Park In-bee to lead Korean contingent at LPGA event

The world’s No. 1-ranked female golfer Park In-bee will lead the South Korean team at an international competition to be inaugurated by the LPGA Tour this summer.

The top women’s golf tour will stage the International Crown in Maryland in July. The four highest-ranked players each from eight countries will compete at Caves Valley Golf Club, outside Baltimore, and the representatives were based on the world rankings announced on Monday.

Park stayed at No. 1 for the 51st week in the latest rankings.

Ryu So-yeon, the 2012 LPGA Rookie of the Year, was the next best South Korean at No. 6. Choi Na-yeon fell out of the top 10 to No. 11, and Kim In-kyung ranked No. 15 to round out the South Korean quartet at the International Crown.

Korea once had as many as four players in the top 10, but the United States is better represented now with three in the top 10.

Stacy Lewis (No. 3), Paula Creamer (No. 8) and Lexi Thompson (No. 9) will be joined by Cristie Kerr (No. 12) in the competition.

Australia will be led by veteran Karrie Webb, who has risen to No. 5 on the strength of two victories this year. Another two-time winner in 2014, Anna Nordqvist, will lead the Swedish team. (Yonhap)