BELMONT, Mich.  – Inbee Park figures the best defense against the nerves that come with being in the lead is a hot putter.

Using a new blade putter this week, Park made two long birdie putts on the back nine Saturday and finished with a 3-under 68 to remain a stroke ahead after the third round of the Meijer LPGA Classic.

“I feel like I haven’t holed that kind of putt for a long time and it’s all of a sudden happening this week,” Park said. “This putter, it seems like it’s going really on line and I feel like I’m stroking the ball better this week.”

The third-ranked South Korean player holed a 25-footer from the fringe on the par-3 14th, bogeyed the par-4 15th after missing a 3-foot par try and rebounded with a 35-foot birdie putt on the par-4 16th.

The 26-year-old Park won six times last season and took the Manulife Financial in June in Canada for her 10th LPGA Tour title. She had a 13-under 200 total at Blythefield Country Club.

“I think it would have been nice if I had probably two- or three-(shot lead),” Park said. “That gives me more breathing room, but one is still better than nothing. I’m in better position than everybody else.”

South Korean rookie Mirim Lee was second after a 67. Norway’s Suzann Pettersen was another stroke back after a 69.

Cristie Kerr matched the low round of the tournament with a 64 to jump 44 spots to a tie for 12th at 5 under. She hit 10 of 13 fairways and had only 26 putts.

Park, using a blade putter instead of a mallet for the first time since 2008, birdied the first hole and stayed in front until Pettersen birdied Nos. 7 and 8 to tie for the lead. The tie lasted one hole before Park rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt at the ninth.

Pettersen birdied the par-4 13th with a 20-footer to tie again, only to have Park roll in the 25-footer from the fringe at 14. Pettersen then matched Park’s bogey at 15, also missing a 3-foot par try.

That’s when Lee slipped in between the two with birdies at Nos. 15 and 16.

Pettersen, who for much of last year was No. 2 in the rankings to Park’s No. 1, said she struggled with her game, gusty wind and greens that are firming up.

“Overall it was one of those days where you just fight to stay in it,” said Pettersen, ranked fourth in the world. “I didn’t have the greatest of feels throughout the round. There were a lot of challenges out there, and there will be as many tomorrow and hopefully I can do just a little better.”

Park, who shot 66 in each of the first two rounds, said it was easily the toughest day of the three.

“The wind was quite tricky to me,” she said. “I played pretty consistent again, but the golf course was tougher, the conditions harder. I have to stay consistent and keep rolling in some putts.”

Park knows very little about Lee.

“I know she’s from Korea and she played on the KLPGA Tour, and I know she’s hitting it quite long from seeing it from behind today,” Park said. “Except for that, I really don’t have much information. Obviously she played quite solid for three days.”

Lori Kane leads the Canadians carding 71 in the third round to sit tied for 43rd. Alena Sharp and and Rebecca Lee-Bentham shot 74 and 75 respectively to share 60th.

Michelle Wie announced today that she will miss three to five weeks of competitive golf due to a stress reaction in a bone of the index finger on her right hand. After withdrawing from this week’s Meijer LPGA Classic, Wie was examined by hand surgeon Dr. Tom Graham at the Cleveland Clinic, who made the diagnosis and will consult with Michelle on her return to golf this year.

“I was looking forward to playing the next three weeks,” said Wie, who will now miss the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open at London Hunt and Country Club. “It’s honestly one of my favorite stretches on tour. It’s extremely disappointing to miss these events, but I am relieved to have a proper diagnosis.”

“Michelle has developed an ‘acute-on-chronic’ injury influenced by the volume in which she practices and plays,” said Dr. Graham. “Michelle is very aware of her body and was keen to pick up on this injury before it may have created a more severe problem.”

“Seven years ago, I would have tried to play through this injury and it is important to me not to make that mistake again,” Wie added. “I feel more comfortable now listening to my body and, while it’s hard to miss this stretch of events, I know I will be better suited to continue a great year and finish strong.”

Graham described that injuries of this severity typically requires about three to five weeks of limited practice and play before returning to competition. He also treated Wie several years ago when she broke her wrist.

BELMONT, Mich. – Inbee Park found a new putter – and her old touch.

The South Korean player took the second-round lead Friday in the Meijer LPGA Classic, birdieing her first three holes en route to her second straight 5-under 66.

The third-ranked Park finished on the front nine, adding birdies on the par-5 fifth and eighth holes in her bogey-free round at Blythefield Country Club. She won six times last year and took the Manulife Financial in June in Canada for her 10th LPGA Tour title.

“My putting feels like I’m back to last year,” Park said. “Hopefully, I can hole some more putts the next two days.”

After using a mallet putter since 2008, Park tried a friend’s blade putter Tuesday and started making putts. She hasn’t stopped since with 27 putts in each round after having TaylorMade quickly make her an identical version.

“I just never used that style of putter for a long, long time and I just wanted to have a change because I tried everything else and it didn’t really work,” she said. “This was pretty much my last option.”

She said the improved putting was especially obvious in the second round.

“Yesterday I hit a lot of the shots closer, but today I made 15 to 20-footers, at least a couple of them,” she said.

Fourth-ranked Suzann Pettersen was a stroke back. The Norwegian player matched the course record with a 64.

South Korea’s Mirim Lee also shot 64 to reach 8 under, and South Korea’s Amy Yang was fourth at 7 under after a 67.

Second-ranked Lydia Ko, the 17-year-old New Zealand player coming off a victory in the Marathon Classic in Sylvania, Ohio, was tied for fifth at 5 under after a 68. Germany’s Sandra Gal, the first-round leader, also was in the group at 5 under, following her opening 65 with a 72.

Top-ranked Stacy Lewis, a three-time winner this year, was even-par after a 72.

Pettersen, who won the last of her 14 LPGA Tour titles last year, is coming off a three-week break from competition, but free from back pain that hampered her earlier this year and eager to play again. She said it was nice to go low.

“It’s not like the easiest course if you miss the fairways,” she said. “I just tried to play to my strength, hit fairways, hit greens and I made a couple of putts.”

Lee said she hit the fairways and made long putts. She was clearly elated with her play.

“Best round,” she said.

Ko seemed surprised to be in the hunt and admitted she isn’t hitting the ball well.

“I had to make an up-and-down a lot of times,” she said. “I mean, I was kind of struggling with my long game but luckily my chipping and short game worked really well.”

Pettersen, who played in the same group, called Ko the chipping queen on the tour.

“It’s just phenomenal to see such a great touch around the greens,” she said.

Women’s British Open winner Mo Martin withdrew Friday morning because of a thumb injury. It was unclear if she will play next week in the LPGA Championship.

U.S. Women’s Open champion Michelle Wie withdrew after nine holes Thursday because of a wrist injury.

Rebecca Lee-Bentham is the leading Canadian, sitting tied for 25th at 1-under 141.

Alena Sharp and Lorie Kane also made the 36-hole cut, while Jennifer Kirby and Sue Kim had their week’s cut short.

BELMONT, Mich. – Sandra Gal made six straight birdies on her back nine Thursday to take the first-round lead in the Meijer LPGA Classic, while Michelle Wie withdrew because of a wrist injury.

Gal, the 29-year-old German who won her lone LPGA Tour title in 2011, birdied Nos. 3-8 and finished with a par on No. 9 for a 6-under 65 at Blythefield Country Club.

“I was in a zone, I was really relaxed,” Gal said. “I was talking a lot to my caddie and to my playing partners, just kind of letting it happen instead of forcing it.”

Wie was 5 over after nine holes when she pulled out. She fought injuries to both wrists in 2007.

“It just started hurting last week and kept getting worse,” Wie said in the parking lot outside the medical trailer. “It got to the point where I really couldn’t hold a club today. I’m going to try and get an MRI right now and see what my next steps are. So we’ll see.”

The U.S. Women’s Open winner in June for her second victory of the year, Wie said she hoped to be able to play next week in the LPGA Championship _ the fourth major championship of the season.

South Korea’s Inbee Park was a stroke behind Gal.

Australia’s Katherine Kirk opened with a 67, and Azahara Munoz was another stroke back along with IIhee Lee, Katy Harris, Gerina Piller, Amy Young and Line Vedel.

Second-ranked Lydia Ko, the 17-year-old star coming off a victory in the Marathon Classic in Sylvania, Ohio, matched Paula Creamer with a 69, and top-ranked Stacy Lewis shot 70.

Gal played in the morning wave in the LPGA Tour’s first regular tournament in Michigan since the Oldsmobile Classic ended its nine-year run in East Lansing in 2000.

Gal said her birdie run, which tied the best string on the tour this season, was a combination of hitting her iron shots inside 10 feet on each of the holes and then making solid putting strokes.

“You have to be on the right side of the hole to have chances at birdies and I was on the front nine,” she said. “I like this old-style type course and the greens are perfect. There were no long putts, just solid ones after good iron shots and I hit a couple real close, like 3 or 4 feet. It was a little bit of everything.”

Park has one victory this year after winning six times last season.

“Everything was working really well today, especially the iron shots,” she said. “The greens are rolling really well, too. They’re rolling really true. I hit a lot of good putts so that’s giving me confidence going into the next three days.”

Lewis, who has three wins and 13 top-10 finishes this year, said she played better than she scored.

“I’ve been working on a few things with my golf swing and was pretty happy actually with the way I hit it _ just had a bunch of putts right over the edge,” Lewis said. “Overall, pretty happy with it even though the score is not quite what I was looking for.”

Ko had the same issue with putts just missing.

“The golf course is in great shape so the birdies are there to be made,” she said. “I just didn’t make as many as I would have liked. I really like the way I’m playing, though.”

Canada’s Alena Sharp, Lorie Kane and Rebecca Lee-Bentham are all in a group tied for 21st.

London, Ont. (Golf Canada) –  Michelle Piyapattra of Corona, Calif., Team Canada amateur Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C. and Simin Feng of Windermere, Fla. have all earned exemptions into the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open at London Hunt and Country Club in London, Ont. August 18-24, based on their play during the 2014 Canadian Women’s Tour season.

The 16-year old Henderson, currently the no. 2 ranked amateur golfer in the world, captured the second Canadian Women’s Tour stop of the season in Niagara Falls, Ont. at Legends on the Niagara as well as the PGA of Canada Women’s Championship at Firerock Golf Club in Komoka, Ont. Although previously exempt into the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, Henderson shot rounds of 65-66 (-13) to win the PGA of Canada Women’s Championship by five strokes.

Henderson’s play this season earned her the prestigeious Jocelyne Bourassa Player of the Year award and Amateur of the Year honours as she finished the season atop the 2014 Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit.

Piyapattra earned her exemption into Canada’s Women’s National Open Championship after winning the Canadian Women’s Tour stop at Morningstar Golf and Country Club in Parksville, B.C., in a playoff.

Samantha Richdale and Simin Feng received the final two exemptions based on the 2014 Order of Merit standings at the end of season. The duo finished tied for fourth at the PGA of Canada Women’s Championship to secure their exemptions from the Order of Merit.

The exemptions were announced at the conclusion of the PGA of Canada Women’s Championship which served as the third and final stop on the Canadian Women’s Tour.

A final listing of the 2014 Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit can be found here.

Additional exemptions into Canada’s National Women’s Open Champion will be announced in the coming weeks.

The exemption contingent from the 2014 Canadian Women’s Tour season will join a world-class field at London Hunt and Country Club that includes a number of confirmed LPGA Tour stars including two-time defending champion and Rolex Rankings no. 2 Lydia Ko, Rolex Rankings no. 1 Stacey Lewis, no. 3 Inbee Park,  no. 5 Lexi Thompson and no. 12 Paula Creamer.

In addition to Ko, past Canadian Women’s Open champions confirmed to compete include Brittany Lincicome (2011), Michelle Wie (2010), Suzann Pettersen (2009), Katherine Hull-Kirk (2008) and Cristie Kerr (2006) who won the event when it was last held at the London Hunt and Country Club.

A field of 156 competitors will vie for the US$2.25 million purse when the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open makes its return to London Hunt and Country Club for the first time since 2006.

Tickets for all tournament days of the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open are still available with children aged 17 and under getting in free all week with a ticketed adult.

As an added incentive, title sponsor CP has stepped up to encourage spectators to buy advance tickets to the event for the benefit of the Children’s Health Foundation in London Ontario. Through the CP Ticket Rally for Heart campaign, for every eligible ticket purchased to the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open until August 17th, 2014, Canadian Pacific will donate at least $100 per ticket to the Children’s Health Foundation in support of paediatric heart health programs.

London, Ont. (Golf Canada) –  Michelle Piyapattra of Corona, Calif., Team Canada amateur Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C. and Simin Feng of Windermere, Fla. have all earned exemptions into the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open at London Hunt and Country Club in London, Ont. August 18-24, based on their play during the 2014 Canadian Women’s Tour season.

The 16-year old Henderson, currently the no. 2 ranked amateur golfer in the world, captured the second Canadian Women’s Tour stop of the season in Niagara Falls, Ont. at Legends on the Niagara as well as the PGA of Canada Women’s Championship at Firerock Golf Club in Komoka, Ont. Although previously exempt into the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, Henderson shot rounds of 65-66 (-13) to win the PGA of Canada Women’s Championship by five strokes.

Henderson’s play this season earned her the prestigeious Jocelyne Bourassa Player of the Year award and Amateur of the Year honours as she finished the season atop the 2014 Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit.

Piyapattra earned her exemption into Canada’s Women’s National Open Championship after winning the Canadian Women’s Tour stop at Morningstar Golf and Country Club in Parksville, B.C., in a playoff.

Samantha Richdale and Simin Feng received the final two exemptions based on the 2014 Order of Merit standings at the end of season. The duo finished tied for fourth at the PGA of Canada Women’s Championship to secure their exemptions from the Order of Merit.

The exemptions were announced at the conclusion of the PGA of Canada Women’s Championship which served as the third and final stop on the Canadian Women’s Tour.

A final listing of the 2014 Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit can be found here.

Additional exemptions into Canada’s National Women’s Open Champion will be announced in the coming weeks.

The exemption contingent from the 2014 Canadian Women’s Tour season will join a world-class field at London Hunt and Country Club that includes a number of confirmed LPGA Tour stars including two-time defending champion and Rolex Rankings no. 2 Lydia Ko, Rolex Rankings no. 1 Stacey Lewis, no. 3 Inbee Park,  no. 5 Lexi Thompson and no. 12 Paula Creamer.

In addition to Ko, past Canadian Women’s Open champions confirmed to compete include Brittany Lincicome (2011), Michelle Wie (2010), Suzann Pettersen (2009), Katherine Hull-Kirk (2008) and Cristie Kerr (2006) who won the event when it was last held at the London Hunt and Country Club.

A field of 156 competitors will vie for the US$2.25 million purse when the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open makes its return to London Hunt and Country Club for the first time since 2006.

Tickets for all tournament days of the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open are still available with children aged 17 and under getting in free all week with a ticketed adult.

As an added incentive, title sponsor CP has stepped up to encourage spectators to buy advance tickets to the event for the benefit of the Children’s Health Foundation in London Ontario. Through the CP Ticket Rally for Heart campaign, for every eligible ticket purchased to the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open until August 17th, 2014, Canadian Pacific will donate at least $100 per ticket to the Children’s Health Foundation in support of paediatric heart health programs.

London, Ont.  – Canadian Pacific (CP) and Golf Canada are pleased to announce that Rolex Rankings No. 1 Stacy Lewis, No. 3 Inbee Park, No. 5 Lexi Thompson as well as No. 12 Paula Creamer will join a growing list of LPGA Tour stars who have confirmed their intention to challenge for the US $2.25 million purse at the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, August 18-24 at London Hunt and Country Club.

Lewis will come into Canada’s National Women’s Open during an impressive season that has seen her capture three LPGA victories. Park, a 4-time major champion, won the 2014 Manulife Financial LPGA Classic for her 10^th LPGA Tour victory earlier this season. Thompson meanwhile was the year’s first major championship winner after claiming the Kraft Nabisco Championship, while Creamer added her 10^th LPGA title with a victory at the HSBC Women’s Championship.

Lewis, Park, Thompson and Creamer will also be joined by Rolex Rankings No. 27 English teen sensation Charley Hull along with recently turned professional, Stephanie Meadow, who finished third at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open.

In addition, Thailand’s Jutanugarn sisters Ariya and Moriya are set to join the list of international stars set to compete. Ariya Jutanugarn holds a special connection to Canadian golf having previously captured the 2012 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.

Canadian teen sensation Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. – the No. 2. ranked amateur in the world – headlines the list of competing amateurs after earning an exemption from her Canadian Women’s Tour Ontario victory earlier this summer. Henderson recently finished T10 at the U.S. Women’s Open and will be joined by Team Canada teammate Augusta James of Bath, Ont. who won the 2014 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship victory last week to earn an exemption to compete at London Hunt and Country Club.

The players announced today will join a player field of previously confirmed LPGA stars and past champions including two-time defending champion and world No. 2 Lydia Ko as well as 2014 U.S. Women’s Open champion and 2010 Canadian Women’s Open winner Michelle Wie. In addition to Ko and Wie, past Canadian Women’s Open champions confirmed to compete include Karrie Webb (1999), Cristie Kerr (2006), Katherine Hull-Kirk (2008), Suzanne Pettersen (2009) and Brittany Lincicome (2011).

Canadian LPGA star and CP ambassador Lorie Kane will lead a Canadian contingent that also includes confirmed Canadian LPGA Tour players Rebecca Lee-Bentham of Toronto, Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont., Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont. and Sue Kim of Langley, B.C.

Additional Canadian and international exemptions will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We are very pleased with how the field for the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open is coming together and expect it to once again be among the strongest on the LPGA Tour,” said Tournament Director Brent McLaughlin. “With less than a month to go, the golf course at London Hunt and Country Club is in spectacular shape and ready to challenge the world’s best golfers.”

A field of 156 competitors will vie for the US$2.25 million purse when the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open makes its return to London Hunt and Country Club for the first time since 2006.

Tickets for all tournament days of the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open are available here, with children aged 17 and under getting in free all week with a ticketed adult.

As an added incentive, title sponsor CP has stepped up to encourage spectators to buy advance tickets to the event for the benefit of the Children’s Health Foundation in London Ontario. Through the CP Ticket Rally for Heart campaign, for every eligible ticket purchased to the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open until August 17^th, 2014, Canadian Pacific will donate at least $100 per ticket to the Children’s Health Foundation in support of paediatric heart health programs.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Carlota Ciganda breezed to an early victory to set the tone and Spain won all four of its singles matches Sunday to capture the inaugural International Crown.

Sweden finished second in the tournament that began Thursday with 32 players from eight countries. The top-seeded United States was among three teams eliminated Saturday, leaving five countries and 20 players to compete for the trophy.

Fifth-seeded Spain began the final round tied for second behind Japan, but Ciganda immediately gave the Spaniards a boost by beating Na Yeon Choi of South Korea 8 and 6. Beatriz Recari followed with a 3-and-2 victory over Mikaela Parmlid of Sweden, and Belen Mozo clinched the tournament title with a 3-and-2 win over Moriya Jutanugarn of Thailand.

That set off an impromptu celebration on the 16th hole that began with a jubilant Recari jumping into the arms of Ciganda.

Azahara Munoz completed the sweep by beating Ai Miyazato of Japan 2 and 1.

Points accumulated through Saturday were added to those amassed Sunday. Using the scoring system of two points for a win and one for a tie, the final order was: Spain (15 points), Sweden (11), South Korea (10), Japan (10), Thailand (9), United States (6), Taiwan (4) and Australia (3).

“Even though we were maybe the underdogs because of the seedings, I knew deep inside that what you need in a team championship is what we have,” Mozo said. “We have always played together, we have always won together. Coming in, we knew we had that advantage over the other teams.”

Japan entered the final round with a one-point lead but lost three of four matches, its lone win coming when Mika Miyazato beat Onnarin Sattayabanphot of Thailand 3 and 1.

Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg topped Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand 6 and 5, taking the lead for good at No. 1 and winning at 10, 11 and 12 to pull away. But the Swedes’ bid to win the tournament fizzled when Caroline Hedwall lost to South Korea’s Inbee Park, 4 and 2.

Although Sweden didn’t come home with the trophy, at least one team member left with a fond memory.

“I’ve gotten to show myself on the biggest stage that I’ve been on so far and it feels like I’ve really take advantage of that,” said Lindberg, 28, who was playing in her first match-play event. “It’s been so much fun, just over expectations for everyone.”

Park, meanwhile, rode the momentum generated by Saturday’s wild-card playoff win over the U.S. to breeze past Hedwall. That left South Korea with at least an outside shot of capturing the event.

“It was important to win the first match. It kind of gives everyone hope and some energy to play well,” Park said.

That’s how it worked for Spain. Alas, South Korea could not sustain the momentum.

Not long after Park won, Choi walked off the course after 12 holes in her mismatch against Ciganda, and South Korea’s chances grew even dimmer when I.K. Kim lost to Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand 1 up.

So Yeon Ryu’s 1-up win over Sakura Yokomine of Japan left South Korea at 2-2 for the afternoon.

OWINGS MILLS, Md.  — Inbee Park and So Yeon Ryu both birdied the first playoff hole Saturday as South Korea eliminated the top-seeded United States and earned a wild-card berth in the final round of the International Crown.

The Koreans will join Spain, Thailand, Japan and Sweden on Sunday in a duel for title.

After the American team of Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson beat sisters Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn 3 and 2, Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum and Onnarin Sattayabanphot edged the team of Paula Creamer and Stacy Lewis 1-up to leave the U.S. in third place in Pool A.

South Korea, the third-place finisher in Pool B, called upon Park and Ryu to face Kerr and Thompson in a wild-card playoff on the par-5 16th hole.

Thompson’s second shot hit the fringe of the green, sat for an instant and then rolled back down a hill. She attempted an uphill putt, which barely made it to the top of the hill.

Thompson subsequently missed her 10-foot putt, and the other three players made birdies. According to the unique wild-card format, that eliminated the U.S.

Spain won Pool A with seven points, earning the tiebreaker over Thailand, which also had seven points. The U.S. had six points and Taiwan finished with four.

Japan split with South Korea on Saturday to emerge atop Pool B with eight points, and Sweden swept Australia to finish with seven points. South Korea had six points and the Aussies had three.

Points accumulated over the first three days carry over to Sunday’s final round, when each country plays one singles match against every other country. The team with the most points wins the inaugural International Crown.

Spain eliminated Taiwan with a pair of contrasting victories. Carlota Ciganda sank a 5-foot birdie putt on No. 13 to seal a 6-and-5 win with teammate Azahara Munoz. The duo beat Yani Tseng and Phoebe Yao, who lost five of the first six holes and could not recover.

In the other match, Spain’s Belen Mozo and Beatriz Recari lost the first two holes and were 2 down after 11 holes before rallying for a 1-up win over Candie Kung and Teresa Lu.

It was a feel-good afternoon for the Spaniards, who lost twice Friday to the U.S. team.

“We learned from it,” Munoz said. “We talked about it this morning and we said that from the beginning, no matter what, we’re going to keep our heads up and just give it our best.”

Taiwan lost its final four matches after opening the tournament with a sweep of the Americans.

The Japanese team of Ai Miyazato and Sakura Yokomine beat Na Yeon Choi 3 and 2, and Park and Ryu bested Mamiko Higa and Mika Miyazato 4 and 3.

Yokomine made two eagles on the back nine to provide Japan with the win.

Sweden sent Australia packing with a lopsided sweep. Caroline Hedwall and Anna Nordqvist cruised past Minjee Lee and Karrie Webb 4 and 3, and Pernilla Lindberg and Makaela Parmlid beat Katherine Kirk and Lindsey Wright 7 and 5.

Parmlid, who is pregnant, came out of retirement to play in this event.

“Last year, I was one spot out of the Solheim Cup and I always wanted to play these team events,” she said. “Then they came up with this tournament, and I was one spot in.”

Australia won only one match over three days, fewest of any country.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The United States shuffled its lineup in the second round of the International Crown and got the desired result, beat Spain twice Friday to earn its first points in the eight-country competition.

Lexi Thompson and Cristie Kerr took control on the back nine against Belen Mozo and Beatriz Recari in a 3-and-2 win, and Paula Creamer and Stacy Lewis held on to beat Azahara Munoz and Carlota Ciganda 2 up.

One day earlier, the top-seeded U.S. lost twice to Taiwan and was the only country without a point.

That caused Lewis to say: “Well, I guess we learned that those pairings didn’t work very well.”

Thus, the Americans traded partners Friday – and the new teams proved to be far more productive.

The Kerr-Thompson pairing won holes 10-12 to go 3 up, and Creamer-Lewis took the lead for good by winning No. 7 before adding to their advantage on Nos. 9 and 11.

Munoz and Ciganda got to 1 down heading to 18 before both landed shots in a bunker, and they ended up conceding the hole.

Thailand leads Pool A with five points, followed by Taiwan and the U.S. with four points apiece and Spain with three.

Japan stands atop Pool B with six points. South Korea has four points and Sweden and Australia each have three.

On Saturday in the final day of better-ball play, the United States will face Thailand, and Spain will play Taiwan. In Pool B, Sweden will face Australia, and South Korea will play Japan.

The top two teams in each pool, along with the winner of a playoff between the third-place teams, will compete in singles matches Sunday for the inaugural International Crown title.

Thailand moved atop Pool A with a pair of wins over Taiwan, which wasn’t able to sustain the momentum it generated with twin wins over the U.S. one day earlier.

Moriya Jutanugarn and younger sister Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand teamed to beat Candie Kung and Teresa Lu 3 and 2. The Jutanugarns took the lead with birdies on the par-4 first and did not lose a hole all day.

Thailand’s other tandem, Pornanong Phatlum and Onnarin Sattayabanphot, beat Yani Tseng and Teresa Lu 1 up with a birdie on the 18th hole.

Next up for Thailand: The Americans.

“We’re probably going to try to keep the same confidence like today, and then just go have fun,” Sattayabanphot said. “Let’s see how it goes.”

In Pool B, Japan’s Ai Miyazato and Sakura Yokomine rallied from six holes down with seven to play to halve with Katherine Kirk and Lindsey Wright of Australia. The comeback ended with Japan capturing the final three holes.

“It feels amazing right now,” Miyazato said. “Until 12 holes, I and Sakura just felt like today was Australia’s day. We tried to accept the results, and said that every extra hole is just a bonus.”

Kirk said, “It hurts, obviously, but we can’t change what happened. But we can certainly learn from it and certainly go out there (Saturday) and try to make amends.”

The tide turned after the Australians were put on the clock on the 12th hole.

“We lost our timing and that was pretty much it,” Wright said. “It was just awful.”

Japan’s other duo, Mamiko Higa and Mika Miyazato, beat 18-year-old amateur Minjee Lee and 40-year-old Karrie Webb 3 and 2.

In another matchup, Sweden split with South Korea. Caroline Hedwall and Anna Nordqvist beat South Korea’s Inbee Park and So Yeon Ryu 1 up, and Na Yeon Choi teamed with I.K. Kim to edge Pernilla Linberg and Mikaela Parmlid 1 up.