by TONY KIM
For the first time ever, 32 female golfers representing the top eight ranked countries will face each other in order to bring the International Crown to their own country. The International Crown tournament will be held from July 21-27 at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mill, Maryland.
The eight countries have been divided into two pools and will be competing for one of five open finals qualification spots. Pool A includes the U.S., Thailand, Spain and Chinese Taipei. Pool B includes Republic of Korea, Japan, Sweden and Australia.
The top two teams with most points during the pool stage will automatically qualify for the finals, while the third place country from each pool will compete for the final spot. Teams in the pool stage will be playing two four-ball matches from Thursday to Saturday.
On Sunday, the remaining five teams will play a singles math against every other team like a round robin tournament. The team with the most total points will be crowned the winner.
Team Korea consists of Inbee Park, the 2013 Rolex Player of the Year with 10 LPGA wins; So Yeon Ryu, the 2012 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year with 2 LPGA wins; Na Yeon Choi, 2010 Vare Trophy Winner with 7 LPGA wins; and I.K. Kim, who has 3 LPGA wins. Korea is entering the tournament as the second seed right behind the U.S. team.
Photo via LPGA
