Women's World Amateur Team: Sweden finishes it

ADELAIDE, Australia (Oct. 11, 2008) -- Sweden increased their record as the most successful nation in the championship's history with a stunning 12 stroke victory over closest rival Spain on Saturday afternoon in Adelaide, Australia. In 23 Women's World Amateur Team Championships, Sweden has finished in the top ten in every competition. The Swedes captured the Espirito Santo Trophy with a 19-under par (561) total, as Caroline Hedwall edged out team mate Anna Nordqvist for the individual honours by a single stroke. The total was just three strokes shy of the lowest score in tournament history, which set by the U.S. in 1998 (558). The 12-stroke margin of victory was the most since the Americans won by 21 in 1998. Hedwall's remarkable perfomance left her 10-under-par at the end of the championship. Her closest non-Swedish challenger, Spain's Azahara Munoz was seven strokes behind Hedwall. Speaking after the victory, captain Walter Danewid wiped away tears as he expressed his pride in the girls. "Winning this championship means so much that it's hard to put into words," Danewid said. "We've had incredible support from everyone involved and the girls have come out and played fantastic golf and I'm very proud of them." The United States squad, made up of Curtis Cuppers Amanda Blumenherst, Tiffany Joh and Alison Walshe finished in third, 14 strokes off the pace. “The first day was like the wind out of our sails,” Blumenherst told Golfweek. “We definitely fought back and played hard the last three days.”