- Team Roussin win the team competition with a score of -25
- Nuria Iturrioz leads the individual by one shot with one round remaining
Team Roussin triumphed in the team competition with a winning score of 25-under-par at the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – Florida.
The quartet of Pauline Roussin, Nuria Iturrioz, Trish Johnson and amateur Michael Bickford led overnight after play was suspended due to bad light and returned this morning.
Having accumulated a five-shot lead, Team Roussin just had to see through their final four holes, which they did, to seal a second round of nine-under and win by two shots with a total of 25-under-par.
Captain Roussin, who won the Individual title in Singapore in March, said: “It’s a pretty cool outcome after these two long days, but we made it happen. It was a lot of fun.
“We really got along and were just having fun despite how much of a challenge the golf course is and here we are with the trophy! I’m proud of this team and I would not have played it with anyone else.”
LET legend Johnson explained: “I’m extremely grateful. I have to say it was brilliant watching Pauline and Nuria, and Michael played great. He really did contribute a lot.
“I did a little bit yesterday, didn’t do much today, but these two really were fabulous and it doesn’t matter if you win by ten or you win by one. You win and that’s all that counts. It was a great experience.”
While amateur Bickford was thrilled with his week in Florida, he said: “What an experience! These are three warrior golfers, and I would never want to be on the other side of them, so I was just really blessed to play with all of them.
“The energy is great. Everyone hams and eggs each other and just birdie bogey never really happened and the pars just kept coming. The birdies kept coming. We had one rule. It was just to try and make a birdie every hole. It was incredible to play with everyone.”
Team Alexander, led by captain Casandra Alexander, finished in second place on 23-under-par after a second round of 10-under.
Captain Alexander said: “It was just a bit slow today. In the first round, we played really nicely where we made a birdie and then a couple of even pars but today, we just struggled to get going.
“As a team generally, we struggled to get it going, but then we got it together in the last five holes when our amateur made a birdie putt where he stroked so he was two-under – bargain!
“Gabs also made a long putt and that helped us out, but I think it was a little too late in the round. The front nine really played tough today with the wind. All in all, it was up there, and we tried our best.”
Team Ko ended the competition in third place one shot further back on 22-under-par with Team Simmermacher and Team Peláez Trivino both on 20-under-par.
Team Lee and Team Gustavsson finished in a share of sixth place on 18-under-par with Team Davidson Spilkova in eighth, Team Gainer in ninth and Team Cowan in tenth.
All attention now turns to the individual competition where Spain’s Iturrioz is vying to win on both fronts in Florida.
The three-time LET winner leads the standings on four-under-par after a second round of 73 (+1) at Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach.
Speaking at the conclusion of her second round, Iturrioz said: “The team was great. Thank you to Pauline again for picking me – I don’t know why! But thank you to Trish too and Michael. It was really fun. I’m really grateful for everything and there’s still everything else to play for now, so let’s go.”
Three players sit in a share of second place with Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, Czechia’s Klara Davidson Spilkova and Scotland’s Louise Duncan all on three-under-par.
Duncan, who finished her final few holes this morning, said: “I’m pretty happy with how I have gone the past two rounds. It’s been fairly solid. There’s not been too many mistakes, so I’m looking forward to later and we’ll see what happens.
“It’s going to be good to have Dean on the bag in this final round. He’s been here before and he knows how to keep me calm. I think he’s going to be pretty valuable.”
Lindsey Weaver-Wright sits in fifth place on two-under-par after carding a round of 69, while world number three Lydia Ko and England’s Liz Young are one shot further back.
American pair Alison Lee and Lexi Thompson sit in T8 on even par with South Africa’s Alexander and Spain’s Luna Sobron rounding out the top 10 on one-over.
The cut fell at +10 with 65 players making it through the final day. Round three began at 9.45 am local time with the leaders starting their round at 11.35 am local time.
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