Golf Update: United States Leads the Women’s World Amateur Championship.
The United States is leading the World Amateur Team Championship with an 8-under par 136 after the first day. Hosted by the Association Argentina de Golf in Argentina this year, the championship has really gotten the ladies competing for the Espirito Santo
Trophy.
Cydney Clanton and Jessica Korda both posted four-under 68 on Wednesday to give U.S a four stroke lead after the first round of the 24th Women’s World Amateur Championship. Another member of the American team, Danielle Kang, gave a 70 however;
it was Clanton and Korda that plummeted the Americans to the top.
Being second to Cydney, Jessica started her bogey-less round with a birdie on the first. Following that, she posted a birdie on the par-5 8th hole to get at minus-two. On the back nine, Korda gave consecutive birdies from the 15th hole
to achieve minus four and then achieving par on the last two holes ended up at 68.
As for the other star of the show, Clanton slipped due to a bogey on the second hole but sunk a birdie on the third hole to get back to even par. Posting two birdies on the front and back nine each she was able to secure the lead with a 4-under. The stars
of the show were also teammates on the U.S Curtis Cup team earlier this year.
"I am exceedingly proud of the way these young women played," said U.S. captain Roberta Bolduc.
"They stayed patient and played brilliantly. I am ordering three more rounds like that."
This first round score set by Americans was record breaking as it was the lowest first-round in the history of the championship. The old record which was at 137 was shared by three teams. Canada carded a 137 in the 2004, whereas Sweden and Japan achieved
this score in 2008. The championship is conducted by the International Golf Federation which consists of national governing bodies of golf in 120 countries and more. This biennial international amateur competition is alternated among three time zones. The
championship is either held in Europe-Africa, Americas or Asia-Pacific. Overall, 53 teams are competing this year which breaks the record of the 48 teams that participated in the 2004 championship in Puerto Rico.
The format of the game is that each team has three players, however the top two contribute to the total of the club. This year, the play is split over the Buenos Aires Golf Club and Olivos Golf Club. The leaders of the first round played at the Olivos in
the opening round.
As for the other teams, the host country is at second place at 4-under. The French player gave the lowest individual round score with a 5-under 67 and hence hoisted France up to second place tie with Argentina.
Germany, South Africa, Chinese Taipei and Spain are all at fourth place at two-under par 142. The Canadian women ended up at ninth place. Christine Wong contributed well to the team, as she gave a good start and ended at a 2-under 7, whereas Sara-Maude Juneau
gave a 74. The third player, Jennifer Kirby, posted an 82 which overall provided Canada with a 144 overall.
The Australian team, consisting of Alison Whitaker, Julia Boland and Stacey Keating finished at 3-over par and in 19th place in the championship. Keating gave the best score of the day when she carded an even par at 72. Boland and Whitaker on
the other hand gave 5-over and 3-over respectively. The Australians are scheduled to play at the Olivos Golf Club when the second round tees off at night.
The defending champion of the Championship, Sweden, is 10 strokes behind America and is at two-over-par 146. Tied for sixteenth place, the Swedes will definitely struggle to ensure they retain the trophy.
The Americans possibly are trying to bring some taste of victory to the country after the US team were crushed in the Ryder Cup this year. Whether they are professional men or amateur ladies, a victory is a victory and with a lead in the first round, the
ladies might just be very near it.
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