England, Taiwan off to perfect starts at LPGA Crown

Charley Hull of England hits her tee shot on the fourth hole during the four-ball session of the 2016 UL International Crown at the Merit Club in Chicago, Illinois. (AFP/Stacy Revere)

The eight-nation team event saw seedings turned upside down at the Merit Club in suburban Chicago as the top four of South Korea, Japan, Australia and the US managed only one win among them.

Pool B leader Taiwan joined Pool A pace-setter England with a 2-0 start by sweeping the Aussies while China split with favored South Korea in Pool A and Thailand had a win and a draw over Japan in Pool B.

The top two teams in each group after three days of four-ball matches plus a wildcard team advance to Sunday's concluding singles matches with all points accumulated over four days deciding who captures the Crown.

Hull, a 20-year-old in her fourth year as a professional, eagled the par-5 16th to put England ahead and birdied the par-4 17th to complete a victory for the world number 27 and 123rd-ranked Melissa Reid by 2 and 1 over US Olympians Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller, both in the world top 15.

Clyburn, ranked 114th and number 92 Jodi Ewart Shadoff never trailed in a 2 and 1 win over fourth-ranked Lexi Thompson and US veteran Cristie Kerr. Shadoff birdied the par-3 14th and Clyburn birdied 17 to seal the victory.

Aussie star Karrie Webb birdied three of four holes to lift her and Su Oh level after 12 holes, but Tseng Ya-ni birdied 13 and 15 and Teresa Lu birdied 14 in a 3 and 2 victory for the Taiwan pair.

Candie Kung birdied the first and last holes on the back nine for a 2-up win for her and Taiwan compatriot Cheng Ssu-chia over Aussies Minjee Lee and Rebecca Artis.

South Korea's Amy Yang birdied four of the first seven holes and she and Chun In-Gee held on for a 1-up win over China's Feng Shanshan and Lin Xiyu.

But China's Yan Jing eagled 16 to provide the difference for her and Feng Simin in a 1-up win over Ryu So-Yeon and Kim Sei-Young.

Thailand's Moriya Jutanugarn and Pornanong Phatlum edged Japan's Mika Miyazato and Haru Nomura 2 and 1 while Ariya Jutanugarn and Porani Chutichai halved with Japan's Ai Suzuki and Ayaka Watanabe.