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Team Asia storm to 6-0 Lexus Cup lead

Team Asia's Amy Hung of Taiwan watches her shot on the first-day of the Lexus Cup tournament at the Vines Golf Course in Perth, Australia, yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Team Asia had one hand on the Lexus Cup after an impeccable start to the season-ending LPGA teams tournament yesterday.

Pak Se-ri's Asians were well on track to defend the title they won in Singapore last year, taking every point available on the first day's play at the Vines Resort and Country Club.

At the end of a first round of foursome matches, which saw International captain Annika Sorenstam beaten for the first time in the three-year history of the event, Asia led 6-0.

When Taiwan's Candie Kung dropped a short birdie putt on the 16th hole to clinch victory for her and Japan's Ayako Uehara over Sweden's Sorenstam and Scotland's Catriona Matthew, it completed Asia's clean sweep of the day.

Team Asia only needs six and a half points from the remaining 18 available to clinch the tournament.

The only downside for Asia was a recurrence of a left shoulder injury for captain Pak, who managed to team with fellow Korean Kim In-kyung to beat Americans Morgan Pressel and Stacy Prammanasudh 2 and 1.

Pak Se-ri watches kangaroos on the 10th fairway on the first day of the Lexus Cup in Perth yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Pak had physio straight after play, but later said she would be fine for the remaining two rounds.

Sorenstam was nonplussed by her team's poor start, and was confident they would bounce back.

"I don't really know what to say, I thought we had a good team out there and some great pairings," she said. "It didn't turn out the way we would have liked."

"We have to come back very strong and we know we can do it," Sorenstam said.

The Swede said she would meet with vice-captain Natalie Gulbis and consider making changes to the pairings for today's play.

Team Asia's captain Pak Se-ri, of South Korea, left, celebrates a successful day with members of her team at the end of Day One of the Lexus Cup in Perth yesterday. PHOTO: AP

Pak said she first hurt her shoulder in a fall a fortnight ago and clutched at it after teeing off on the 15th, but said it was only a minor problem.

She said the results exceeded her expectations.

"I never expected that today," she said. "I am very proud of them."

The day started well enough for the internationals, but it soon turned foul.

Gulbis and Norway's Suzann Pettersen were first on the course and started strongly against Korean pair Lee Jee-young and Lee Seon-hwa, going two up after six holes despite Lee Jee-young producing the shot of the day to sink a long approach shot on the second.

"I never expected that today. I am very proud of them."

Pak Se-ri

However, the pair then fell away dramatically as they struggled with wayward driving and poor putting. Pettersen's frustration was clear as they failed to make a birdie for the round.

A birdie on the 12th hole put the Koreans two up and they were never troubled from there on, winning 3 and 2.

Taiwan's Amy Hung and Korea's Shin Ji-yai thrashed Sweden's Maria Hjorth and American Brittany Lincicome 4 and 2.

Kung and Uehara were four up against Sorenstam and Matthew at one stage and although the International pair pulled it back to one at the 13th, that was as close as they got.

The format switches to fourball today, with the singles matches rounding out the Lexus Cup tomorrow.
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