US lead Japan 7-5 in Cisco World Ladies Challenge

The US LPGA team split six matches with its Japanese counterpart today for a 7-5 lead after two rounds in the $765,000 Cicso World Ladies Challenge in Narita, Japan, a bilateral team event.

The US LPGA team split six matches with its Japanese counterpart today for a 7-5 lead after two rounds in the $765,000 Cicso World Ladies Challenge in Narita, Japan, a bilateral team event.

Twelve top US LPGA players now need 5 wins and a tie in 12 stroke play matches on Sunday to keep alive the US side's 16-year winning streak and win the title for the 20th time in 22 years.

Team captain Annika Sorenstam, a 23-time tournament winner, and Sophie Gustafson swung their way to 63-71 win over Akiko Fukushima and Kasumi Fujii at the 6,396-yard (5,820-meter), par-72 Sosei Country Club.

Last year's captain Lorie Kane and Se Ri Pak edged Kaori Higo and Hiromi Kobayashi 67-68, while Cristie Kerr and Becky Iverson beat Junko Yasui and Orie Fujino 64-70.

Yuri Fudoh, this season's leading money winner in Japan, and Tseng Hsiu-feng outscored Rosie Jones and Sherri Steinhauer 68-70.

Aki Nakano and Ku Ok-hee defeated Carin Koch and Nancy Scranton 63-68, while Midori Yoneyama and Aki Takamura led throughout en route to a 65-67 win over Michele Redman and Charlotta Sorestam.

Each member of the winning team earns dlrs 40,500, which is considered unofficial money on either side's LPGA Tour.

The teams accumulate points over three days of play, with a point awarded for each winning match and 1/2 point each for ties. The first two rounds featured six four-ball stroke-play matches a day, while Sunday's play consists of 12 individual stroke-play singles matches.

In the series, which started in 1979, the U.S. side holds a 19-2 lead over Japan in the all-time standings, with its only losses coming in 1981 and 1984.

Scores after the second round of the $765,000 Cisco World Ladies Challenge, an annual US LPGA-Japan LPGA team event, played at the 6,396-yard (5,820-meter), par-72 Sosei Country Club.

Rounds one and two are four-ball stroke play matches, with 1 point given per match and 1/2 point each for ties. Round three is for individual stroke play matches, with one point awarded per match and 1/2 point each for ties:

Total points after two rounds

United States 7, Japan 5

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Saturday's four-ball stroke play:

Cristie Kerr and Becky Iverson, United States, def. Junko Yasui and Orie Fujino, Japan, 64-70.

Lorie Kane and Se Ri Pak, United States, def. Kaori Higo and Hiromi Kobayashi, Japan, 67-68.

Sophie Gustafson and Annika Sorestam, United States, def. Akiko Fukushima and Kasumi Fujii, 63-71.

Aki Nakano and Ku Ok-hee, Japan, def. Carin Koch and Nancy Scranton, United States, 63-68.

Yuri Fudoh and Tseng Hsiu-feng, Japan, def. Rosie Jones and Sherri Steinhauer, United States, 68-70.

Midori Yoneyama and Aki Takamura, Japan, def. Michele Redman and Charlotta Sorenstam, United States, 65-67.