Veteran Cristie Kerr supplied the winning point as the United States won three of four singles matches on the final day to capture the UL International Crown at the Merit Club in Gurnee, Ill.
The 38-year-old Kerr, who has 18 victories on the LPGA Tour including two majors, defeated Melissa Reid of England, 3 and 2, as the Americans capped a comeback after losing both its four-ball matches on the first day of the tournament.
“I had a feeling last night if we all played really well and things fell into place that my match could be huge,” said Kerr, who scored a team-high six points in the event and wrapped up the title with a tap-in birdie on the 16th hole after Reid missed from long range.
“But I just kind of got oblivious to all of that today because it’s just so hard to figure out who’s making points, who’s winning, who’s losing, and I just tried to take care of my match. I didn’t know that it had come down to me winning that match that we had won until Stacy (Lewis) told me.”
The U.S. finished with 13 points as Lewis defeated Mika Miyazato of Japan, 3 and 2, and Gerina Piller downed Yani Tseng of Taiwan, 4 and 3. So Yeon Ryu of South Korea beat Lexi Thompson, 2 and 1.
South Korea was second with 12 points, followed by England and Taiwan with 11 each, and Japan at eight.
“Well, it’s huge. I mean; this week has been unbelievable for us,” Lewis said. “To be called the best golfing nation I think is pretty satisfying, just to hear that being announced when we’re getting those trophies.
“These girls and we played great this week, and we never gave up. We had zero points the first day, and we still ended up with the most. It’s just a testament to them and their will to want to win this thing.”
The LPGA Tour season has been a disappointment for the Americans, with Thompson and Brittany Lang the only players with tournament victories.
