Somerset's Patience Rhodes helped Team England fire a tournament record to clinch two of three team golds at the 2024 Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship in Texas on Saturday.
From (L to R) Stephen Burnett, Nellie Ong, Dominic Clemons, Matthew Dodd-Berry, Patience Rhodes, Richard Martin
The 20-year-old, who plays out of Burnham and Berrow Golf Club and is currently studying at Arizona State University, joined Dominic Clemons, Matthew Dodd-Berry and Nellie Ong to shoot a tournament record low score of -44 to win the Overall Gold for the third time in England's history.
The male pair, who shot 28-under, also secured the men's gold in a tie with Mexico, whilst Ong and Rhodes went bogey-free across the 54-hole better-ball event.
Making four eagles and 45 birdies in total, the event switched from four rounds to three in 2015, and their score, which included a 12-under final round, not only eclipses the -38 shot by the USA team in 2015 but the previous two winning scores for the Red Rose.
Oliver Fisher, Felicity Johnson, Jamie Moul and Sophie Walker combined to score -43 in 2005, whilst Liz Bennett, Gary Boyd, Naomi Edwards and Danny Willett reached -32 two years later.
Rhodes said: "We were pretty consistent out there and we missed a lot of birdie opportunities today, but we're happy to have no bogeys on the card."
The tournament is one of the amateur game's showcase events with 20 countries battling it out for five prizes at Whispering Pines Golf Club.
Taking place in alternating years with the World Amateur Team Championships, the competition in its 11th edition was started in 2001 by The Spirit Golf Association.
The event has proven to be a springboard with Paula Creamer, Brooke Henderson, Martin Kaymer, Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Speith and Lexi Thompson all previous winners.
Team Manager Stephen Burnett added: "44-under? That sounds pretty good doesn't it? I knew we had a good team, but to shoot the numbers we did, it exceeded expectations. The girls didn't make a bogey and that's the type of scoring you need to win a tournament like this. It's been a great week and they were awesome."
The male pair, who shot 28-under, also secured the men's gold in a tie with Mexico, whilst Ong and Rhodes went bogey-free across the 54-hole better-ball event.
Making four eagles and 45 birdies in total, the event switched from four rounds to three in 2015, and their score, which included a 12-under final round, not only eclipses the -38 shot by the USA team in 2015 but the previous two winning scores for the Red Rose.
Oliver Fisher, Felicity Johnson, Jamie Moul and Sophie Walker combined to score -43 in 2005, whilst Liz Bennett, Gary Boyd, Naomi Edwards and Danny Willett reached -32 two years later.
Rhodes said: "We were pretty consistent out there and we missed a lot of birdie opportunities today, but we're happy to have no bogeys on the card."
The tournament is one of the amateur game's showcase events with 20 countries battling it out for five prizes at Whispering Pines Golf Club.
Taking place in alternating years with the World Amateur Team Championships, the competition in its 11th edition was started in 2001 by The Spirit Golf Association.
The event has proven to be a springboard with Paula Creamer, Brooke Henderson, Martin Kaymer, Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Speith and Lexi Thompson all previous winners.
Team Manager Stephen Burnett added: "44-under? That sounds pretty good doesn't it? I knew we had a good team, but to shoot the numbers we did, it exceeded expectations. The girls didn't make a bogey and that's the type of scoring you need to win a tournament like this. It's been a great week and they were awesome."
ENDS
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org