Women’s Golf: Japan Sweeps Fourball Matches at The QUEENS
In women’s golf, playing captain Dame Laura Davies planned to overwhelm with power but Ayaka Watanabe deflected with finesse.
Dame Laura Davies’ game plan for the fourball matches at The Queens Cup could be summed up with one word: Power. It didn’t work. Ayaka Watanabe and Erika Kikuchi dominated the opening match.
In fact, the LPGA of Japan team came out strong and stayed strong through the entire day, going to clubhouse holding the clear advantage over the Ladies European Tour, Australian Ladies Professional Golf and Korean LPGA teams.
On a bitterly cold day, the home nation won all four of their matches in a shutout that has left the Europeans, Australians and Koreans in a scramble for remaining points.
Reid said there were many factors in play during her fourball match:
"“Having five weeks off obviously doesn’t work very well for me, but it was just really cold. We had a rushed warm up as well and it was hard to get into a rhythm. They played great.”"
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In the unique and innovative scoring system created for the inaugural tournament, three points are awarded for a win and one point to each team for a halved match. That means that Japan goes into the day two foursomes matches with 12 points.
Shiho Oyama and Misuzu Narita beat Koreans Seon Woo Bae and Jin Young Ko 2&1, Ritsuko Ryu and Miki Sakai beat Australians Rachel Hetherington and Whitney Hillier 4&3 and Japanese captain Momoko Ueda and Erina Hara beat Australians Lindsey Wright and Stephanie Na 6&5.
Japan LPGA captain Momoko Ueda looked back on the fourball match outcomes with cautious pleasure:
"“I’m extremely delighted with the way Japan has started the tournament. Our target was, and still is, to win every match. However, we can’t take today’s results for granted as we know it could be a very different story tomorrow. Looking at the scoreboard during the round, and seeing how well the other players were doing, gave me extra confidence and I’m sure it was the same for my teammates.”"
Korea is in second place with seven points after two wins and a halved match. US Women’s Open champion In Gee Chun and Yoon Ji Cho beat Australians Katherine Kirk and Nikki Garrett by 4&3, while Jung Min Lee and Min Sun Kim beat Gwladys Nocera and Marianne Skarpnord 1 up.
The Ladies European Tour team is in third place with four points after one win and one halved match.
This year’s Tipsport Golf Masters champion Hannah Burke and Emily Kristine Pedersen, who recently claimed her maiden title in India, combined for a 4&3 win over Sarah Kemp and Sarah Jane Smith. In the last match, Europeans Catriona Matthew and Karine Icher halved with Koreans Sung Hyun Park and Bo-Mee Lee.
Rookie professional Pedersen birdied the first hole to gain an immediate advantage in the third match before the effervescent Burke made a par on the long second for the Europeans to go two up on the Australians. Pedersen made a long winning birdie putt of 26 yards across the fourth green before Burke holed from four feet on the 155 yard par 3 fifth to go four up.
It was a disappointing day for the Australian team, who failed to win any points in the fourballs. Captain Rachel Hetherington said:
"“We can only get better. I think all the girls actually played pretty solid. A few of us haven’t played competition golf for a little while so were a little out of sorts. We will definitely improve in every match from now on.”"
Saturday Foursomes Pairings (all times are local time)
9:30: Shiho Oyama and Misuzu Narita (JLPGA) V Hannah Burke and Melissa Reid (LET)
9:40: Sarah Kemp and Sarah Jane Smith (ALPG) V Sung Hyun Park and Min Sun Kim (KLPGA)
9:50: Ritsuko Ryu and Akane Iijima (JLPGA) V Rachel Hetherington and Whitney Hillier (ALPG)
10:00: Marianne Skarpnord and Emily Kristine Pedersen (LET) V Yoon Ji Cho and Jung Min Lee (KLPGA)
10:10: Ayaka Watanabe and Erika Kikuchi (JLPGA) V Gwladys Nocera and Catriona Matthew (LET)
10:20: Lindsey Wright and Nikki Garrett (ALPG) V Jin Young Ko and Bo-Mee Lee (KLPGA)
10:30: Karine Icher and Nanna Koerstz Madsen (LET) V Katherine Kirk and Nikki Campbell (ALPG)
10:40: Sei Young Kim and In Gee Chun (KLPGA) V Momoko Ueda (JLPGA) and Erina Hara (JLPGA)
Next: Inbee Park's Lessons from the Links
For North American fans, Golf Channel will provide coverage of The QUEENS Cup 2nd round on Golf Live Extra beginning at 2:30pm ET.