Italy made history Saturday.
Teenager Marco Florioli shot a bogey-free 6-under 66, and a 3-under 68 from Pietro Bovari led Italy to the Eisenhower Trophy in the men’s World Amateur Team Championship on Saturday at Le Golf National in Paris, France. It was the country’s first medal in 32 WATC appearances. Italy beat Sweden by one stroke, and the United States finished in third, four strokes behind Italy.
“The key point today is that I have seen our players winning without thinking about the results,” Italian captain Matteo Delpodio said. “They were winners on the golf course. When you see players playing this way with this attitude, the results don’t matter. What matters is that they played like champions.”
Gordon Sargent of the United States of America plays his second shot at the 10th hole during the final round at the 2022 Eisenhower Trophy at Le Golf National in Paris, France on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022 (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)
The World Amateur Team Championship is four rounds of stroke play with the two lowest individual scores from each team counting every day.
The par-5 14th hole was pivotal down the stretch. Florioli was the first Italian player out and holed a chip, then Bovari followed with an eagle for a three-stroke gain on Sweden.
“I was feeling that I was going to make a birdie on that chip, and I made it,” said Florioli.
Although there is no official recognition, Sweden’s Tobias Jonsson was the low individual with a score of 17-under 269.
The winning World Amateur Team from Italy during the closing ceremony at the 2022 Eisenhower Trophy at Le Golf National in Paris, France on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022 (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)
Austin Greaser played well for the US, shooting in the 60s all four days. Norway finished in fourth place, its highest finish ever.
Story originally appeared on GolfWeek