It was another hot day in Malaysia at the Mines Resort and Golf Club. As play came to a close at the inaugural Women’s World Cup Challenge, the Australian team of Karrie Webb and Rachel Hetherington were left holding the $200,000 winners’ check. Their three-day total score of 275 (-13) was enough to capture the win by two strokes over runners-up Annika and Charlotta Sorenstam.
Hear Heatherington and Sorenstam talk about their team effort.
The Sorenstams struggled throughout the day, unable to hold onto their lead and ultimately finished the day lagging by two strokes. ‘We went from three behind to six behind (after three), and then before you knew it, we were leading the tournament,’ Webb said. ‘It is just one of those things.’
Leaders scores went up and down at a nauseating pace during the final round of the World Cup. ‘The format that we played today, with the aggregate of the two scores, the lead can change so quickly, Webb said. ‘We saw that the first couple of holes.’
After completing Saturday’s round bogey-free, the sisters Sorenstam held the lead going into Sunday - a lead that Webb and Hetherington felt confident they could overcome. The Aussies started the final round with a three-stroke deficit. By the third hole of the day the Swedish team had widened their lead over the Australians by six strokes and things seemed to be going in favor of the Swedes - but Webb had other plans. Just two holes later Charlotta would go on a bogey binge that would continue for five consecutive holes. ‘I said to Rachel on the third hole, we can get them back,’ Webb said.
Charlotta’s game was faltering and the Australian team was poised to take advantage of their situation. By the eighth hole the tables had turned and the Australian team found themselves ahead by five strokes. Charlotta continued her bogey streak on the eighth while sister Annika carded a disastrous double-bogey. Meanwhile Hetherington birdied the hole. On this single hole four strokes had changed hands along with lead. ‘This we can change pretty quickly, although I didn’t realize that by the ninth hole we were going to have a seven-shot lead,’ Webb said. ‘It is just an amazing format.’
The words Webb uttered to Hetherington on the third hole now seemed prophetic. ‘I didn’t realize how quickly it was going to change until we got in front at seven and eight,’ Rachel said. ‘That was exciting just having that as a kind of challenge, having that right there being able to get it back.’
The Aussies fought a tough battle and in the end could not have been prouder of their accomplishment. ‘It is great to win the first Women’s World Cup and the first time that we have got to play together to represent Australia,’ Karrie said. ' It is great that our names are the first on the trophy and the first in many years’
Sweden settled for second place with a total score of 277 (-11). Annika’s final round consisted of four birdies and one double-bogey while playing partner Charlotta carded two birdies and six bogeys. ‘Overall, to finish second is not bad. It was a great field this week. And last but not least, we had a great time. I really enjoyed playing with ‘Lotta and a few good days with her, so it was worth every minute,’ Annika said.
The United States team of Meg Mallon and Juli Inkster finished in third place with a total score of 280 (-8). Their play during the third round of aggregate individual stroke-play matched that of the winning team at 141. Lori Kane and A.J. Eathorne of Canada finished at 282 (-6) and also took honors for best third-round score of 139.
