The Australia team featuring WA’s Karl Vilips clinched a silver medal at the World Amateur Team Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
South Australia’s Jack Buchanon birdied four of his final five holes as part of a final-round 68 to lift his team – which also included NSW’s Jeffrey Guan – into a tie for second place with Norway at 25-under-par, 11 strokes behind the victorious United States.
Vilips, who plays his golf for Stanford University on the US collegiate circuit, posted a 70 on the final day to be the other score to count towards the Australian team total.
It is Australia’s first Eisenhower Trophy medal since 2016 when the team of Cam Davis, Curtis Luck and Harrison Endycott won gold in Mexico. Australia now has 14 medals, which remains second all-time behind the United States at the World Amateur Team Championships.
The United States played its best round on the final day to clinch the championship, going 12-under thanks to an impressive 8-under 64 from David Ford and a 4-under 68 from reigning US Amateur champion Nick Dunlap.
France finished in fourth place, one stroke behind Australia and Norway at 24-under 552. Italy, the 2022 champions, and New Zealand finished in a tie for fifth place at 553. View the final standings here.
The USA receives custody of the Eisenhower Trophy until the next World Amateur Team Championship, which will be held in 2025 in Singapore.
Conducted by the International Golf Federation (formerly the World Amateur Golf Council), which comprises the national governing bodies of golf in 149 countries, the World Amateur Team Championships are a biennial international amateur golf competition.
The 30th Women’s World Amateur Team Championship for the Espirito Santo Trophy will take place beginning Wednesday at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. The Australia team includes WA’s Maddison Hinson-Tolchard.
Image credit: Australian Golf Media
