by HAEIN JUNG
It was a fight to the finish at the International Crown, the first-of-its-kind, global women’s golf competition that wrapped up in Maryland this past weekend.
The “crown,” along with a hefty $1.6 million paycheck, went to Spain, but South Korea had several moments of glory, and ultimately placed third. The players were recent Manulife Financial LPGA Classic winner Inbee Park, former Korean National Golf Team member So-Yeon Ryu, 2012’s U.S Women’s Open winner Na-Yeon Choi and three-time LPGA winner I.K Kim.
On Saturday, South Korea eliminated the United States in a sudden-death playoff to win the wild-card berth. Park and Ryu both birdied the first hole.
“Normally if I lose a playoff, everything is just for me and I can handle everything,” Ryu told USA Today. “But this time I have to think about Inbee, I.K. and Na Yeon and all Korean fans and all Korean people.”
Ryu and her teammates had earlier stated that they really wanted to win the tournament to uplift their nation, still grieving from the ferry tragedy that killed more than 300 people. “That means this tournament feels more bigger than the Olympic Games,” she said at the time.
Though they came up short this time, the South Korean women certainly put up a valiant fight, winning two singles but losing two others for a four-day total of 10 points.
The event was held at nationally ranked golf course Caves Valley Golf Club in Owing Mills, Maryland.
Photo via USA Today
