Has Swedes poised to close
ADELAIDE, Australia (Oct. 10, 2008) -- Steadfast Sweden increased its lead to 11 strokes over Spain after the third round of the 2008 Women’s World Amateur Team Championship at The Grange Golf Club’s East and West Courses, giving the squad a seemingly insurmountable lead heading into the final round.
Caroline Hedwall shot an even-par 73 and Anna Nordqvist posted a 1-over-par 74 on the East course as Sweden picked up three strokes on second-place Spain. They finished 54 holes at 14-under-par 422, tying a championship record for the second-largest third-round lead.
“Normally in golf, the third day is moving day but it was more like a waiting day,” Sweden’s captain Walter Danewid said. “Spain was closest to us but not much was happening. We seemed like we were waiting.”
The Swedes are vying for their second title and the chance to become the first start-to-finish winners since the USA in 1990. This trio of Swedish players won the European Team Championships in 2008.
“It is a big lead but there is still a lot of golf to be played,” Danewid said. “We will do our thing and we will stay focused.”
Spain could not take advantage of Sweden’s 1-over-par third-round score and stands at 3-under-par 433.
“Golf is something special,” Spanish captain Macarena Campomanes said of overcoming the large lead of Sweden. “We will try. You never know in golf.”
Japan jumped two places to third place with a third-round 3-under-par 143.
The USA made the day’s biggest move with a 4-under-par 142 to advance four places to fourth with Alison Walshe notching a 4-under-par 69, the best round of the day. Teammates Amanda Blumenherst and Tiffany Joh both shot even-par 73.
“If all three of us play really well, we should be under par,” Walshe said of her team’s chances in the fourth round. “It’s the kind of a thing where Sweden might be too far away. But, you never know."
Also in medal contention were Netherlands and defending champions South Africa, who are tied for fifth place. Canada is seventh; Denmark and Germany are tied for eighth and Colombia and England are tied for 10th.
The host country, Australia, is tied for 12th.
The winning team receives custody of the Espirito Santo Trophy for the ensuing two years.
For round four, the teams at the top half of the leaderboard will play the West course. The bottom half teams will play the East.
ABOUT THE Women's World Amateur Team
In 1958 the United States Golf Association asked
The R&A to join them in sponsoring a world-wide
amateur golf team event to be played biennially
in non-Walker Cup years. Between 35 and 40
nations were represented at the first meeting
and President Dwight D. Eisenhower presented
the trophy which bears his name. The committee
of the event was to be known as the World
Amateur Golf Council and is now the
International Golf Federation. Teams of four
players from each country competed over 72
holes with the leading three scores from each
round to count. The first competition was held
between 29 nations at St Andrews, with Australia
beating the United States in a play-off. In 2002
the format changed to teams of three with the
two leading scores to count.
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