South Korea women win Espirito Santo Trophy

South Korea won its fourth Espirito Santo Trophy with a record-equalling winning margin of 21 strokes after posting a total score of 547, 29-under-par, at the 27th Women’s World Amateur Team Championships at Mayakoka El Camaleon Golf Club, Mexico.
“The key is the team play,” said South Korean captain Sang-Won Ko. “The players have been so focused on team play. That makes everyone tight and makes for good results.”
The other medals were won by Switzerland, in second, at eight-under-par and Ireland, in third, one shot back.
The South Koreans have now taken seven medals in total in the history of the Trophy: four gold (1996, 2010, 2012 and 2016), two silvers and one bronze.
Teenagers Hye Jin Choi, 17, and Min Ji Park, 16, each shot a five-under-par round of 67 to post a final-round 134, which is second-best to Australia’s 131 in 2014. 
The South Korean duo and Japan’s Nasa Hatoaka shared the day’s low round.
“I travel a lot and the first question is always ‘Why is your women’s game so strong?’ And my first answer is we have a greater number of players and they are trying really hard,” said Ko.
“Their target is to turn professional. We may be a small country in terms of the land and the population but we have more than 3,000 junior players and they are willing to turn professional, which is really a huge number compared to the US and Europe so that’s why I believe our women’s golf is strong.”
South Korea’s 21-stroke margin of victory over second-place Switzerland tied the championship record set by the USA in Chile in 1998. The 72-hole total of 547 is also the second lowest score by a champion. The lowest winning score was 546 by South Korea in 2010, when they won by 17 strokes.
“We did really well last time (third in 2014), but we couldn’t do as well as we hoped,” said Choi. “But this time we really did our best and we performed really well, so I am very happy now.”
Although there is no official individual scoring recognition, Choi with a 14-under-par total of 274.
Sisters Kim and Morgane Metraux, shot 69 and 72, respectively, for the Swiss, who won their first medal in 23 appearances, with a best finish of tied for fourth in 1988. This marks their fifth top 10 finish.
“It feels great,” said Kim, who plays at Florida State University with her sibling and team-mate. “We never thought we would win a medal before coming here. We came with no expectations, just to play as well as we could. It’s incredible that we have won a medal.”
“It’s a great historic moment for Switzerland,” said Swiss captain Annette Weber. “The players performed great in very hot conditions and I am very proud of this team for winning the silver medal.”
In a dual that lasted most of the afternoon, Ireland, on the stellar play of Olivia Mehaffey and World Amateur Golf Ranking™ No. 1 Leona Maguire, claimed third at 569, edging past Denmark in fourth at 570 and Thailand in fifth at 571.
Ireland also won its first medal in its seventh appearance but it did compete as a part of Great Britain and Ireland from 1966 through 2004. Their best finish previous finish was T-11th in 2010.
“I’m just so proud of them,” said Irish captain David Kearney. “We have got three amazing girls there, just incredible girls. They are all very serious about their golf and they work incredibly hard all year round when they are not at tournaments. I’m just delighted for them. It’s just brilliant.”
The USA, with a pair of 69s from Andrea Lee and Katelyn Dambaugh, finished in sixth at 574, followed by Spain in seventh at 575, Japan in eighth at 576, Canada in ninth at 581 and host Mexico in tenth at 582