A pair of Texans, Paul Goering of Dallas and Bill Nitcholas of Carrollton, led the United States to an eighth place finish, its highest finish in history, in the World Golfers Championship with s 72-hole total of 1,181 on four courses in the Hua-Hin resort area of Thailand-the Banyon Golf Club, the Black Mountain Golf Club, the Imperial Lake View Golf Club and the Majestic Creek Golf Club.
“”That’s the first time Americans have ever won medals,” said Anders Bengtson, President of World Golfers USA. “Team USA made a dramatic improvement from previous years, and we are looking forward to continue this trend in South Africa next year. The spirit of this tournament can not really be described in words, it has to be experienced.”
Goering, a +2 handicap at the Golf Club at Castle Hills in Carrollton at one point during the season, posted net 79-78-76-68-301, two behind Doug Hannaford of Australia in the 0-5 handicap division. Goering noted that winds gusting to more than 30 mph led to higher scores the first three days.
“It was a great experience, ” Goering said of his first international competition. “One of the neat thing was getting to meet golfers from all over the world. I played a practice round with a golfer from Nigeria and then played with him in the third round and we became friends. It wasn’t until later than I found out he was Eddie Petter, a prince who is in line to become king. I have a standing invitation to come visit him in Nigeria.”
Nitcholas, a high school golf coach playing off a 9 handicap, posted net 77-71-73-70-291 to finish four strokes behind Utpal Desai of India in the 6-10 handicap division.
“It was first class all the way,” said Nitcholas, who made the trip with wife Lee. “The people treated us very nice. I would definitely recommend this tournament to anyone.”
Joining the Texans on the U.S. team were William Criteser (301) of El Mirage, AZ, Shauna Federico (299) of Wellington, FL and Stuart Cunningham (315) of Singer Island, FL.
“The trip to Thailand was the experience of my life,” added Cunningham. “Even though I did not come home with a trophy, I felt the experience and comradeship with not only the team from the United states but also the players from around the world was priceless.”
Federico agreed with Cunningham that it was a once in a lifetime experience, adding “I went into it asking ‘ What’s the catch?’ No amateur event that I have ever played in was so awesome.”
Russia, finishing with a fantastic 257 as compared to a 265 for Spain, emerged as the team champion for the first time by those eight strokes with a 72-hole total of 1,144 as compared to 1,152 for the runner up. Earlier when the conditions were windy, Russia had 310, 305 and 272 totals for the best four scores of its five players while Spain had 306, 287, 294 totals.
Also finishing ahead of the U.S. were host Thailand (1,156), defending champion Indonesia (1,159), India (1,160), Australia (1,174) and Ukraine (1,179). Go towww.worldgolfers.com for more information.
Bengtson indicated details about the 2011 qualifying procedures to determine finalists in five handicap divisions-0-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20 and 21-25-would be announced before the end of the year. He also is working to find a host resort for the U.S. finals next September.
Contact:
