Canada finishes second at men’s World Amateur Championship
September 13, 2014
Tyler Costigan (Golf Canada)
KARUIZAWA, Japan – Team Canada made it interesting down the stretch but could not catch the Americans, falling short by two strokes to finish second at 36-under par at the 2014 men’s World Amateur Team Championship at Karuizawa 72 Golf East.
Adam Svensson (USGA/ Steve Gibbons)
Canada, which began the day six strokes behind U.S.A., fought back to hold a share of the lead going into the 18th hole, with Canada’s Corey Conners and America’s Bryson Dechambeau left as the final group.
Both players hit their drives in the fairway on the 443-yard, par-4. DeChambeau played first and hit a 50-degree wedge from 110 yards. Conners’ approach settled 35 feet from the hole on the back collar.
“I didn’t know about the scores and I wasn’t sure if his (score) would be counting or not,” Conners said. “There was never a doubt that he was going to make it. It was a pretty nice looking putt.”
Conners left his birdie attempt short, which set the stage for DeChambeau’s winning birdie.
“I knew where we stood when I was on the 18th tee box and I knew that I needed a birdie on the last,” said DeChambeau, an All-American at Southern Methodist University, “I striped my drive and hit a wedge in there and nailed that nine-footer. I said that I needed to make birdie and I went out and made birdie”.
Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C. (69-69-66-65 –269) and Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. (66-69-67-68—270) combined for a final round 11-under 137 on the Iriyama Course. Team Canada teammate Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont. (68-67-69-70—274) shot a non-counting final round 70 to round out the trio.
In the end, Canada settles for their fifth silver medal in men’s World Amateur history (’06, ’78, ’64, ‘62), one week after the Canadian women’s squad of Brooke Henderson (Smiths Falls, Ont.), Brittany Marchand (Orangeville, Ont.) and Augusta James (Bath, Ont.) placed second in the Women’s World Amateur Championship.
“We fought back really hard today,” said team captain, Graham Hill. “We knew that we were going to have to play well to have a chance and we played great and brought it right to the last hole. Obviously, it didn’t work out the way that we wanted but we’re really proud of the guys for the way they played and the way they handled themselves. It’s a good finish for us, disappointing not to win but we’re happy with it.”
The United States, which won the Eisenhower Trophy for the 15th time, took the lead after the third round as DeChampeau, No. 30 in the Men’s World Amateur Golf Ranking™, carded a record-setting low score of 61. Teammate Denny McCarthy, No. 14 in the WAGR™, led the Americans individually, finishing fifth at 19-under par.
Sweden was fourth at 538; Argentina was fifth at 539; Australia, England and France were tied for sixth at 540; Scotland was ninth at 542 and Switzerland was 10th at 544. Japan, the host team, finished tied for 29th.
Svensson, 20, finished seventh individually to lead the Canadians. The Barry University sophomore, ranked No. 49 in the WAGR™, finished at 17-under par, six strokes back of medalist Jon Rahm of Spain. Rahm, a student at Arizona State University, broke the individual scoring record with a 23-under 263. The previous mark for low individual score for 72 holes was held by golf legend Jack Nicklaus, who shot 269 in 1960.
“We’re pretty disappointed right now but we’re proud,” said Svensson. “The three of us played under par every day so I’m happy about that.”
The World Amateur Team Championship is a biennial international amateur competition conducted by the International Golf Federation (IGF), which comprises 137 national governing bodies in 131 countries. The competition, which is being held for the 26th time, is rotated among three geographic zones: Asia-Pacific, Americas and Europe-Africa.
This year’s event is hosted by the Japan Golf Association. The teams play for the Eisenhower Trophy. The IGF is the international federation for golf for the International Olympic Committee and will conduct the Olympic golf competition in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. In each round, the total of the two lowest scores from each team constitutes the team score for the round. The four-day (72-hole) total is the team’s score for the championship.
The 2016 World Amateur Team Championship will be played in Cancun, Mexico.
CANADIAN INDIVIDUAL SCORES
7. Adam Svensson, Surrey, B.C. (69-69-66-65—269)
T8. Corey Conners, Listowel, Ont. (66-69-67-68—270)
T19. Taylor Pendrith, Richmond Hill, Ont. (68-67-69-70—274)
Click here for team results.
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Canada sits two strokes back of leader at men’s World Amateur
September 12, 2014
Tyler Costigan (Golf Canada)
KARUIZAWA, Japan – Team Canada’s trio combined for an 9-under 133 on the Oshitate Course to sit in a tie for third after 54-holes at the World Amateur Team Championship at Karuizawa 72 Golf East.
Corey Conners (USGA/ Steve Gibbons)
Overall, the Canadian contingent sits at 25-under par, tied for third with Spain, three strokes behind second place Sweden, and six back of the leading Americans.
U.S.A made a surge up the leaderboard thanks to Bryson DeChambeau’s record-setting 61. DeChambeau closed out his round with six consecutive birdies to lift the Americans into sole possession of first place.
The Canadians were led by Adam Svensson, a 20-year-old Surrey, B.C. native. Svensson, entering his junior year at Barry University, carded a 5-under 66 that was highlighted by a string of four birdies over six holes on the back nine. He currently shares a tie for 17th on the individual leaderboard.
The other Canadian score counting for the day was posted by Listowel, Ont. native Corey Conners. This year’s U.S. Amateur runner-up recorded a 4-under 67, with an eagle on the par-5 15th. The 22-year-old Kent State graduate leads the Canadians individually at 12-under par in a tie for 8th.
Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont. shot a non-counting 69 as the team’s highest score for the day. He shares a tie for 17th with Svensson and three others.
The Canadians will look to make a run at the lead in tomorrow’s final round on the Iriyama Course. They tee-off starting at 11:35 a.m. (JST), grouped with Sweden and the U.S.
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September 11, 2014
Tyler Costigan (Golf Canada)
KARUIZAWA, Japan – Canada combined for a 6-under 136 in Thursday’s second round to slip to fifth place (-16) at the men’s World Amateur Team Championship at Karuizawa 72 Golf East.
USGA/ Steve Gibbons
The Canadians held the lead at 19-under par through 15 holes but lost four strokes in the last three holes to sit alone in fifth. Sweden, Switzerland and the U.S. share a tie for second, while Argentina holds the outright lead at 18-under.
“Both days, we gave a few shots back on the way in,” said Canadian captain Graham Hill. “It’s something we will talk about tonight. There are lots of low scores and it’s a bunched up leaderboard. While it’s not exactly what we wanted, 6-under is still a good score and we are still right there.”
The Canadian trio was led by Richmond Hill, Ont. native and Team Canada member, Taylor Pendrith. The 23-year-old carded seven birdies on the day en route to a 4-under 67 on the Oshitate Course. His teammate, and Co-Mid-American Conference player of the year, Corey Conners, carded a 2-under 69. The Listowel, Ont. native sits at 8-under in a tie for 12th with Pendrith on the individual leaderboard.
Adam Svensson, a native of Surrey, B.C., matched Conners with a 69 as the team’s second lowest counting score for the day. The 2014 Jack Nicklaus award winner sits at 5-under individually (69-69).
The Canadian contingent is back on the Iriyama Course for Friday’s third round. They will tee-off starting at 11:05 a.m. (JST), grouped with Sweden and Spain.
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Canada shares lead after first round of Men’s World Amateur
September 10, 2014
Tyler Costigan (Golf Canada)
KARUIZAWA, Japan – The men’s trio of Corey Conners, Taylor Pendrith and Adam Svensson have continued the success for Canada at the World Amateur Championship, firing a 10-under 134 to share the lead with Sweden and Switzerland after Wednesday’s opening round at Karuizawa 72 Golf East.
USGA/ Steve Gibbons
Conners, the 2014 U.S. Amateur runner-up, carded a 6-under 66 to lead the way for the Canadian contingent. The Listowel, Ont. native posted five birdies on the front nine, boosting him to a tie for second on the individual leaderboard, one back of Sweden’s Marcus Kinhult.
“It was definitely motivating to see the ladies do so well and we want to continue the success for Canada,” said the 22-year-old. “We’re all hoping to play as well as they did and we’re off to a nice start.”
His Team Canada teammate and old roommate at Kent State, Taylor Pendrith, carded a 4-under 68.
“I drove the ball pretty well and my putting was probably the best part of my game today – I made a lot of nice putts and some 15- to 20-footers,” said the Richmond Hill, Ont. native. “Overall I’m pleased with the way I played. It was unfortunate to bogey the last two holes but I’m very happy.”
Adam Svensson, a Surrey, B.C. native, carded a non-counting 3-under 69.
“We put in some really good preparation,” said team captain, Graham Hill. “Derek Ingram, our coach, works very closely with all the guys here. I don’t think we’re surprised that we played well here today. We’re just taking it day by day and we’re happy with the start.”
Canada was one of thirty-seven teams to break par in the first round and contribute towards the 65 sub-par scores, breaking the record of 42 in 2004.
The Canadians opened on the Iriyama Course in the first round – they will alternate tomorrow by playing the Oshitate Course. They are set to tee-off at 10:35 am (JST), grouped with Malaysia and Slovakia.
Click here for team scoring.
Click here for individual scoring.