Stacy Bregman’s 3-under-par 69 helped South Africa increase its lead to four strokes over surging defending champion Sweden through three rounds at the Women’s World Amateur Team Championships.
“We knew it was going to be difficult on the third day,” said South African captain Sandra Winter. “We noticed the leader board a little but kept it to ourselves.”
Bregman, 19, of Sandton, received a putting tip from South African golf legend David Frost following the second round and it paid immediate dividends.
“I really put it together today when it mattered most,” Bregman said. “I putted well and I just let it fly.”
With an even-par 72 from Kelli Shean, 18, of Cape Town, South Africa posted a 418, the second-best 54-hole total in championship history.
“We are confident,” Shean said. “We know we can compete with the world.”
The South Africans are vying to become the first team to win the championship on home soil since the USA in 1980. France, in 1964, is the only other team to win at home. South Africa’s best finish is T2nd in 1974.
Sweden, fueled by a 6-under-par 66 by Caroline Westrup, 20, of Ahus, and an even-par 72 from Anna Nordqvist, 19, of Estilstuna, moved up three places and began the day seven strokes behind South Africa.
“We talked about what we can do,” coach Katarina Vangdal said. “When you start to look at the leader board, I don’t think that works. It’s always motivating to try to catch someone.”
Westrup’s score was tied by 15-year-old Kimberly Kim of the USA. They matched the second-lowest third-round score by an individual in championship history.
Germany fell back one place to third at 423. The rest of the top 10 included:
France (fourth, 424); Japan (fifth 426); USA (sixth, 428); and Spain, England, New Zealand and Chinese Taipei (tied for seventh, 429).
Spain, which was 15th after two rounds, made the largest climb on the leader board with a 4-under 68 from Azahara Munoz of Malaga and a 2-under 70 from Carolota Ciganda of Navarra.
Sweden, Spain and the USA all broke the championship mark for lowest third-round team score at 138.
For the USA, Kim’ bogeyless 6-under-par 66 and an even-par 72 from Amanda Blumenherst paced a six-position jump.
“Last night, we were all fired up,” said Kim, the reigning U.S. Women’s Amateur champion. “We all wanted to go low. The first two rounds I didn’t play that badly but my putter didn’t work. I am putting much better now.”
In the World Amateur, the team’s two best individual scores count. In the final round Saturday, the top 21 leading teams will play at De Zalze Golf Club and the lower 21 teams will play at Stellenbosch Golf Club.
The International Golf Federation was founded in 1958 to encourage the international development of the game and to employ golf as a vehicle to foster friendship and sportsmanship. The IGF is the recognized international federation for golf for the International Olympic Committee and comprises the national governing bodies of golf of more than 100 countries.
For more information and scoring visit the International Golf Federation website , and click on the 2006 World Amateur Team Championship scoring link.
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