SINGAPORE – Erica Blasberg matched her game-saving shot from the day before to clinch the winning point Sunday as Annika Sorenstam’s Internationals downed Asia 16-8 at the Lexus Cup.

American teenager Paula Creamer put in another clutch performance to stay perfect for the week as the Internationals built on their 8-4 overnight lead after the foursomes and fourballs to win the singles portion and the $960,000 team tournament at the rain-swept Tanah Merah Country Club.

“It’s a wonderful feeling,” said Sorenstam, captain of the Internationals. “I really didn’t know what to expect but I’ve spent some hours thinking about the pairings. And the girls have been able to put up with me.”

Asia needed a fast start in Sunday’s singles, but the Internationals’ points swelled to 12 after the completion of seven matches. Needing just a half to win on the par-4 16th, Blasberg had a makable birdie putt, while Japan’s Riko Higashio struggled to stay on the fairway.

Higashio bogeyed to concede the match 3 and 2, giving the 21-year-old Blasberg the point and the Internationals the Cup.

The singles ended 8-4 in favor of the Internationals.

“I’m happy. Yeah, I’ve had a great week,” said Blasberg, who had four birdies on her scorecard. “(Higashio) played well, but I came out and made a couple of shots.”

Blasberg had saved a point for Sorenstam’s squad Saturday on the 18th with an 85-yard sand wedge on her third shot that dropped into the cup.

Early Sunday, the Internationals’ opening one-two punch of Sorenstam and Creamer had tentative starts, but came back strongly midway through their rounds.

Asia captain Grace Park faced Sorenstam in the first match, and gave her team a one-up lead with an uphill putt for birdie on the par-4, 355-yard first hole.

U.S. Open champion Birdie Kim’s second shot to the first hole dropped within 2 feet of the pin for an early lead over Creamer, who finished second on the LPGA Tour money list.

Kim would make birdie, her first of the tournament, before things turned for the Asian team.

Sorenstam, a nine-time major winner, made a 6-footer for birdie on No. 6, one of four on her front, that put her 3-up over Park. Sorenstam won the duel 2 and 1.

“Going into today’s round, I knew I would have to have my A’ game,” said Park, who had four birdies and one bogey. “She was top class, but I’m still pretty happy.”

The undefeated Creamer continued to build her lead over Kim.

Creamer sped to a 5-up lead through 11, and just two holes later, gave team International its first point of the day with a 7 and 5 thrashing.

“I came to be 3-0 and I did that,” Creamer said. “My goal was to get the first point (Sunday) and I did that. I didn’t play as well as I did earlier, but I made some big shots, some critical putts.”

Asia took singles points on wins by South Korea’s Jang Jeong, Han Hee-won and Taiwan’s Candie Kung before the International team took the next five, including Blasberg’s clincher.

AP-ES-12-11-05 1107EST

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