Women's World Amateur Team Championship - USGA

Women’s World Amateur TeamSweden Wins The 2008 ChampionshipSweden held the lead from the start to finish and wonthe 2008 Women’s World Amateur Team Championshipby 12 strokes over Spainand 14 over the USA atThe Grange Golf Club’sEast and West courses inAdelaide, Australia.With a 3-under-par 69from Anna Nordqvist anda 2-under-par 70 fromCaroline Hedwall, theSwedes finished at 19-under-par 561, just threestrokes off the lowestscore in championshiphistory set by the USA in1998 (558). Their 12-strokemargin of victory was themost since the USA won by21 in 1998.“It’s a fantastic feeling,”Swedish captain WalterDanewid said. “I am notsurprised we are herebecause they are reallygood players. It’s beenadvertised that this eventwould have the stars oftomorrow. They lived upto that.”Sweden, the only team tohave finished in the top 10 in all 23 competitions, wonits second championship after taking the victory inPuerto Rico in 2004. Their wire-to-wire win was the firstin 18 years, since the USA did so in 1990.“I was asked: ‘What is the secret to our success?”Danewid said. “It’s hard work. There’s no secret.”Anna Nordqvist of Sweden celebrates a critical putt.Spain, which was seven strokes behind Sweden afterthe first round, finished second at 7-under 573 andcould not make up the large deficit. “We tried as hardas we could,” Spanish captain Macarena Campomanes,who was on two Espirito Santo winning teams, said.“But they were too manyshots ahead.”The best rally of the lastday came from the USA.Amanda Blumenherst shot4-under 68 and TiffanyJoh added a 3-under 69for 137, the second-lowestfinal-round score inhistory. The Americansjumped from a tie for 17thafter the first day to thirdplace.“The first day was like thewind out of our sails,”’Blumenherst said. “Wedefinitely fought back andplayed hard the last threedays.”The Americans posted thelowest score in the final36 holes (279) in championshiphistory.Canada finished fourthat 583. The remainder ofthe top 10 was Japan (584),Germany (585), England(586), Netherlands andDenmark (587) and defending champion South Africa(588).Although there is not individual recognition, Hedwallwas the low scorer at 10-under-par 280.The winning team receives custody of the EspiritoSanto Trophy for the ensuing two years. Members ofthe winning team receive gold medals. The second- andthird-place teams receive silver and bronze medals,respectively.W. WorldAmateur