South Africa win Women’s World Amateur Championships

South Africa withstood a surge by defending champions Sweden to win the 2006 Women’s World Amateur Golf Team Championships at Steelenbosch today, becoming the first victorious host nation since 1980.

Sat, 21 Oct, 2006 - 22:10

Playing at De Zalze, Ashleigh Simon and Kelli Shean each shot two-over par 74s for their final day total of 148.

Teammate Stacy Bregman was one further back on 75. Sweden, making up a four-stroke deficit, tied the host nation at 10-under-par for a 72-hole total of 566.

With the initial tie-break (final round non-counting score) being equal on 75, the non-counting score from the third round was called into play and South Africa’s Simon shot 73 to Andersson’s 77.

Ireland tied 23rd from 42 teams in the highly competitive elite team event. Once again, Cork’s Claire Coughlan led the Irish challenge with an impressive level par 72.

Despite dropping shots on the 12th and 13th holes, she birdied the final two to complete her four round total of 11 over par, an impressive two over for her last 54 holes played. Martina Gillen added her third 75 of the week, matching Coughlan’s final total.

She encountered difficulties on the challenging back nine but steadied the ship with a brave birdie on 14. Lancome Irish Champion Tricia Mangan once again struggled on the closing stretch and having turned one over par recorded a triple and two double bogeys on the inward run for her second successive 83.

Sweden’s Caroline Westrup won the individual event with an eight under par final total of 280, just two strokes ahead of Japan’s Rikako Marita. Ireland’s Coughaln and Gillen tied 48th from the 126 competitors.

Final Totals:

566 South Africa Sweden

567 Colombia1

568 France

569 Germany Japan

570 New Zealand

572 Spain

574 United States of America

576 Chinese Taipei

578 Korea England Netherlands

581 Australia

583 Canada