With two scores counting among three players in each round, Korea had a 72-hole total of 22-under, and that was four strokes better than Chinese Taipei, who shot 140 in the final round. Spain, the 54-hole leaders, shot even-par on Saturday and were five strokes back.

The US tied for sixth with Australia with a 15-under total. Anna Davis, the 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion, led the Americans with a four-day total of six-under 282. Rachel Kuehn and reigning US Women’s Amateur champ Megan Schofill each finished at 284. The US last won the team title in 2018.

Although there is no official recognition, Chinese Taipei’s Huai-Chien Hsu was the low individual scorer at 13-under 275.

South Korea’s Kim, the World Amateur No. 4 and runner-up in the 2023 Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific, made back-to-back birdies on the par-5 second and par-4 third holes, and again on the eighth and ninth as South Korea moved to the top of the leaderboard and stayed there.

“I was focused on my play,” said Kim. “I didn’t putt as aggressively as the first three rounds. I was more relaxed and just tried to make par and some became birdies.”

Spain managed to get within two shots of South Korea with two holes to play, but all three players bogeyed the par-5 18th hole to drop the team from silver position to bronze.

“It’s really disappointing,” said Spain Captain Mar Ruiz de la Torre. “Last year we were in the same situation, and this year again. It’s really a pity because they played well. We just didn’t have too much luck with the putts.”

Korea will hold the Espirito Santo Trophy until the 2025 World Amateur Team Championship in Singapore.

Main image: South Korea’s players celebrate. Steven Gibbons

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Organised by Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Department of Culture and Tourism, the men’s Eisenhower Trophy is scheduled for October 18-21 while the women’s Espirito Santo Trophy takes place the following week from October 25-28.

The UAE men’s team will be captained by star player Ahmad Skaik and he will be joined by current UAE Junior Order of Merit winner Rayan Ahmed as well as 2023 Robert Rock Abu Dhabi Championship winner Thomas Nesbitt.

“It is an honour to represent the country in any event, and to do it in the biggest amateur team event, especially on home soil, makes it even more special,” Skaik said.

“I am excited about this opportunity and proud to serve as the captain. I couldn’t compete much last year due to my injury, so I am eagerly anticipating the challenge.”

Ahmed, who also achieved a top 10 finish at the 2023 European Golf Championships, added: “It’s truly a dream come true to participate in a tournament where golf legends like Tiger (Woods), Rory (McIlroy), and (Jon) Rahm have played. I’ll have the opportunity to test my skills against the very best in the world.”

The women’s representatives include 2023 Faldo Series Middle East Championship winner Jamie Camero, 2022 All African Challenge Trophy champion Intissar Rich and Lara El Chaib, who won two events in England last year.

“The WATC will bring together the best of the best amateurs from all over the world and I’m so honoured to be a part of it, especially in front of our home crowd,” said Camero. “I’m guaranteed to learn a lot from the week.”

Rich, who has previously played in Ladies European Tour events, added: “I’m very excited to be part of the UAE Ladies Team and to play golf at Abu Dhabi Golf Club for the Espirito Santo Trophy.

“This course is known for being tough and used to host the HSBC Championship. Representing the UAE is a big honour, and I can’t wait to play golf with my teammates.”

Both tournaments are set to feature 36 countries with each nation having two or three playing representatives with some of the best amateur players in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, including current World No. 1 Christo Lamprecht.

The 22-year-old South African grabbed the spotlight earlier this year when he posted a 66 to hold the first-round lead at the 151st Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.

“It’s always a great privilege to represent your country,” said Lamprecht. “I’m a very proud South African, I’m looking forward to it and playing alongside my fellow South Africans. It’s time we do really good in the event as historically we haven’t done too well. I think it could be a really special one for us.”

The best two scores from each day’s play go toward the team’s score for each round with the 72-hole total combining to give each nation’s score for the full championship.

Both tournaments were last held in 2022 in France where Italy emerged victorious at the Eisenhower Trophy on 31-under par, while Sweden claimed the Espirito Santo Trophy on 13-under.

Main image: Ahmad Skaik. EGF

The post UAE confirms line-up for World Amateur Team Championships set to take place at Abu Dhabi Golf Club next month appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Abu Dhabi is gearing up to host the 2023 World Amateur Team Championships — the the first time the event has taken place in the Middle East — with Monday marking the start of the one-month countdown until the event kicks off at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Hosted by Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Department of Culture and Tourism, the men’s Eisenhower Trophy is scheduled for October 18-21 while the women’s Espirito Santo Trophy takes place for the following week from October 25-28.

Both tournaments are set to feature 36 countries with each nation having two or three playing representatives.

The best two scores from each day’s play constitutes towards the team’s score for each round with the 72-hole total combing to give the nation’s score for the full championship.

“We are delighted to host the World Amateur Team Championships which is another significant addition in Abu Dhabi’s ever-growing international calendar of sports,” said Aref Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council.  “It also provides our home golfing talents the opportunity to play side-by-side with the elite amateur golfers. We warmly welcome the participating teams and wish every participating team the very best.”

General Abdullah Alhashmi, Vice Chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation, added: “The Championship Committee along with the Local Organising Committee have been working hard over the past 12 months to get to this final stage of preparation.

“Under the patronage of his Excellency Sheikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Abu Dhabi and the Emirates Golf Federation, we look forward to hosting the world’s best amateur golfers and top federations at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. I would like to thank our partners at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Department of Culture and Tourism for their support and for making this Championship possible.

“Finally, I would like to thank golf’s governing bodies, the International Golf Federation, The R&A and the USGA for their trust in the United Arab Emirates for hosting this prestigious championship, it is our mission to continuing to develop the sport of golf in the Middle East.”

These amateur contests have often been a showcase of golf’s promising young talent with past major champions Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods featuring on winning teams before turning professional.

Both tournaments were last held in 2022 in France where Italy emerged victorious in the Eisenhower Trophy, while Sweden claimed the Espirito Santo Trophy.

The last tournament also featured names such as Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg and USA’s Rose Zhang — both of whom are recent winners in the professional game, the former having been named in Luke Donald’s European team for the upcoming Ryder Cup in Rome, while Rose will represent Team USA in the Solheim Cup.

The post One month to go: Abu Dhabi set to host World Amateur Team Championships appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
A desire to showcase the Fire course at Jumeriah Golf Estates to a global audience by transitioning the European Tour’s Race to Dubai decider across from the club’s more famed sister course never advanced beyond the now historical planning stage. But Fire is finally set to move out of Earth’s shadow with the 32nd Eisenhower Trophy (men) and 31st Espirito Santo Trophy (women) to be staged on the desert links in 2023. After an unsuccessful bid in 2008, the Emirates Golf Federation, in concert with Dubai Golf and Falcon and Associates, won hosting rights at the International Golf Federation’s biennial meeting in Lausanne last month, edging the Singapore Golf Association in a close vote. It will be the first time the World Amateur Teams Championships will be held in the Middle East.

“We are very proud to welcome the best amateurs from around the world to the UAE to play on the Greg Norman-designed Fire course at JGE,” said Chris May, CEO of Dubai Golf which manages JGE, Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club. “The EGF should be commended for their commitment to the sport. This gives all young aspiring golfers from the UAE and the GCC region something to focus on and work towards. It’s an amazing opportunity to help take amateur golf to the next level in this region.”

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