Eight countries finalized for 2023 Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown

Golf

Published: 29 Nov. 2022, 16:10

Eight countries finalized for 2023 Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown

Mina Harigae of the United States, left, and Ryu So-yeon speak during an event after the LPGA announced that the Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown will return to the schedule in 2023 at TPC Harding Park on Oct. 11 in San Francisco, California. [GETTY IMAGES/LPGA]

The final field of eight countries for the 2023 Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown is now set following the CME Group Tour Championship.

The eight countries were determined by the combined Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings of the top four players from each country as of Nov. 21.

Korea tops the list, followed by United States, Japan, Sweden, Thailand, England, Australia and China.

The top four Korean golfers are No. 5 Ko Jin-young, No. 8 Chun In-gee, No. 9 Kim Hyo-joo and No. 14 Park Min-ji. Park is the only KLPGA golfer. She became the fourth-highest Korean golfer in the world after racking up six wins this season.

The final field of 32 players and the final country seeding will be confirmed via the Rolex Rankings as of April 3, the day after the final round of the DIO Implant LA Open.

From left to right, LPGA golfer Mina Harigae, LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, President and CEO of Hanwha Life Yoo Seung-joo and LPGA golfer Ryu So-yeon stand for a photo during a signing ceremony after the LPGA announced that the Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown will return in 2023 at TPC Harding Park on Tuesday in San Francisco, California. [GETTY IMAGES/LPGA]

The Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown is LPGA's international team tournament that will make a comeback next year with a new name and a new title sponsor.

The Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown, currently sponsored by the Korean company Hanwha Lifeplus, is returning to the golf calendar for the first time since 2018. The event will be held at the historic TPC Harding Park in San Francisco in May next year.

The last time the event was held, then called the UI International Crown, the Korean contingent of Chun In-gee, Kim In-kyung, Park Sung-hyun and Ryu So-yeon won the title on home soil at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon, outplaying the United States and England, who tied for second.

First established in 2014, the International Crown is a team match-play event where top golfers on the women's individual standings from the top eight countries compete.

Now that the eight countries are set, the final field of 32 players will be determined via the Rolex Rankings on April 2, 2023, immediately following the Palos Verdes Championship.

The eight countries are split into two pools by their placement in the Rolex Rankings. Korea is in Pool A with Sweden, Thailand and China, while Pool B consists of the United States, Japan, England and Australia.

The competition will take place over four days, with the first three days played as a four-ball competition where there are two-player teams and each player plays her own ball. The lower score of the two players is chosen as that side's score for the hole.

The top two countries from each pool will advance to the final round. Two semifinal matches will be played Sunday morning, with each match consisting of two singles matches and one foursome match. Foursome matches are also called alternate shots, as it is a form of play where two players form a team and play one ball in alternating turns on each hole.

The winning semifinalists will compete in the final on Sunday afternoon, along with a third-place match between the two losing semifinalists. The final and third-place match will be played in the same format as the semifinals.

The Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown will tee off at TPC Harding Park at May 4 and will finish May 7.

BY YUN SO-HYANG [yun.sohyang@joongang.co.kr]