Top-Seeded Team USA Knocked Out in Semifinals at LPGA International Crown

Heading into the week as the No. 1-seeded team at the LPGA’s International Crown, Team USA looked unstoppable. That all changed on Sunday morning as the squad, which included world No. 1 Nelly Korda, Chevron champion Lilia Vu, Danielle Kang and Lexi Thompson, were defeated by Thailand in the semifinals matches at TPC Harding Park. 

Finishing in second place in Pool A, Team USA put Thompson and Vu out in the singles matches, while Kang and Korda teamed up for the morning foursomes. Without team captains, the squads had 15 minutes on Saturday to decide which players to send out in the Sunday morning matches. 

Kang and Korda trailed the dynamic sister duo of Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn for the majority of the match, but were tied by the 16th. Kang stuck her approach on the par-4 16th to inside 10 feet and Korda converted for the birdie. However, the Thai siblings went up one again on the 17th hole with a birdie of their own and clinched the victory.

In the singles matches, Vu went down to long-hitting Patty Tavatanakit, who won 1 up. Thompson’s match wasn’t quite as close—the American lost to 20-year-old rising star Atthaya Thikikul, 3 and 2. 

On the other side of the bracket, Team Australia swept Sweden. Stephanie Kyriacou beat Anna Nordqvist 4 and 3 and Hannah Green took down Caroline Hedwall 3 and 2 in the singles. In foursomes, the duo of Madelene Sagstrom and Maja Stark fell to Sarah Kemp and Minjee Lee. 

“It's huge,” Kemp said. “I'll say it again. I'm not really surprised with—not in a cocky way, just because of the way we are around each other and the team that we've built from the beginning. We've had lunch together, we've had breakfast together every day, we've had dinner together, we do everything together, and we've just come together really well, and it's paying off as you can see on the course.”

In the championship match later Sunday afternoon, Thailand crushed Australia to capture the LPGA International Crown title. The four-woman team won both the singles matches and foursomes to claim the victory.