Se Ri Pak’s Asians were well on track to defend the title they won in Singapore last year, taking every point available on the first day’s play at the Vines Resort and Country Club.

At the end of a first round of foursome matches, which saw International captain Annika Sorenstam beaten for the first time in the three-year history of the event, Asia led 6-0.

When Korea’s Candie Kung dropped a short birdie putt on the 16th hole to clinch victory for her and Japan’s Ayako Uehara over Sweden’s Sorenstam and Scotland’s Catriona Matthew, it completed Asia’s clean sweep of the day.

Team Asia only needs six and a half points from the remaining 18 available to clinch the tournament.

The only downside for Asia was a recurrence of a left shoulder injury for captain Se Ri Pak, who managed to team with fellow Korean In-Kyung Kim to beat Americans Morgan Pressel and Stacy Prammanasudh 2 and 1.

Se Ri had physio straight after play, but later said she would be fine for the remaining two rounds.

Sorenstam was nonplussed by her team’s poor start, and was confident they would bounce back.

“I don’t really know what to say, I thought we had a good team out there and some great pairings,” she said. “It didn’t turn out the way we would have liked.

“We have to come back very strong and we know we can do it,” she added.

Sorenstam said she would meet with American vice-captain Natalie Gulbis and consider making changes to the pairings for Saturday’s play.

Se Ri said she first hurt her shoulder in a fall a fortnight ago and clutched at it after teeing off on the 15th, but said it was only a minor problem.

She said the results exceeded her expectations.

“I never expected that today,” she said. “I am very proud of them.”

The day started well enough for the internationals, but it soon turned foul.

Gulbis and Norway’s Suzann Pettersen were first on the course and started strongly against Korean pair Jee Young Lee and Seon Hwa Lee, going two up after six holes despite Jee Young producing the shot of the day to sink a long approach shot on the second.

However, the pair then fell away dramatically as they struggled with wayward driving and poor putting. Pettersen’s frustration was clear as they failed to make a birdie for the round.