Oct. 16, 2015
SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State women's golf senior Emma Henrikson took time off from her busy schedule earlier this week to compete for her native Sweden at the Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship at Whispering Pines Golf Club in Trinity, Texas.
Henrikson, who occupies the seventh spot in the latest Golfweek individual collegiate rankings, was one of four players (two women/two men) on the Swedish team, joining Linnea Johansson, Marcus Kinhult and Fredrik Nilehn, who tied for fifth with England on the combined international leaderboard with a 54-hole total of 28-under-par 404.
The United States (-38) overcame a two-shot deficit with three holes remaining to edge Mexico (-37) for its fourth consecutive Spirit International championship, while Spain (-33) held off France (-32) for third place.
Henrikson tied for second in the women's field with 13 birdies for the week, including six in the second round, as Sweden (-15) landed in a four-way logjam for third in the women's team standings, along with Finland, Spain and Japan on the par-72, 6,314-yard course layout.
Established in 2001, The Spirit International is a world-class amateur golf event featuring 20 countries from six continents. Each country is represented by its two best men's and two best women's golfers. The 2009 Spirit player field included 76 national champions. The Spirit truly showcases the stars of tomorrow, with past Spirit champions featuring current professional tour stars Lorena Ochoa, Brandt Snedeker, Paula Creamer and Martin Kaymer.
Hosted by the World Health and Golf Association, the Spirit International is a biennial event alternating years with the World Amateur Team Championships. All 80 participants enjoy an Olympic-like experience including opening ceremonies, International Village accommodations, festive dinner parties, closing ceremonies and an elite golf tournament where the world's best amateur golfers compete for gold medals.
San Diego State, ranked 15th in the latest Golfweek/Sagarin team index, wraps up its fall schedule at the end of the month when it participates in the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown, Oct. 25-27, at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nev.