USA TODAY National
GOYANG-SI, South Korea — Dozens of U.S. soldiers and support staff departed Camp Casey near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) at 7 a.m. on Friday to cheer on Team USA at the Hanwha LifePlus International Crown.
"They were very loud and just awesome," said Yealimi Noh of a group of soldiers who moved back and forth between Team USA's two matches on the hilly New Korea Country Club.
"We just fed off their energy for sure."
The American foursome of Angel Yin, Lauren Coughlin, Lilia Vu and Noh have yet to lose a match at the Crown, winning four points to lead Pool A and secure a spot in Sunday’s semifinals. The U.S. needs merely a half point in Saturday four-balls to clinch the No. 1 seed.
“They're here to do what they do for us to be able to do what we do,” said Yin, “and it's really great to see them come out and support us. It keeps the spirit alive, especially since we're representing our country and them every day.”
Army medic Nathan Workman of Graham, North Carolina, first started playing golf at Camp Casey a couple months ago after being stationed in Italy for several years. There’s a nine-hole course on the base, as well as a driving range and a golf simulator. Tee times are required at Casey Indianhead Golf Course,with priority given to active-duty soldiers.
Workman and his buddies typically play on Saturdays, and when asked if they make a double loop, he smiled and said, “Well, you know, usually after about 60 stokes on a nine, we’re about done for the day.”
Team USA met up with the soldiers near the 10th tee after dusting Thailand in both four-ball matches in the eight-team Round Robin competition.
“We thought they were just going to see us at the end,” said Yin of the soldiers, “but they were there the whole round. They were troopers. No pun intended.
“The matches were hard today. Yesterday, too, but today when we were down, they really gave us that boost to know that our people are here cheering us on, and we just need to keep our head up and keep going.”
Military members hold a special place for Coughlin, whose 90-year-old grandfather, Leroy Erskin, served in the Navy for more than 30 years.
“He was Goose to Maverick in a fighter jet,” said Coughlin of her grandfather's time in Vietnam.
Team USA signed shirts and merchandise and took their time making sure every soldier who wanted a photo got one.
On Saturday, the U.S. team will square off against Australia, which trails by two points in Pool A. The top two teams from each pool advance to Sunday semis. Both Thailand and China have one point each.
In Pool B, the World Team leads the way with three points while South Korea sits in second with two. Both Japan and Sweden have 1.5 points.
Charley Hull birdied the 18th to give the World Team a 1-up victory over the South Korean duo of Hyo Joo Kim and Hye-Jin Choi.
“I'm going to keep saying it, but Charley was on her own today,” said partner Lydia Ko. “I literally think only one of my scores counted.”
The World Team, which also includes Brooke Henderson and Wei-Ling Hsu, needs only a half point to advance to Sunday.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: U.S. soldiers give big boost to undefeated Team USA at International Crown
Reporting by Beth Ann Nichols, Golfweek / Golfweek
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