After sweeping the opening alternate-shot session Friday, Asia took 3 1/2 of six points in best-ball play yesterday to take a seven-point lead into today's singles matches, reduced from 12 to 11 when Norwegian star Suzann Pettersen was forced to withdraw during her match Saturday after aggravating a back injury.

"Everybody knows now that the strength of women's golf in Asia is growing," Asia captain Se Ri Pak said. "There is a lot of pressure. I was very proud of them. Very proud of them. ... I think we all bonded as a team. It doesn't matter that we come from different places. ... Overall, this is a great team, great teamwork. We all had the same goal, and we all support each player."

Pak, bothered by shoulder pain, also sat out today, with the South Korean star and International captain Annika Sorenstam agreeing to halve the match.

With that match leaving the score 10-3, Asia needed only two points today to retain the cup and 2 1/2 to win outright.

"I didn't really need to say anything to my team," Pak said. "When I got to the first tee, I saw that our players thought there would be tight matches. However, they all did a really, really good job."

Sorenstam opened the singles with a 4-and-3 victory but Jee Young Lee countered with a 2-and-1 decision over Nicole Castrale in the second match. Angela Park then beat Asia's Amy Hung 3 and 1, and Kim secured at least a tie with a 2-and-1 victory over Stacy Prammanasudh.

Seon Hwa Lee, the HSBC Women's World Match Play winner, put Asia over the top, beating U.S. Women's Open champion Cristie Kerr 3 and 2. Seon Hwa Lee is 6-0-0 in two appearances in the competition.