Sweden vs. United States
Madelene Sagstrom (SWE) d. Lilia Vu (USA), 5&4
It was Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown veteran Madelene Sagstrom versus Crown rookie Lilia Vu in the first consolation singles match of the afternoon at TPC Harding Park, with Sagstrom ultimately winning 5 and 4. The Swede won the first hole to go 1 up through one, but Vu quickly tied things back up with a birdie on the par-3, 2nd hole. After tying the next two holes, Sagstrom made a run, winning holes 5, 6 and 7 to grab a 3-up lead with 11 to play. She extended the lead to 4 up after a birdie on the par-4, 10th hole and grabbed another birdie on No. 12 to move to 5 up over Vu. After Vu’s tee shot on the 14th hole found the fairway bunker and she was unable to match Sagstrom’s par, the young American conceded the match, handing the Swede a 5-and-4 victory.
“I gave myself chances, and this morning me and Maja didn't give ourselves any chances. We were fighting for par all day,” Sagstrom said. “(Lilia) made a couple mistakes and I managed to just kind of stay just one ahead of her on those few holes, and then I made a few birdies when I needed to, but I think I just kept giving myself chances.”
Lexi Thompson (USA) d. Maja Stark (SWE), 3&2
Major champion Lexi Thompson found a point in the consolation match for the United States Team on Sunday at the Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown, capturing a 3-and-2 victory over Sweden’s Maja Stark. Stark threw the first punch with a birdie on the first to go 1 up, but Thompson leveled the match with a par on No. 4. The American made birdie on hole 5 to go 1 up and the Swede answered with a birdie of her own on the par-4, 6th to tie things back up with 12 holes to play. Thompson then made back-to-back birdies on 7 and 8 to grab a 2-up lead which she held until No. 11, dropping a shot when Stark won the hole with a par. Thompson moved back to 2 up with a par on hole 14 after Stark made bogey from the fairway bunker and hung on to the lead with tie on 15, slamming the door shut with a closing birdie on the No. 16 to win 3 and 2.
“Just coming into the week I was struggling a little bit because the week at home I was in a lot of pain with my hand. I couldn't get the practice that I really could be beneficial for me, but I was trying,” said Thompson, whose victory was her first win in a singles match at the International Crown. “I came here and I kind of just found something the day before, and I kind of just stuck with it, and sure enough, that's golf. But I've just enjoyed every bit of playing alongside these girls and being part of the team.”
Danielle Kang/Nelly Korda (USA) d. Anna Nordqvist/Caroline Hedwall (SWE), 1 UP
Sweden’s Anna Nordvist and Caroline Hedwall faced off against Danielle Kang and Nelly Korda in the foursomes portion of the consolation match at the Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown, with the American duo defeating the Swedes 1 up. The United States Team struck first, making birdie on the par-5, 3rd hole, but the Swedes tied it back up with a birdie on No. 6. A par on the 7th hole gave the advantage back to the United States Team and they never lost it, tying the Sweden Team on the next 11 holes to win the match 1 up and help the United States to a third-place finish at TPC Harding Park.
“Playing for our country is probably the greatest honor,” said Korda. “And we didn't have the morning that we probably envisioned, but to come out and place third and to beat Sweden in the afternoon after kind of losing to them on Saturday. It felt really good, as well.”
Thompson agreed, expressing gratitude for the International Crown’s return to the schedule. “We're all just so grateful for this opportunity to be able to represent our country. I think it's a great idea. Solheim is just U.S. against Europe, but International Crown came in and now eight different countries can represent their country and teams. It's a great opportunity for these girls to be able to wear their country's colors and come out and represent because golf is such an individual sport that a lot of these girls don't get the opportunity very often.”
)
)
)
)
