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International Crown – Teams Are Taking Form

By Elizabeth Bethel

OWINGS MILLS, MD - JULY 27: Carlota Ciganda of Spain celebrates on the 16th green after Spain won the International Crown at Cave Valley Golf Club on July 27, 2014 in Owings Mills, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
OWINGS MILLS, MD - JULY 27: Carlota Ciganda of Spain celebrates on the 16th green after Spain won the International Crown at Cave Valley Golf Club on July 27, 2014 in Owings Mills, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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International Crown
OWINGS MILLS, MD – JULY 26: Mika Miyazato (L) and Mamiko Higa of Japan celebrate on the 1st hole during round three of the International Crown at Caves Valley Golf Club on July 26, 2014 in Owings Mills, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Japan may be short on Crown experience but Haru Nomura might be their secret weapon.

The third ranked Japanese team will be headed by one of the emerging young power players on the Tour, Haru Nomura. Nomura will likely be joined by Shiho Oyama, Mika Miyazato, and Ayaka Watanabe, with Erika Kikuchi and Momoko Ueda in reserve.

Japan acquitted itself nicely at the 2014 International Crown, halving one match and winning the other against first Sweden and then Australia, both teams that might have appeared to be the favorites; and then splitting their matches against Korea, a clear favorite.

Japan finished the 2014 Crown sharing 3rd place with Korea, quite an accomplishment given the strength of the Korean team. Only Mika Miyazato will carry over from the 2014 team, but the addition or Nomura, who has recorded two Tour victories this season and has shown herself to be a significant force on the pro golf stage, adds considerable strength to the team. While Oyama and Watanabe are wild cards, the Japanese team will bring a strong desire to work effectively as a team and in the final analysis success at match play is as much the result of teamwork as it is individual athletic skill.

Next: Chinese Taipei

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