By Matt Smith
Sweden look like the team to beat in Dubai as they held off a US rally to claim the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship title in Paris.

Earlier this year, the International Golf Federation announced the UAE as hosts of the 2023 World Amateur Team Championships in October, and Sweden stamped their names as favourites as they bagged the Espirito Santo Trophy this time around. 2023 will mark the first time the event, which dates back to 1958, will be held in the Middle East.

The competition came down to the final hole, but the US couldn’t complete an impressive charge on Saturday as Sweden captured the gold medal in France.

The Americans, who trailed Germany by four at the start of the day in the 72-hole event, held a one-stroke lead with World No. 1 Rose Zhang standing on the 18th tee after she made birdie on 17 at Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche. But Zhang missed the green with her approach and could not get up and down. With both teams finishing at 13-under, that led to a tie, with Sweden identified as the winner when the non-counting scores had Sweden’s Louise Rydqvist shooting 73 against American Rachel Kuehn’s 74.

“There is obviously that tinge of disappointment,” Zhang said. “On that last putt, I actually hit a really good putt exactly where I wanted, but it just didn’t go in the hole. It was disappointing to end that way, but I am really proud of how we fought back on the last day.”

Zhang shot three-under 69 and teammate Rachel Heck scored 70. Sweden was led by world No. 2 Ingrid Lindblad’s 69 and Meja Ortengren’s 70.

The gold was the first medal for Sweden in the event since they earned bronze in 2012.

You may also like:
EGF buoyed by Morocco trip
The biggest and strangest rule blunders in history
Chiara Noja named Golf Saudi ambassador
Scottie and Xander in for marathon finish at Tour Championship
19 LIV Golfers to tee up at BMW PGA Championship
Rory and Cam keep their eyes on the action at Tour Championship
Lee Westwood slates latest PGA Tour moves
The Omega European Masters might have the strangest hole-in-one prize in golf history
Canizares and Lawrence scale heights in Switzerland
DP World launches eTour competition with live Dubai finale
Monahan delivers clear message to LIV Golfers who may want to return to PGA
LIV Golf uncertainty over Presidents Cup roster has Immelman preparing for anything
Jay Monahan implements more lucrative changes to PGA Tour
Tiger and Rory launch new team golf league
Even past champs admit FedEx Cup Playoffs needs tweaked
Cameron Smith has eyes on the prize at Tour Championship
Your Tour Championship first-round tee times
LET Race is on for Swedish stars
Zalatoris out of PGA Tour Championship
International Series ‘goes extra mile’ for LIV Golf and Asian Tour players
A tale of two sisters at Aramco Team Series
The biggest and strangest rule blunders in history
Chiara Noja named Golf Saudi ambassador
LOOK: The top 10 LIV Golf earners so far
How Will Zalatoris’ new caddie helped him to the top of FedEx Cup standings
PGA Tour players keep code of silence over meeting with Tiger
LIV Golf aims to awaken sleeping giant Asian Tour
Patrick Reed brings defamation lawsuit against Golf Chanel, Brandel Chamblee
Michelle Wie West ‘hid injuries’ from media
LOOK: The top 30 players who made it to the PGA Tour Championship
Fantastic Max claims first DP World title
Cantlay and Schauffele are FedEx Cup foes