After finishing runner-up to Thailand in 2023 at TPC Harding Park, the Australia Team won the 2025 Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown in the Republic of Korea.
The Aussies bested the United States Team on Sunday evening at New Korea Country Club, clinching the title after Minjee Lee and Hannah Green took both of their singles matches, with each winning, 2 and 1, over Angel Yin and Yealimi Noh, respectively.
The foursomes match between Australians Stephanie Kyriacou and Grace Kim and Americans Lilia Vu and Lauren Coughlin was inconsequential when Green secured victory in the second singles match on the 17th hole.
The Australia Team fought battled their position in the finals, splitting the difference with the World Team in the singles matches, as Charley Hull beat Hannah Green, 2 and 1, while Minjee Lee took down Brooke Henderson, 1 up, on the 18th hole to secure a critical point for the Aussies.
It was then up to Kyriacou and Kim to win their foursomes match, and after Kim made a critical birdie putt on the final hole at New Korea Country Club to tie things up and keep the match going, the Aussies closed out their World Team counterparts in 20 holes to advance to the finals.
The Australians elected to send out Lee in the first singles match of the finals against Yin and then put Green out in the second match with Noh. Kyriacou and Kim reprised their role as partners for the foursomes match against Vu and Coughlin.
It was a back-and-forth battle between Lee and Yin throughout the afternoon, with Yin taking a 1-up lead after winning the par-5 fourth hole and then Lee leveling the score on five. Lee then moved one ahead on nine, but Yin answered and tied things up again on 10.
The two traded punches on holes 12 through 15, with Lee finally getting the upper hand again on the par-3 16th hole to lead 1 up over Yin with two holes to play. The three-time major champion ultimately closed out Yin on 17, winning the hole to win her match, 2 and 1, and secure the first of two points the Aussies needed to beat the Americans.
In the match behind her, Green was playing what she described as her best golf of the week against Noh, grabbing a 3-up lead after winning the fourth, fifth and sixth holes at New Korea Country Club. Noh began chipping away at that deficit, winning the eighth hole to move to 2 down and then taking 10 to get back to 1 down.
Green regained her 2-up lead when she won the 12th hole, but Noh got back to 1 down when she birdied 15. But Green hung tough and polished off Noh when she drained a birdie putt on the last to win the match, 2 and 1, and secure the Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown victory for the Australians.
“I knew it was going to be a tough match against Yealimi,” Green said. “We both have pretty similar games. We were both neck and neck off the tee. When I would make a birdie putt, she would make one top of me, so it was going to be a tough match. When I got to 3 up, I knew I needed to keep my foot on the gas and not let her creep in.
“My putt on the last hole, I was very nervous. I knew exactly what it was for. I said to the girls, I was just happy I got on the board. I’m glad I could contribute in some way this week.”
While Green solidified the Aussie win, it was Lee who was recognized as the MVP of the 2025 Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown by a committee of voters that included LPGA staff, Hanwha officials and external media after going 4-0-1 over the course of the week in Korea.
As the only athlete in the field who had competed in every previous addition of this biennial team competition and never been a member of the winning team, Lee was overjoyed with her squad’s triumph at New Korea Country Club, proud to share the moment with some of her closest friends.
“I’m really excited that we were able to win all together,” Lee said. “I think it’s even sweeter because I could do it with all of these girls. Obviously, we all played with a lot of grit and a lot of perseverance and resilience this week just to get into the final match. I think we all did really well. I’m really happy we’re all sitting here in the champions press conference.”
The World Team won the consolation match on Sunday evening, beating the Japan Team to secure a third-place finish in the Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown.
