INCHEON, South Korea (AP) — The United States enjoyed a perfect morning on the second day of the UL International Crown team golf tournament, comfortably winning both fourball matches against Thailand to move atop Pool B in the eight-nation tournament.
Jessica Korda and Michelle Wie bounced back from Thursday’s defeat against Sweden to defeat Moriya Jutanugarn and Pornanong Phatlum 6 and 4. Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson made it two wins in two rounds with a 4 and 3 against Ariya Jutanugarn and Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong.
The two victories at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea, 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of Seoul, gave the defending champions six points, ahead of Sweden with four. Japan and Thailand have three each.
Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall of Sweden continued their good form, defeating Japan’s Misuzu Narita and Mamiko Higa 6 and 4.
Third-seeded Japan pick up its first victory as Ayako Uehara and Nasa Hataoka defeated Pernilla Lindberg and Madelene Sagstrom 4 and 3.
After three days of fourballs, the top two teams from each pool and one wild-card team advance to the singles event on Sunday with the team collecting the most points over the four days taking the title.
Teams get two points for a win and one if the match is halved.
Due to fears that Typhoon Kong-rey could hit the Korean peninsula over the weekend, organizers hope to complete two rounds on Friday in an attempt to finish the tournament on Saturday.
England is atop Pool A with seven points after a perfect morning. Bronte Law and Jodi Ewart Shadoff defeated Candie Kung and Phobe Yao of Taiwan 6 and 4. Charley Hull and Georgia Hall overcame Wei-Ling Hsu and Teresa L, 2 and 1.
Top-seeded South Korea stumbled after a perfect opening day to end the second round on 6 points. So Yeon Ryu and In Gee Chun defeated Australia’s Minjee Lee and Sarah Jane Smith 2 and 1, but Sung Hyun Park and I.K. Kim lost to Su Oh and Katherine Kirk by 3 and 2.
Australia has three points while Taiwan has yet to score.
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