Thailand caps 11-1 week with Aussie sweep, International Crown title
Thailand didn’t just win its first Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown in four tries. It did so in dominant fashion.
After going 6-0 in group play and then beating the top-ranked U.S. team, 2-1, in the semifinals, Thailand didn’t have a match go past the 16th hole in a 3-0 win over Australia in the championship match Sunday afternoon at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco.
Patty Tavatanakit secured the first point for Thailand with a 4-and-3 victory over Hannah Green. Atthaya Thitikul followed minutes later by securing the clinching point, rallying from 1 down through seven holes to beat Stephanie Kyriacou, 4 and 2.
Full scoring from the Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown
With the title already in hand, Thailand added its record 11th match win with a 4-and-3 victory by sisters Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn over Minjee Lee and Sarah Kemp. Ariya sealed that match by chipping in for par.
Australia, the seventh seed, had finished last in each of the first two International Crowns before placing sixth in 2018.
“It’s a little disappointing,” Kemp said, “but at the same time, I think we made everyone in Australia proud by finishing second. I’m proud of these girls. We’ve done the best ever Australia has done in this tournament. It’s obviously a little disappointing, but it’s still a big win for us.”
The U.S. took third place with a 2-1 win over Sweden.