BALTIMORE, July 27, 2014 (AFP) - Spain and Sweden swept Saturday's final four-ball matches 4-0 to advance into Sunday's singles matches, eliminating Taiwan and Australia, while Japan split with South Korea and Thailand split with the US women 2-2 to book berths in the decisive session.
That left the second-seeded Koreans and the hosts to fight for one last spot with Park and Ryu playing Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson on the par-5 16th with the second player's score used as a tie-breaker.
Park dropped her third shot seven feet from the cup, Thompson left herself 12 feet for birdie, Kerr rolled a putt to four feet and Ryu chipped two feet from the hole.
Thompson missed her birdie putt and par was conceded, but Park curled in her birdie putt. Kerr matched her birdie but Ryu tapped in for the win.
"It was the most nervous moment I've ever hard in my life," both Park and Ryu said, Park adding, "I haven't putted well this year. I think this putt is really going to help me."
The Americans lamented two first-day losses to Taiwan, the Asian side's only wins of the week.
"The first day kind of took us out of this," American Paula Creamer said. "We can't say that one shot was it. We win or lose together."
Japan leads with eight points overall while Thailand, Sweden and Spain on seven and the Koreans on six in the $1.6 million showdown at Caves Valley.
"It's going to be a big day tomorrow," Japan's Ai Miyazato said. "It wasn't expected we could take eight points. We are having a super great experience."
The Americans could not afford a loss in the last four-ball matches if they were to avoid the playoff and Kerr and Thompson never trailed in beating Thai sisters Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn 3 and 2.
But Thailand's Pornanong Phatlum and Onnarin Sattayabanphot never trailed in beating Paula Creamer and top-ranked Stacy Lewis 1-up.
"A big win," Sattayabanphot said. "We have a good chance. We don't do a lot of trash talking but we'd like to take the crown home."
- Yokomine stars for Japan -
Japan lost for the first time but kept the overall lead thanks to a late rally in their other match.
Park sank a 20-foot birdie putt at the eighth and Ryu birdied to win the ninth and 11th for a 4-up lead on the way to beating Mika Miyazato and Mamiko Higa 4 and 3, but Ai Miyazato and Sakura Yokomine fought back to down Choi Na-Yeon and I.K. Kim 3 and 2.
Yokomine eagled from the fairway at the par-4 10th to square the match, birdied 11 to lead for the first time, then rolled in a 50-foot eagle chip at the par-5 12th for a 2-up edge. Miyazato chipped in for birdie to win 14 and two pars sealed victory.
"It was a huge two points," Ai Miyazato said. "Sakura made so many great shots."
Spain eliminated Taiwan as Carlota Ciganda and Azahara Munoz won 6 and 5 over Tseng Yani and Phoebe Yao.
Belen Mozo chipped in for eagle at the par-5 16th and sank the winning 15-foot birdie putt at 18 to give her and Beatriz Recari a 1-up victory over Candie Kung and Teresa Lu.
Sweden routed the Aussies. Pernilla Lindberg and Mikaela Parmlid won the first three holes and last three holes in beating Katherine Kirk and Lindsey Wright 7 and 5 while Caroline Hedwall and Anna Nordqvist downed Karrie Webb and Minjee Lee 4 and 3.
"It has been a long time since I enjoyed myself this much on a golf course," Nordqvist said.
Results from Saturday's four-ball matches at the inaugural LPGA International Crown team event (2 points for win, 1 for halved match):
Group A
Spain 4 Taiwan 0
Carlota Ciganda/Azahara Munoz (ESP) bt Tseng Yani/Phoebe Yao (TPE) 6 and 5
Belen Mozo/Beatriz Recari (ESP) bt Candie Kung/Teresa Lu (TPE) 1-up
United States 2 Thailand 2
Cristie Kerr/Lexi Thompson (USA) bt Ariya Jutanugarn/Moriya Jutanugarn (THA) 3 and 2
Pornanong Phatlum/Onnarin Sattayabanphot (THA) bt Paula Creamer/Stacy Lewis (USA) 1-up
Group B
Sweden 4 Australia 0
Pernilla Lindberg/Mikaela Parmlid (SWE) bt Katherine Kirk/Lindsey Wright (AUS) 7 and 5
Caroline Hedwall/Anna Nordqvist (SWE) bt Minjee Lee/Karrie Webb (AUS) 4 and 3
Japan 2 South Korea 2
Park In-Bee/Ryu So-Yeon (KOR) bt Mamiko Higa/Mika Miyazato (JPN) 4 and 3
Ai Miyazato/Sakura Yokomine (JPN) bt Choi Na-Yeon/I.K. Kim (KOR) 3 and 2
Wildcard playoff
Park In-Bee/Choi Na-Yeon (KOR) bt Lexi Thompson/Cristie Kerr (USA) birdie-birdie to birdie-par
Standings (won, halved, lost, points)
Group A
x-Spain 3 1 2 7
x-Thailand 3 1 2 7
United States 3 0 3 6
Taiwan 2 0 5 4
Group B
x-Japan 3 2 1 8
x-Sweden 3 1 2 7
x-South Korea 3 0 3 6
Australia 1 1 4 3
(x- advanced to sunday singles matches -- top two in each group plus wildcard third-place playoff winner advance)
Friday's results
Group A
Thailand 4 Taiwan 0
Ariya Jutanugarn/Moriya Jutanugarn (THA) bt Candie Kung/Teresa Lu (TPE) 3 and 2
Pornanong Phatlum/Onnarin Sattayabanphot (THA) bt Tseng Yani/Phoebe Yao (TPE) 1 up
United States 4 Spain 0
Cristie Kerr/Lexi Thompson (USA) bt Belen Mozo/Beatriz Recari (ESP) 3 and 2
Paula Creamer/Stacy Lewis(USA) bt Carlota Ciganda/Azahara Munoz (ESP) 2 up
Group B
Japan 3 Australia 1
Mamiko Higa/Mika Miyazato (JPN) bt Minjee Lee/Karrie Webb (AUS) 3 and 2
Katherine Kirk/Lindsey Wright (AUS) and Ai Miyazato/Sakura Yokomine (JPN) halved
Sweden 2 South Korea 2
Caroline Hedwall/Anna Nordqvist (SWE) bt Park In-Bee/Ryu So-Yeon (KOR) 1 up
Choi Na-Yeon/I.K. Kim (KOR) bt Pernilla Lindberg/Mikaela Parmlid (SWE) 1 up
Thursday's results
Group A
Taiwan 4 United States 0
Candie Kung/Teresa Lu (TPE) bt Paula Creamer/Cristie Kerr (USA) 4 and 3
Tseng Yani/Phoebe Yao (TPE) bt Stacy Lewis/Lexi Thompson (USA) 1-up
Spain 3 Thailand 1
Carlota Ciganda/Azahara Munoz (ESP) bt Pornanong Phatlum/Onnarin Sattayabanphot (THA) 3 and 2
Ariya Jutanugarn/Moriya Jutanugarn (THA) and Belen Mozo/Beatriz Recari (ESP) halved
Group B
Japan 3 Sweden 1
Mamiko Higa/Mika Miyazato (JPN) and Caroline Hedwall/Anna Nordqvist (SWE) halved
Ai Miyazato/Sakura Yokomine (JPN) bt Pernilla Lindberg/Mikaela Parmlid 2-up
South Korea 2 Australia 2
Park In-Bee/Ryu So-Yeon (KOR) bt Katherine Kirk/Lindsey Wright (AUS) 3 and 2
Minjee Lee/Karrie Webb (AUS) bt Choi Na-Yeon/I.K. Kim 2-up