The Republic of Korea has won its fourth Women’s World Amateur Team Championships by a record-equalling 21 strokes in Mexico.
The team of Hye Jin Choi, Min Ji Park and Hyun kyung Park reached 29-under-par 547 for the four rounds at the Mayakoka El Camaleon Golf Club, which saw them finish a staggering 21 shots ahead of their nearest rival, Switzerland, and easily claim the Espirito Santo Trophy.
“The key is the team play,” Korean captain Sang-Won Ko said. “We have been interviewed over the last few days and the players have been so focused on team play. That makes everyone tight and makes for good results.”
The other medals were won by Switzerland, in second, at eight under 568 and Ireland, in third, at seven under 569.
In 14 Women’s World Amateur Teams Championship appearances, the Koreans have taken seven medals in total: four gold (1996, 2010, 2012 and 2016), two silvers and one bronze.
Teenagers Hye Jin Choi, 17, and Min Ji Park, 16, each shot five under 67s to post a final-round 134, which is second-best to Australia’s 131 in 2014. The Korean duo and Japan’s Nasa Hatoaka shared the day’s low round.
“I travel a lot and the first question is always ‘Why is your women’s game so strong?’ And my first answer is we have a greater number of players and they are trying really hard,” Ko said. “Their target is to turn professional. We may be a small country in terms of the land and the population but we have more than 3,000 junior players and they are willing to turn professional, which is really a huge number compared to the US and Europe so that’s why I believe our women’s golf is strong.”
Korea’s 21-stroke victory margin tied the championship record set by the United States in Chile in 1998. The 72-hole total (547) is also tied for second-lowest score by a champion. The lowest winning score was 546 by Korea in 2010, when they won by 17 strokes.
The nation has finished in the top 10 in 12 of its 14 appearances. The Koreans are tied for fourth in most overall WWATC medals with Sweden and Great Britain and Ireland. Only the USA, with 13, has won more gold medals than the Koreans.
After three rounds, the Koreans held a 14-stroke cushion over Switzerland but, in the fourth round, they kept their low-scoring pace as Choi, the 2016 US Women’s Open low amateur, and Park, the 2016 Australian Women’s Amateur champion, started the front nine of the final round in six under 30 and four under 32 respectively.
“We did really well last time (third in 2014), but we couldn’t do as well as we hoped,” Choi said. “But this time we really did our best and we performed really well, so I am very happy now.”
Although there is no official recognition, Choi led the individual scoring with a 14 under total of 274.
Swiss sisters Kim and Morgane Metraux, shot 69 and 72, respectively in the final round to claim their country’s first medal in 23 appearances.
“It feels great,” said Kim, who plays at Florida State University in the US with her sibling and teammate. “We never thought we would win a medal before coming here. We came with no expectations, just to play as well as we could. It’s incredible that we have won a medal.”
“It’s a great historic moment for Switzerland,” said Swiss captain Annette Weber. “The players performed great in very hot conditions and I am very proud of this team for winning the silver medal.”
In a dual that lasted most of the afternoon, Ireland, on the stellar play of Olivia Mehaffey (four under 68) and Women’s World No.1 Amateur Leona Maguire (three under 67), claimed third at 569, edging past Denmark by a single stroke. Thailand was a further stroke back in fifth place at 571.
The Australian trio of Hannah Green, Robyn Choi and Karis Davidson finished tied for 12th place at 11 over 587. Davidson recorded the Aussie’s lowest round for the event on the final day with a one under 71.
The Women’s World Amateur Team Championship is a biennial international amateur competition conducted by the International Golf Federation (IGF), which comprises 147 national governing bodies in 141 countries and 22 professional members. The 28th staging of the tournament will be played from August 29 to September 1 at Carton House Golf Club in Dublin, Ireland.
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