Internationals lead Lexus Cup 4-2

Annika Sorenstam and American teenager Paula Creamer had a five-birdie round Friday, rallying the Internationals to a 4-2 lead over Asia on the first day of the Lexus Cup tournament.

The top two players on the LPGA money list had been two-down for most of the front nine in an alternate shot match against South Koreans Jeong Jang and Meena Lee until International captain Sorenstam made a seven-foot downhill putt to save par.

"That just totally helped our momentum, it helped her, she did a great job on the next hole," Creamer said. "The first couple of holes were a little shaky out there for us, Annika hit some really good shots but I missed a couple of putts early on."

A hole later, Sorenstam's second shot on the par-4 ninth fell within 10 feet of the cup. Creamer putted out to win 2 and 1.

Among the other winners for the Internationals were the pairings of Suzann Pettersen and Sophie Gustafson, the British pairing of Karen Stupples and Catriona Matthew, and Erica Blasberg and Marisa Buena.

Of the six matches going into the turn at Tanah Merah Country Club, Asia held leads in at least three. Another was halved. Then it all fell apart.

"I was a little bit worried there, but the players just turned it around on the back nine and we got four solid points," said Sorenstam.

Sorenstam, leading a team in a Ryder Cup-style tournament for the first time, said it was challenging trying to focus on her game and monitor the leaderboard at the same time.

"We have 12 strong individuals and all of a sudden you're teammates and you have to play together. I think we did really well," the Swede said.

South Korea's Han Hee-won and Taiwan's Candie Kung, and the pairing of Korean twins Aree and Naree Song were the Asian points scorers. No match ended in a tie.

Sorenstam pair with Stupples to take on Meena Lee and Gloria Park in Saturday's fourball round. Other pairings include Creamer and Gublis, the two young LPGA stars, who will go head to head against Candie Kung and British Open winner Jeong Jang.

The first team to 11-and-a-half points wins.

December 9, 2005

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