ENGLAND STRIKE GOLD AGAIN IN SPIRIT INTERNATIONAL
 English
golfers achieved yet another superb overseas victory when
they successfully defended the biannual Spirit International
Championship in the United States on Saturday.
The England team of Gary Boyd (pictured left - photo courtesy
of Tom Ward), Daniel Willett, Liz Bennett and Naomi Edwards
came out on top at Whispering Pines in Texas to take the gold
medals, emulating the feat of Oliver Fisher, Jamie Moul, Felicity
Johnson and Sophie Walker two years ago.
The field comprised the best 24 international teams who qualified
through their final positions in the 2006 Eisenhower and Espirito
Santo Trophies. Each team comprises two men and two women
and is played on a four ball, better ball format over 72 holes.
Starting the final day England held a narrow lead from Korea
but struggled to stay ahead with the Koreans and the USA breathing
down their necks.
In the team event, although the USA finished with a final
day 11 under par 133, for a 72 hole aggregate of 546 (30 under
par), England, who started the final round on 25 under, held
steady with 137 and finished on 544 (32 under).
Korea, playing alongside England, also had a good day with
an eight under par 136, finishing tied with USA as silver
medallists.
England also came out on top in the men's event on 261, 27
under par, with a final day better ball 66, winning by six
shots from Australia and USA. Both Boyd (Cherwell Edge) and
Willett (Rotherham) scored spectacularly well with Willett,
the English champion, recording 17 birdies and an eagle over
the 72 holes, and Boyd 16 birdies.
England could not have won without solid support from the
ladies, who finished tied sixth with New Zealand in their
event with an overall 283, five under par. Liz Bennett from
Hampshire had seven birdies and Yorkshire’s Naomi Edwards
six. Korea won the title on 275 (13 under) by four from Chinese
Taipei, Canada and USA.
Results
Team event
544 England 134 138 135 137
546 Korea 133 137 140 136
546 USA 141 141 131 133
554 France 141 138 140 135
Men
261 England 63 67 65 66
267 Australia 66 66 70 65
267 USA 67 71 67 62
271 Korea 67 69 68 67
Ladies
275 Korea 66 68 72 69
279 Canada 66 73 68 72
279 Chinese Taipei 71 68 67 73
279 USA 74 70 64 71
Other
283 England 71 71 70 71
|
