Australia Claims First Victory in Women's International Golf Team Competition

Australia Defeats United States in International Crown Final
World Team Takes Third Place Over Japan; Korea Eliminated in Group Stage

Australia has won the women's golf international team competition.

The Australian team, consisting of Minji Lee, Grace Kim, Hannah Green, and Stephanie Kyriacou, claimed victory over the United States in the final of the Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown (total prize money: 2 million dollars) held on October 26 at New Korea Country Club in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province (par 72, 6,542 yards). The team received a winner's prize of 500,000 dollars (approximately 720 million won).

Australian players are cheering while holding the trophy right after winning the Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown. Goyang=AP Photo by Yonhap News

Established in 2014 and celebrating its fifth edition this year, the Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown is a tournament where eight teams, each composed of four players, compete to determine the world's strongest women's golf nation. After Spain in 2014, the United States in 2016, Korea in 2018, and Thailand in 2023, Australia has now taken the title. Over the five tournaments, a different team has claimed the trophy each time.

In the final, Minji Lee, who played in the first singles match, secured an early advantage for Australia by defeating Angel Yin by two holes. Hannah Green, who maintained the lead throughout the second singles match, sealed Australia's victory by beating Noh Yealimi by two holes with a birdie on the 17th hole.

Minji Lee is teeing off on the 3rd hole during the final day of the Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown against the United States. Goyang=AP Yonhap News Photo

In the third-place match, the World Team, participating in this tournament for the first time, defeated Japan by winning both singles matches and finished third. Lydia Ko (New Zealand) led the team to victory by defeating Rio Takeda by three holes, while Charley Hull (England) beat Ayaka Furue by four holes. The Korean team, featuring Kim Hyojoo, Yoo Haeran, Ko Jin-young, and Choi Hye-jin, aimed for their first championship in seven years but was eliminated in the group stage.