Medalists at Swedish Team Championship
Wow what a week with my team at Vasatorp! This is one of the most exciting weeks of the year for any Swedish golfer that is a part of a club that plays in the Elite Serie (highest division). We compete to crown the best club team in Sweden and it brings home golfers from tours all around the world. In a sport that is usually very individual, we get to experience true team spirit of fighting hard for and boosting energy to each other, that’s why it becomes so fun and a highlight for Swedish golfers. We play 108 holes over 4 days (yes, an absurd amount of golf…) in different formats with a team of 6 players where 4 play each round. Day 1 is 36 holes where we play 2 and 2; 18 holes alternate strokes and 18 holes best ball. The second day is 18 holes singles where all 4 scores are counting. Then we do it all over again for another 2 days. Every score counts and it usually comes down to very small marginals between the medalists and the rest of the field.
Last year, our team Vasatorp finished 2nd, a huge upset as we had one of the youngest teams with very few known players compared to other teams filled with college stars, European Tour players, and National Team members. No one believed we could take a medal, but it was our goal to do so, and after the long week we stood as silver medalists after beating Karlstad with only one stroke. We had the same intentions this year, to take a medal, this year at home turf at our beautiful Classic Course at Vasatorp.
The course was is amazing shape. I have never played it with such firm and fast greens before, and it became a good test of golf in the wind with very few really low scores. I played with Josefine Winkle in the first round where we shot even par in the alternate strokes, the second best score that round. Right after lunch, I played with Isabel Ewers and we finished -3 after not quite getting it rolling in the best ball. The team was even par after the first day and in a great position for the week (3rd). The second day became the most challenging day for our team after we shot +20 in the singles. I played pretty solid golf but the team struggled a little bit and we were in for a challenge going into the 3rd day. We had lost the podium spot and dropped to 4th place, but we fought back during the 3rd day and claimed the 3rd spot after shooting -2 on the day. I played with Josefine once again in the alternate strokes and with Agnes Brink (a newcomer to the team and her first Swedish Championship) in the best ball.
The final day was a treat! We got to play with Landeryd and Ringenäs, two clubs that have some amazing players on their teams. I played with Ingrid Lindblad (No.2 in the world), and Moa Folke (LET player) while battling in the wind. I played some steady golf and won in my group after firing an even par 72. Finishing after the last 18 holes I was told we finished 3rd, and I was so incredibly happy for our young team to have finished on the podium once again. I played all rounds this year too, and it is very tough that third day during the last 9 holes to keep the focus and energy going. I was so proud, tired, and happy! I did some interviews before the prize ceremony and later at night we went out for dinner together with our men’s team at a restaurant on the beach. An amazing end to a long and fantastic week at home in Helsingborg. Maybe we can claim the gold medal next year…
Links to interviews (in Swedish)