Chicago's Merit Club To Host 2016 UL International Crown

Meet Team Korea - UL International Crown Profile

With nine players from the Republic of Korea ranked in the top-10 in the Rolex Rankings, it was a tight battle to earn one of the four coveted spots on the team representing their home country at the UL International Crown.

The four players who earned membership on Team Korea are Sei Young Kim, In Gee Chun, Amy Yang and So Yeon Ryu. World No.3 Inbee Park held the top spot in the rankings for this team but was forced to withdraw due to an ongoing thumb injury and was replaced by So Yeon Ryu who was next in the standings.

Ryu is the only player on this team with experience representing Team Korea in 2014, when she earned six points for her team including four points in four-ball matches with Inbee Park and another two points in the singles matches. She’ll hope to impart some of that success on the rookies that make up her team. Kim is a two-time winner in 2016, having captured both the JTBC Founders Cup and Meijer LPGA Classic. Chun hasn’t been able to follow up her 2015 U.S. Women’s Open victory with a second win on Tour but has posted six top-10 finishes in her rookie season. Yang has also had a strong start to 2016 with six top-10s of her own including five top-3s.

“We are looking forward to hosting the 2016 UL International Crown at the Merit Club,” said UL CEO Keith Williams. “Our goal as title sponsor is to keep growing the stature of this one-of-a-kind international event and the Merit Club is a prestigious and beautiful golf course right in our backyard. We are interested in seeing which country will reign in 2016.” 

So Yeon Ryu Takes The Lead For Team Korea

Thursday Matches - UL International Crown

Pool A

Match 1 – 8:00 a.m.

Australia vs. Chinese Taipei

Karrie Webb and Su Oh vs. Yani Tseng and Teresa Lu

Australia’s Karrie Webb and Su Oh will be the first out on Thursday morning, taking on Yani Tseng and Teresa Lu of Chinese Taipei. Both countries competed in 2014 with returning players Webb, Tseng and Lu all playing with different partners this time around. Webb was partnered with Minjee Lee in the 2014 matches when the pair went 1-2-0 for the week with Australia finishing last in the eight teams.

In 2014, Tseng played alongside Phoebe Yao, who did not qualify for the 2016 matches, and the pair went 1-2-0 for the week. Lu played with Candie Kung in 2014 who also had a record of 1-2-0. The team finished seventh of the eight teams in 2014.

Match 2 – 8:15 a.m.

Australia vs. Chinese Taipei

Minjee Lee and Rebecca Artis vs. Candie Kung and Ssu-Chia Cheng

Australia’s Minjee Lee and Rebecca Artis will square off against Chinese Taipei’s Candie Kung and Ssu-Chia Cheng on Thursday. Lee played alongside Karrie Webb in 2014 and will bring that experience to the match with Artis who is new to the team for 2016. Kung played alongside Teresa Lu in 2014, going 1-2-0 for the week. This time around, Kung will play alongside Ssu-Chia Cheng who is new to the team for 2016.

Match 7 – 9:30 a.m.

Republic of Korea vs. China

Amy Yang and In Gee Chun vs. Shanshan Feng and Xi Yu Lin

A group of first-timers will go head to head on Thursday at the UL International Crown. Republic of Korea’s Amy Yang and In Gee Chun will face China's Shanshan Feng and Xi Yu Lin in Thursday’s matches. Both Yang and Chun are new to the team for 2016 and with China making it’s debut this week, both Feng and Lin are first time competitors as well.

Match 8 – 9:45 a.m.

Republic of Korea vs. China

So Yeon Ryu and Sei Young Kim vs. Jing Yan and Simin Feng

Republic of Korea’s So Yeon Ryu is the only player with UL International Crown experience teeing it up in this group. Ryu will play alongside Sei Young Kim in taking on China’s Jing Yan and Simin Feng on Thursday. Ryu played with Inbee Park in the inaugural UL International Crown, going 2-1-0 in 2014. Her experience should serve the team well in their hopes to better their third place finish in 2014.

Pool B

Match 3 – 8:30 a.m.

Japan vs. Thailand

Mika Miyazato and Haru Nomura vs. Moriya Jutanugarn and Pornanong Phatlum

Mika Miyazato and Haru Nomura of Japan will take on Moriya Jutanugarn and Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand on Thursday. Miyazato played with Mamiko Higa in the 2014 matches, going 1-1-1 for the week. But with Higa missing out on the 2016 matches, Miyazato will play alongside Nomura, a first-time competitor. Moriya Jutanugarn will also have a new teammate in 2016, having played alongside her sister Ariya, during the 2014 matches. The pair went 1-1-1 for the week. This time around Jutanugarn will play with Pornanong Phatlum who also had a different playing partner in onnarin Sattayabanphot who did not qualify for 2016. The pair went 2-1-0 in 2014.

Match 4 – 8:45 a.m.

Japan vs. Thailand

Ai Suzuki and Ayaka Watanabe vs. Porani Chutichai and Ariya Jutanugarn

Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn is the only member of this match with experience playing in the 2014 UL International Crown. Ariya played alongside her sister, Moriya, in the inaugural playing but presumably chose to change up the groupings after Thailand finished fifth in the competition. She’ll bring that experience to Thursday’s pairing with first-time competitor Porani Chutichai in the match up against Ai Suzuki and Ayaka Watanabe. Both Suzuki and Watanabe are new to Team Japan.

Match 5 – 9:00 a.m.

USA vs England

Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson vs. Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Holly Clyburn

Team USA’s Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson will square off against England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Holly Clyburn on Thursday. Kerr and Thompson have a proven track record of success, having played together in both the 2014 UL International Crown and 2015 Solheim Cup when the pair went 2-0-1 for the week. Ewart Shadoff has experience of her own playing in the Solheim Cup as a member of Team Europe and played alongside Charley Hull in the Four-Ball matches in 2013, but will play with newcomer Holly Clyburn on Thursday.

Match 6 – 9:15 a.m.

USA vs. England

Gerina Piller and Stacy Lewis vs. Charley Hull and Mel Reid

Team USA’s Gerina Piller and Stacy Lewis will face England’s Charley Hull and Mel Reid on Thursday. Piller and Lewis, like Kerr and Thompson, look to continue the success they found in the 2015 Solheim Cup when the pair went 2-0-0 for the week. While Piller is new to the UL International Crown, Lewis competed in the 2014 matches alongside Lexi Thompson and Paula Creamer, going 1-2-0 for the week in the fourball matches. Hull and Reid also played together in the 2015 Solheim Cup for Team Europe. The pair competed together in the foursome matches where they were 1-0-0.

Karrie Webb Returns To Merit Club and More From UL International Crown

All the teams prior to the start of the 2016 UL International Crown

The Republic of Korea Team prior to the start of the 2016 UL International Crown

Team China prior to the start of the 2016 UL International Crown

Team Thailand prior to the start of the 2016 UL International Crown