Team Sweden held off a late rally from the United States, ultimately tying the Americans and winning in a scorecard playoff to claim the Espirito Santo Trophy in the 29th Women’s World Amateur Team Championship at Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche and Le Golf National near Paris, France, on Saturday.
The two countries tied at 13-under 559 after four rounds of stroke play in which two of three scores were counted for each team. The tiebreaker went to the Swedes because their non-counting score in the final round was a 1-over 73 from Louise Rydqvist, one stroke better than Rachel Kuehn of the U.S.
The tournament hung in the balance as American Rose Zhang needed a closing par on the 18th hole to claim the team championship and low-individual honors. She missed the green on the par-4, hit a nice pitch shot and then misread a 7-foot par attempt that never broke to the left.
“There is obviously that tinge of disappointment,” Zhang said. “On that last putt, I actually hit a really good putt exactly where I wanted, but it just didn’t go in the hole. It was disappointing to end that way, but I am really proud of how we fought back on the last day.”
Zhang shared low-individual honors with Sweden’s Meja Ortengren and Germany’s Helen Briem at 7-under 279. The 17-year-old Ortengren and world No. 2 Ingrid Lindblad (6-under 280) led the way for the Swedes, as all four of Rydqvist’s scores didn’t count toward the team total.
Lindblad struggled on day one with a 2-over 74, but she came back with a 5-under 66 and went on to close the fourth round with a 3-under 69. Ortengren opened with a 3-under 69 followed by a 3-under 68. She stumbled in her third round on Nos. 16, 17 and 18 to shoot even-par 72, but a Saturday 2-under 70 proved vital.
All three of the Americans finished in the top 16 of the individual standings, as Zhang (T1), Kuehn (T10) and Rachel Heck (T16) had strong performances. Trailing the Swedes by four strokes heading into the last day, the Americans almost overtook them to claim the gold medal. Heck made one eagle, one bogey and 16 pars in a final-round 1-under 71, which combined with Zhang's 3-under 69, wasn’t quite enough to push the Americans over the edge.
Germany and Japan shared bronze-medal honors in the team competition. Of note, recent U.S. Women’s Amateur winner Saki Baba finished tied for fourth at 6-under 280 along with Lindblad.
The next Women’s World Amateur Team Championship will take place in Dubai next October. This was the first playing of the event since 2018 in Dublin. The men’s World Amateur Team Championship will take place this week on the same two courses near Paris.
Charles Fitzsimmons of North York, Ontario, shot 5-under 275 to easily defend his title on Friday in the Canadian Mid-Amateur at The Thornhill Club, his home course.
The 35-year-old Fitzsimmons left little drama after opening with a 2-under 68 and 3-under 67 that built a gaping chasm between him and the rest of the field. He closed with two even-par 70s, cruising to a five-stroke victory over Warren Sellors (even-par 280).
Fitzsimmons won a year ago at Fort McMurray Golf Club in Alberta, where he prevailed by four strokes thanks to a closing 5-under 67. This time around had less drama heading into the last day.
“(This one) feels even better,” Fitzsimmons said. “To do it here, to defend … it’s hard to put into words right now. It’s still kind of sinking in, but it’s pretty special. This place has meant so much to me, to my family, and to be able to win here is just awesome.”
Fitzsimmons grabbed a share of the lead after round one and never let go, playing steady golf throughout. He made just seven bogeys over 72 holes and never recorded a double bogey or worse.
On Friday, the lead never got less than three strokes. Still, Fitzsimmons felt the pressure of playing at his home venue in front of many supporters.
“There were moments where I felt really calm and in control and good, and then moments where I felt nervous and a little more uncertain about how things were going to go,” Fitzsimmons said. “It was definitely a bit of a mental grind at times but, again, I just always felt the warmth and the support from the club. There’s so many great members here. It was able to bring me back.”
Staff and wire reports