TRINITY, Texas – The American dream team of four national champions, which included LSU’s defending NCAA Champion Austin Ernst, combined to easily win the championship of The Spirit International Amateur golf title here Saturday at the Whispering Pines Golf Club.
The Americans in the combined men’s-women’s best-ball format closed as they started with an 11-under par round of 133 to post-a 72-hole total of 545, 31-under par (133-144-135-133). The Gold Medals go to Ernst, Public Links champ Emily Tubert from the University of Arkansas, Amateur champ Kelly Kraft and Mid-Amateur champ Nathan Smith.
The USA team finished 10 shots ahead of Mexico and Argentina, which posted a 21-under total of 555. The Mexican team made the big move of the day, shooting 10-under in the final round.
The American men paced the final round, shooting 8-under 64 and that allowed Smith and Kelly to capture the men’s golf at 18-under par 270 by two shots over Canada, which shot just one under on the final day.
Ernst and Tubert settled for the bronze on the women’s side after a 3-under 69 that put them at 13-under 275. Korea won the women’s gold at 15-under par 273 with Argentina at 14-under 274. The LSU sophomore posted three birdies in her final round.