA TOUR
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