Scots cruise to historic Eisenhower win
BY Anthony Powter | Amateur Golf Tour | 2008 World Amateur Team Championships | Round Four | 19 Oct 2008
It has taken Scotland just six years to win its first World Amateur Teams Championship and they managed to secure the title in style. Starting the final round four strokes ahead of the field, Wallace Booth, Callum Macaulay and Gavin Dear played with their heart on their sleeve to give Scotland a nine stroke winning margin over the more fancied USA.
“I’m immensely proud of the chaps,” remarked George Crawford, the Scottish captain.
“The boys have created history for our country. We are a small country and to win this World Championship is simply an amazing effort. It will be a great boost to golf back home.”
Scottish Team Audio Interview
The signs of a pending Scottish victory emerged early during the final round, which was played in tough gusty conditions.
After a solid opening eight holes Scotland had moved to a commanding nine-stroke lead over Sweden, to be at 24-under-par with Callum Macaulay moving to 4-under-par through seven holes.
The USA team, the country with the most wins in Eisenhower Trophy history with 13 of the 24 World Amateur Championships, were unable to get their momentum going early, dropping four strokes to be at 13-under-par going through nine. Rickie Fowler, Jamie Lovemark and Billy Horschel at that stage had fallen back to third position, three strokes behind Sweden.
“It was very testing conditions,” said Walter Driver the USA captain.
“Obviously the Scottish players loved it and probably felt right at home, they played very well, so congratulations to Scotland.”
Throughout the week the USA team of Rickie Fowler, Jamie Lovemark and Billy Horschel played superb and entertaining golf.
“The conditions today weren’t easy as we tend to play with a higher ball flight. Rickie Fowler played very well as did all of the team here in Adelaide,” said Driver.
Rickie Fowler was able to dig deep in the final round to record a 2-over-par 75 and claim the lowest individual score for the Championship at 10-under-par.
“It was brutal out there,” said the world number two.
“I actually had a ball blow off the green, so that shows you how strong the wind was. I grew up playing this type of golf and it’s kind of important to keep hitting solid shots.”
“The greens were firm, like they had been all week, I only wish we had played a little better.”
The Scottish team were able to revel in the conditions with Callum Macaulay firing a stellar round of one-under-par to spearhead the Scottish side to victory.
“We are used to these conditions and know how to play patient golf, which is essential in these conditions,” said Macaulay.
“Winning the World Championship is huge, it has not sunk in yet but back home this will mean a awful lot to many. We’ve had a great preparation leading into this Championship and full marks go to our support team and to George [Crawford] as they have been wonderful.”
Gavin Dear’s round of a two-over-par 75 combined with Macaulay’s round, to secure the Championship.
Australia finished the Championship in 6th position at 2-under-par, eighteen strokes behind the Scottish team. Matthew Griffin was the best of the Australians at +4 for the Championship, finishing a very creditable 10th on the individual scoreboard.
New Zealand slipped during the final day to finish T11 position with Danny Lee free-falling from 5th to 37th in the individual placing, after a final round 84 that included a quadruple bogey 9 at the par 5, 9th hole.
Sweden finished third at 6-under-par, led by Jesper Kennegård who was 1-under for the tournament. France and Italy tied for fourth place at 5-under par.
