As with any great team competition, it’s the back-and-forth exchange of the trophy that makes for a riveting event year after year. Sunday, it was the KLPGA’s turn to take home the trophy as they defeated the team from the LPGA at the annual Orange Life Champions Trophy Inbee Park Invitational. The team event, hosted by LPGA Tour Hall of Famer Inbee Park, pits members of the LPGA against members of the KLPGA in a three-day competition. Sunday, the KLPGA defeated the LPGA 15-9 at Blue One The Honors Country Club in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea to claim the team's second victory in the event's five-year history.
The team from the LPGA was captained by So Yeon Ryu and included Mi Jung Hur, Eun-Hee Ji, Danielle Kang, Hyo Joo Kim, Jin Young Ko, Lydia Ko, Jeongeun Lee6, Minjee Lee, Mi Hyang Lee, Inbee Park, Jenny Shin and Amy Yang.
The invitational is structured much like the Solheim Cup. Players team up in fourball and foursomes matches, before 12 singles matches are staged on the final day. The LPGA's Lydia Ko and Minjee Lee combined for a successful 3-and-1 victory in the fourball matches, while So Yeon Ryu and Jin Young Ko pulled off a 3-and-2 fourball win. The team of Jeongeun Lee6 and Jenny Shin were the only duo that kept the LPGA from being shut out in the Foursomes matches, winning their match, 1 up. During the Sunday singles matches, Lydia Ko, Lee6 and Ji were all victorious, but Jin Young Ko clinched the biggest victory of the day with a 5-and-3 defeat of the KLPGA's Hye Jin Choi.