USA wins the 2003 International Team Championship!

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          The 2003 Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship, played October 15-18, 2003 at Whispering Pines Golf Club, was truly an event of Olympia proportions. The 24 participating countries, from six different continents, experienced a week filled with great golf competition and international goodwill.

The fun started when the 96 participants (two men and two women amateur golfers from each country) were introduced at The Spirit Opening Ceremonies on Monday, October 13^th. Lorena Ochoa, The 2001 Spirit gold medalist and 2003 LPGA Rookie of the Year, provided a heart-warming address to the players and 6,800 attendees. The festive evening was completed with a concert performance by Huey Lewis & The News.

It was then onto golf where a Scottish bagpiper summoned the player field to the first and tenth tees for the first round. Every player looked proud to represent his or her country. Numerous players such as 2003 US Amateur Champion, Nick Flanagan from Australia and 2003 British Amateur Champion, Gary Wolstemholme from England, had high hopes to help their country team win the International Team gold medal.

However, it was a highly young and talented team of Americans, selected by Captain Duke Butler, which took The Spirit by storm. Representing Team USA were Paula Creamer, #1 ranked USA Junior, age 17; Jane Park, US Women’s Amateur runner-up at age 17; Matt Rosenfeld, NCAA Tournament runner-up, age 18; and Brandt Snedeker, US Men’s Publinks Champion, age 22.

Collectively the USA posted the low International Team score in each of the first three rounds, going 49 under par in the combined best ball team event.

By the final round, it was only the battle for the silver and bronze medals that was left undecided. Team USA cruised in the final 18 to post a tournament record score of 53 under par (Mexico won in 2001 at 51 under par) to claim the gold, while Team Australia captured the silver with a 37 under par total. It was a photo finish for the bronze medal, Team Finland and Team New Zealand (2001 Team Bronze medalist) tied at 26 under par for the bronze, while Team Korea and Team Netherlands came up one birdie shy at 26 under par.

In the end, every player left The Spirit as a champion. The fellowships International Village at adjacent Camp Olympia, where players and team captains enjoyed hospitality, entertainment and were housed together, made for an Olympic like experience. The 2003 Spirit truly took another step towards establishing itself as a premier international amateur golf tournament.

 The Spirit is committed to bringing the world closer together through the game of golf and showcasing the stars of tomorrow. Thanks to being embraced by the amateur golf world, The Spirit will continue to prosper and promote international goodwill for many years to come.

Stay tuned for the next Spirit event in October 2005.