14-Year old instrumental in USA’s seven-shot win at The Spirit

14-Year old Alexis Thompson, topping the Women’s leaderboard on 17 birdies, was instrumental in the USA’s seven stroke win at The Spirit played at Whispering Pines, Trinity, Texas this week. Thompson became only the second golfer after Lorena Ochea in 2001 and Paula Creamer in 2003 to take home three golds: team, women’s team, and individual.

The US team completed the four rounds on 531, -45 to par, seven strokes ahead of Korea on -41, with Denmark in third place on -33.

The South African team finished tied 12th with Australia on -16. Dylan Frattelli performed the best of the South Africans with 14 birdies, while Kim Williams holed 12. The SA Men were in 11th place in the men’s team event while the girls finished their 72 holes in 14th position.

Erica Lefson reports, “Today once again perfect weather, greens a bit faster and everyone a bit tired or maybe say frustrated at not being able to have a go at anything other than improving our finishing order.

“After the team was in I went and watched the USA and saw the yougest player in the field, Alexis Thompson play the most unbelievable golf. This kid has a great future and we can learn a lot from the youngsters here.

“Once again we started on the 10th – the birdie nine – but today not a single putt dropped for the boys and they did not have a single birdie on this sector.

“Dylan played his consistent golf and Leon got a bit adventurous off the tee – but he is a great up and down player. On the second nine (holes one to nine) Dylan made birdies at the two par fives to have the boys ending on – 15 for the event and 11th in the men’s competition.

“The girls played a lot better than on previous days. Starting the day at +1, they had steady pars until the 14 where both Kim and Yvette had birdie threes. Both then holed birdies at the next two par threes to take them to -2.

“Then on the sixth hole after another string of pars, Kim had a birdie to take them to -3 only to see them give them back on the eighth and ninth to finish at -1.

“They finished 14th in the women’s event and the team ended T12.

“I was very proud of the way the team handled themselves at all times. Dylan has a great future ahead of him and Leon is a great golfer – they were great team mates and complimented one another.

“Tonight I got the medal for being voted by the staff as the best captain and got to light the Olympic torch!! This happened every night and I am proud the have this medal – you have no idea what I participated in or just made a fool of myself participating in camping shenanigans!!!”

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