Sweden, Australia, Thailand off to hot starts in LPGA International Crown – Sports

SAN FRANCISCO: Sweden, Australian and Thailand all grabbed the maximum two points from two matches on the opening day of the LPGA International Crown team event Thursday as China and the United States split their pool matches.

Sweden roared out of the gate with the biggest wins of the day as Madelene Sagstrom and Maya Stark beat England’s Liz Young and Alice Hewson 5-4 in four-ball competition.

Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall beat England’s Bronte Law and Jodi Ewart-Shadoff 4&3.

Nordqvist and Hedwall, who have a long history together in the Solheim Cup and the International Crown, seized control early as Nordqvist started the day with three straight birdies to give them a 3-up lead.

Law and Ewart-Shadoff birdied the fifth to get to 2-down but would get no closer.

Stark, playing her first match play event as a professional, had her nerves eased as Sagstrom made four birdies…