Top ranked golfers both take gold at FISU Championship Golf

The World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) highest ranked female and male golfers competing at the Kuortane-Seinäjoki 2024 FISU World University Championship Golf, proved why they both deserve those rankings. Each came out on top in competitive final rounds that wrapped up four great days on the links at the Ruuhikoski Golf Club in Finland.

Italy’s Anna Zanusso, ranked 107^th on the WAGR, carded an even par 72 in the final round to finish at -3 for the four-day tournament and atop the leaderboard. Her three over opening round 75 put her 10 strokes off the lead after day one, but she steadily climbed back into contention, ultimately taking a one stroke lead over Korea’s Choi Jung Won heading into Friday’s final round.

In the fourth and final round, delayed by local thunderstorms, Choi seemed poised to take the title, as she held a three-stroke lead over Zanusso courtesy of birdies on three of the back nine’s first four holes. However, a bogey for the Korean on 16 and a triple bogey on 17 suddenly vaulted Zanusso back in front by one shot heading to 18. Both players would par the final hole, with Zanusso, who played her college golf at the University of Denver in the United States, completing her tournament at 3-under and with the gold medal. Choi finished one shot off the pace at -2, while Daniela Campillo Martinez of Spain, the leader after both the first and second rounds, shot a 1-over 73 in the final round to wind up the event in third place at +1. She had previously set a course record with her 65 she shot in the opening round.

The team event, which sees each participating nation’s top two individual scores from the day count to their total, had the same three nations factor in the final standings, but in a different order. Spain, consisting of Martinez, Violeta Fernandez-Tagle, and Paula Francisco Liaño (fourth in the individual event), wound up -5 as a team, two strokes ahead of both Korea and Italy. Korea claimed silver through the tie break of their non-counting score from the final round being better than that of Italy.

The men’s tournament was a battle between two Spaniards. Ranked 49^th on the WAGR, Pablo Ereño Pérez sat third after Wednesday’s second round but shot a six-under 66 in round three to move into top spot. Heading to the final round, fellow countryman Albert Boneta Cami, who himself had shot 66 in the second round, trailed Ereño Pérez by two strokes.

During the final round, Boneta Cami would head to the back nine with a one stroke lead as Ereño Pérez struggled with two bogeys and a double bogey. Ereño Pérez would bounce back quickly after the turn with four straight birdies that propelled him to a one-over final round 73, which left him eight-under for the tournament and earned him a two stroke win over silver medalist Boneta Cami. Louis Paulus of France, who shared the opening round lead with William Forgues of Canada, entered the final day of competition three shots back of the lead, and that’s where he would finish, carding -5 for the tournament, good enough for a bronze medal.

Spain’s men’s team, made up Ereño Pérez, Boneta Cami, and Javier Barcos Garbayo, equally dominated the team competition shooting 19 under par for an eleven shot win over silver medalists Canada. The Canadians shot -6 in the final round to come from behind into second place. Hong Kong, China, led by Alexander Hiu Wai Yang who finished tied for fourth in the individual event, took the bronze team medal at -5.

Ruuhikoski Golf Club and the region of Kuortane-Seinäjoki proved to be an excellent host for the world’s best university golfers. A beautiful, Nordic setting and a challenging course brought the best out in the 87 golfers that participated from 20 countries. Full results are available as are pictures from the four days of competition.

Final medal standings – women’s individual

1. Anna Zanusso, ITA -3
2. Jung Won Choi, KOR -2
3. Daniela Campillo Martinez, ESP +1

Final medal standings – men’s individual

1. Pablo Ereno Perez, ESP -8
2. Albert Boneta Cami, ESP -6
3. Louis Paulus, FRA -5

Final medal standings – women’s team

1. Spain -5
2. Republic of Korea -3
3. Italy -3

Final medal standings – men’s team

1. Spain -19
2. Canada -8
3. Hong Kong, China -5

Written by Doug McLean