Swedes too hot for world to handle
IN: News | Amateur Golf | World Amateur Team Championships (2008) | Round Four | by Liz White | 11 Oct 2008
The super hot Swedes have captured their second Espirito Santo Cup by a massive 12 shots over Spain at the Grange course in Adelaide today.
Led by the overall individual winner, Caroline Hedwall who shot 10 under for the four rounds, the Swedes were never headed after the first day.
On Wednesday, Hedwall shot a six under 67 on the Grange East course to combine with teammate, Anna Nordqvist who carded a three under 70, for an overall score of 9 under after the first day.
It was a Championship record lead of 10 shots over Spain that they would never relinquish, going on to finish on 19 under. Spain ended their tournament on 7 under.
“When we came here it was our goal to win and we did it, it is just amazing,” said team member Caroline Hedwall.
“I think we could count the worst score we had every day and still win it.”
The 19-year-old, who lost to Nordqvist in the British Amateur Championships earlier this year, said today’s win was thrilling.
“It doesn’t really make up for losing the British, but it feels great to be the overall winner,” she said.
“This was a teams event so when I came here that was the important thing but it feels good to be the individual winner as well.”
The Australian team of Stephanie Na, Claire Choi and Julia Boland finished T15 with France on +15. Choi had the best score of even today while Na shot +4 and Boland another above par round of +5.
Na, who was joint medallist with American Amanda Blumenhurst at the US Amateur in August this year, was Australia’s best individual performer finishing on +7 for the four rounds. Her effort placed her equal 21st overall.
“I hit the ball pretty well but just couldn’t get anything to go my way,” she said.
“Twice on the east course I was below par after nine but let it slip both times, so I am disappointed to finish on +7 because it is not what I was hoping for.”
Victorian Choi finished a shot back on +8 for T24th position, while New South Wales’ Boland ender her tournament in T86th place on +22.
Na said the girls were honoured to represent their country and were all disappointed they couldn’t put in a better showing in front of their home crowd.
“It was really nice to have the support. We all played our best and tried our best but just nothing went our way at all,” she said.
“We can’t be too upset about it, it is just the way it goes sometimes.”
The United States would certainly echo that statement. Today they gave it all they had and finished third on -5. They would be ruing their first day effort of +6 on the East course. The last two days they have carded the lowest team scores and would no doubt be asking the golfers lament of “what if.”
Sweden’s Hedwall however, certainly won’t be pondering that question. She said the team left nothing to chance and prepared well for the championship, adding the Grange layout suited her big hitting style.
“I like the course and I could reach the par fives, so it was a good course for me, ” she said.
Having such a big lead heading into the final day was not a distraction at all, the Oklahoma University student said.
“It wasn’t hard because we wanted to win as much as possible so we just kept on playing our own game,” she said.
“This morning we just said that we wanted to enjoy the time out there and have fun.”
Hedwall has a further three days of fun in Australia before heading back to college life. There is also a tournament to prepare for which starts next week.
Meanwhile the Aussie girls will be trying hard to pick themselves up after their disappointment and prepare for next weeks 72 hole Tasmanian Stroke Play.
“It’s going to be hard to come down from this week, which has just been amazing,” Na said.
“It was such a great experience but next week will certainly be a different atmosphere for sure.”
The Tasmanian Stroke Play is part of the Karrie Webb points series and Na is keen to repeat her victory in that series last year.
“I will try my best next week and after that I think I will be having a much needed rest,” she laughed.
