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BY: RORY SPEARS LEAD WRITER AND ASSISTANT EDITOR

TEAM USA is not off to the start they expected. They are in last place of eight countries. They are the only team that did not earn a point on day 1 of the International Crown.

The USA got swept 4-0 by the team from Chinese Taipei, the No.8 seed who is now in first place headed to day number two.

(Above photo Team USA looks for answers after being shutout on Day 1 of International Crown play. L-R Kelly Thesier, LPGA, Stacy Lewis, Lexi Thompson, Paula Creamer, Christie Kerr.)

In match one Paula Creamer and Christie Kerr lost 4 & 3 to Candie Kung and Teresa Lu. Match two went all the way to the 18th green. It was all square but the Chinese Team won the hole when Yani Tseng made a birdie putt of 15 feet to win the hole and the match.

The Americans as Lewis would say, didn’t give themselves enough looks by having two players on the green at the same time. Kerr added that,” there will be teams that will get zero points over the next day or two so the USA is not dead yet.” But being in last place the USA has to jump over four countries to get into the finals on Sunday.

As a result Fridays matches against Spain, who scored three out of a possible four points against Thailand are now must wins. Another 0-1 or 2 point day on Friday could finish Team USA.

One would think that the USA that got beaten as bad as they did at the Solheim Cup last year, would have come into this event and been ready to go. While teams are not going to win every match, the USA did not look ready. At the same time Kung said that,” as a number eight seed we don’t have high expectations.” After earning four points today her team can now raise them. Should Taipei defeat a struggling Thailand team on Friday, they could have a spot on Sunday about locked up.

In the other matches Japan earned three points out of four against Sweden with a win and a draw. While Australia and Korea split their match with each side winning a match.

Fridays matches start at 9 AM. Spain-USA, Taipei-Thailand in Pool A, with Japan-Australia and Korea vs Sweden in Pool B. There will be more coverage of the matches on the Golf Channel. Team USA has announced a switch in it’s pairings with Kerr now paired with Thompson and Creamer with Lewis.