SEOUL, Republic of Korea — The 2023 Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown champions went up against the runner-up team at TPC Harding Park on day one of the 2025 edition of the biennial team competition. Aussies Minjee Lee and Steph Kyriacou duked it out with Thailand Team members Chanettee Wannasaen and Jasmine Suwannapura on the first day of four-ball play.

Australian major champions Hannah Green and Grace Kim then faced off with Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul and two-time LPGA Tour winner Pajaree Anannarukarn in the second match between the two countries.

Read on to learn more about what transpired between Australia and Thailand on the first day at New Korea Country Club.

Minjee Lee/Steph Kyriacou vs. Chanettee Wannasaen/Jasmine Suwannapura

Score: Australia wins 2 up

In 2023, the Australia Team finished runner-up at the Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown. Fast forward two years and they sent out two of their veterans, Minjee Lee and Steph Kyriacou, in the first match to get points on the board early for the team. The pair did exactly that, putting a full point on the board for the Aussies, defeating Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen and Jasmine Suwannapura, 2 up.

The Aussies fell behind early in the match after Suwannapura poured in a birdie putt on the par-3 second hole, but that would be the only hole lost for the pair all day. Five-time International Crown participant Minjee Lee got the ball rolling for the team in green, making a birdie on the par-5 fourth hole to tie the match. Four ties followed until Kyriacou made her presence felt with a birdie on the par-5 eighth hole to give the pair their first lead of the match.

Lee and Kyriacou maintained the lead into the turn and remained 1 up in the match for eight holes on the back nine. A birdie on the par-4 18th from Lee sealed the match and got the Aussies a much-needed point early in the week.

“We spend a lot of time together off the course, as well, not just in this event,” explained Kyriacou. “I think knowing each other as friends, it just makes you more comfortable on the course. Sometimes Minjee might get sick of me, but she's just got to suck it up.”

Hannah Green/Grace Kim vs. Jeeno Thitikul/Pajaree Anannarukarn

Score: Thailand wins 1 up

Jeeno Thitikul has been perfect in her International Crown career, leading the 2023 Thailand Team to a victory with a staggering 5-0-0 record. In 2025, it appears to be more of the same for the Rolex Rankings No. 1.

Thitikul took to the course with longtime friend Pajaree Anannarukarn to face off with a pair of major champions in Hannah Green and Grace Kim, who were looking to follow in the steps of the group in front of them and secure a full point. They got off to a quick start, winning the first hole with a birdie, but the lead was short-lived. A birdie from Thitikul on the par-4 third hole brought the match back to a tie before the Aussies took the lead once again, winning the fifth hole.

Anannarukarn made her first birdie of the day on the par-3 sixth hole, bringing the match back to a tie once again. The back-and-forth match swung the Aussies’ way once again when Green made a birdie on the par-5 eighth hole, giving the pair the lead heading into the turn.

The back nine of New Korea Country Club belonged to the Thais in the second game. Thitikul came to life, making birdies on the par-4 11th hole to tie the match and on the par-5 14th hole to take the lead for the first time all day. The Australia Team tried to battle back with a birdie on the par-5 17th hole, but Anannarukarn was there to answer the bell, making a birdie of her own to keep the 1-up lead heading into 18. Four pars on the final hole secured the full point for Thailand, splitting the day 1-1 with the team they saw in the finals in 2023.

“They're tough to beat, as well. Like yesterday in the press conference some of the media asked us like which team do you think will be in the finals, and I would say in my mind Australia always on top of there, and then we faced the Australians for the first day,” said Thitikul. “I'm not saying we're going to give up because they have a really strong team. We do, too. It's really unpredictable because of the match play. But we did a really good job today.”

Thailand Team vs. Australia Team Day One Results: 2025 Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown

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