Although monsoon-like conditions almost brought the Lexus Cup to an early end, the ladies continued their match-play battles creating an exciting inaugural event in Singapore.
Team Asia took an early lead in day-one alternate-shot matches but the combined force of Annika Sorenstam and Paula Creamer later in the day swept British Open champion Jeong Jang and Meena Lee. Once accomplished, numbers one and two in the world set the stage for an exciting finale which would eventually give the international team it’s victory.
“We have 12 strong individuals and all of a sudden you’re teammates and you have to play together. I think we did really well,” stated Sorenstam.
You just can’t keep a good man down. Okay, so in this case it’s the top two female golfers in the world who struggled early in the first day of matchplay against strong Asian competition. Women’s British Open champion Jeong Jang and partner Hee-Won Han were as far as 2-up by the sixth hole at the Tanah Merah Country Club but a miraculous 8-foot putt by Sorenstam swung the momentum to the side of the Internationals. At the turn it was all-square and time for Annika to turn up the heat.
“The 7th was the turning point for us,” stated Creamer. “Annika had an eight-footer to make par and she did it and she also made the next four holes. I missed a couple of putts in the first two holes but it was like come on, some of them have got to go in, and they did,” continued the Pink Panther. Their team had a five-birdie day winning over Jang and Han with a score of 2 and 1.
Erica Blasberg and Marisa Baena teamed up to easily defeat Birdie Kim and Gloria Park. The Asian duo attempted to force a tie but a lip-out by Kim and a par-saving putt by Blasberg gave a win to the Internationals.
“I’m a little disappointed and the team is not familiar with this format but tomorrow’s a different day,” said Park later at the conference.
Hee-Won Han and Candie Kung grabbed a 5 and 4 victory over Janice Moodie and Carin Koch after the Internationals choked with six bogeys. Three-up after nine holes for the Asian team put too much pressure on Vice-Captain Moodie and her partner.
“We know each other very well. That’s the key to alternate shot play,” said Candie Kung.
Another 5 and 4 victory came from twin sisters Aree and Naree Song who easily swept the team of Natalie Gulbis and Jill McGill but Asian team captain Grace Park and playing partner Jennifer Rosales were not successful and fell to the Scandinavian duo of Sophie Gustafson and Suzann Petterson, 3 and 2.
Friday’s foursomes results: Asia 2, International 4.
Teen sensation Paula Creamer and rookie Erica Blasberg helped the International team to take the lead in day-two drama at the Lexus Cup.
Remaining one-down through seventeen holes the team of Blaserg and McGill needed a miracle and got one. At the par-5 18th, Blasberg holed her third shot, an 85-yard wedge taking victory in that match. “It was my ideal distance,” said Erica. “We got it down perfect, I’m glad it worked out. It was key.”
Creamer was paired with friend Natalie Gulbis against the team of Jang and Kung. In spite of a rules dispute at the par-5 14th in which Creamer was not allowed to lift, clean and place after finding her ball embedded, Paula punched out and putted in for birdie. That gave her duo and one-up lead and then Creamer went on a hot streak. Her birdies on the next two holes gave the team a 3 and 2 win.
“I gave myself a lot of chances today,” said Creamer. “I didn’t even know I had seven birdies until later.”
Annika Sorenstam and partner Karen Stupples took the win against Meena Lee and Gloria Park but for a moment the Asian team had a glimmer of hope. With Park holing out a chip-shot at eighteen it was up to Sorenstam’s team to come up wth a birdie which they could not do but Lee’s attempt to take the outright victory failed when her short putt missed it’s mark. This match was halved.
By the end of Saturday’s match-ups Team International took an 8-4 lead over Asia. Team Asia would need a miracle in final round single’s matches to claim the trophy. With Annika at the helm and a Sunday title on the line, that just wasn’t in the cards.
The International lead ballooned to twelve at the end of seven singles matches.
Grace Park took the point in her match against Sorenstam (2 and 1) but that didn’t worry Annika. Her team put in an extraordinary effort in spite of her loss.
For example, Paula Creamer’s match against Birdie Kim was a blowout. The Pink Panther’s lead grew to 5-up through the first eleven holes and Kim was soundly defeated 7 and 5. “My goal was to get the first point (Sunday) and I did that. … I made some big shots, some critical putts,” stated a confident Creamer.
After that first victory of the day, Team International was fired up in spite of the points earned by Jang, Han and Kung. They were so pumped up, in fact, that they destroyed the Asian players chances of any more victories on the day. The International team took the next five singles matches.
The final game of Blasberg versus Higashio was the spotlight match of the day. Blasberg’s birdie putt on the par-4 16th sealed the deal as Higashio struggled under the pressure. After conceding the match 3 and 2, the International Team won the Cup.
“I’m happy. Yeah, I’ve had a great week,” said the 21-year old rookie.
Photo Credit: © LPGA.com.