LPGA to stage 2018 international crown in South Korea

CHICAGO: South Korea, which boasts six of the world’s 12 top-ranked women’s golfers, will host the 2018 LPGA International Crown, the first time the team event will be staged outside the United States.

The LPGA announced on Wednesday that the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in Incheon — site of the 2015 Presidents Cup between US and non-European International squads — will host the four-day biennial match-play competition.

“We are looking forward to working with the JNGCK staff, which has extensive experience in hosting premier golf competitions, to put on a terrific event,” LPGA commissioner Mike Whan said.

The announcement came on the eve of this year’s event, in which the South Koreans are the top seeds among eight teams of four women each based upon world rankings.

Spain won the inaugural International Crown title in Baltimore in 2014 but failed to qualify for this year’s event.

The 7,413 yard, par-72 Korean course also will host the 2016 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in which the winner will claim a berth in the 2017 Masters.

It will be the first time in 10 years and third time overall that the LPGA has staged two events in South Korea in one season, the tour’s regular stop in the nation being played at Sky 72 Golf Club, another Nicklaus-designed course in Incheon.