Rio Grande, Puerto Rico (23 October) With Karin Sjodin and Louise Stahle posting 2-under-par 70s, Sweden overcame a two-stroke deficit to win the 2004 Women's World Amateur Team Championship by three strokes at 9-under-par 567 at Rio Mar Country Club. It was the second-lowest team score in the championship's history.

Karin Sjodin of Sweden (facing) hugs her captain Birgitta Ljung to celebrate their Espirito Santo Trophy victory. (John Mummert/USGA)

Canada and the USA shared second place at 6-under-par 570. With an even par 72 from Mary Ann Lapointe and a 1-over-par 73 from Laura Matthews , Canada could not overcome the Swedish surge, nor could the USA, with sub-par rounds from Paula Creamer (69), Sarah Huarte (71) and Jane Park (71).

Sweden and the USA notched the day's best efforts at 4-under 140. All the contending teams played Rio Mar's Ocean Course.

"It is a big celebration day for Sweden and our golf program. It couldn't be better, said team captain Birgitta Ljung of her nation's Espirito Santo Trophy victory. The girls were just so great. They kept their composure. I am so impressed by that.

Canada 's captain Jackie Little was likewise impressed by the Swedes. They had to do it and they did, said Little.

Canada had held the lead through the first three rounds and entered the day two strokes ahead of Sweden and five ahead of the USA. The Canadian team was attempting to become the first start-to-finish winner since the USA in 1996.

However, Sweden picked up two strokes very quickly when Sjodin, known for her length off the tee, eagled the par-5 3rd hole by hitting a 4-iron to 3 feet and then making the putt to take the team to 7-under.

"Karin is the longest hitter I've ever seen, said 2004 U.S. Women's Amateur champion Park. She hits it a mile and once she gets on a roll, forget it.

Sjodin, the 2004 NCAA runner-up playing for Oklahoma State , was modest in her assessment. I hit the ball well, she said. That eagle was the key. That's when we took over.

Stahle, the 2004 Ladies British Amateur champion, and Sjodin then both birdied the par-5

5th to tie them with Canada at 9-under. The Swedes took the lead for good on the par-4 7th when Stahle logged another birdie for a 10-under team total.

Sweden, which had a previous best finish of second in 1988, also matched the second biggest comeback by a winner in the final round of two strokes, which the USA did in 1970. They are the only nation to finish in the top 10 in all 21 Espirito Santo championships

Canada, which finished second in 1966 and 1978, matched its best finish. The USA , which claims 13 victories, placed second in 1964 as well.

Although there is no official recognition, Sjodin and 17-year-old Julieta Granada of Paraguay, the 2004 U.S. Girls' Junior champion, shot the best individual scores for the week at 8-under-par 280.

Japan , Korea and Chinese Taipei finished tied for fourth at 579, Colombia finished seventh at 581, Spain was eighth at 583 and Germany and New Zealand tied for ninth at 589.

For complete results, visit www.internationalgolffederation.org and click on the Golfstat icon.

Conducted by the International Golf Federation, which comprises national governing bodies of golf in more than 100 countries, the Women's World Amateur Team Championships are a biennial international amateur competition, which is rotated among three geographic zones: Asia-Pacific, American and European-African. This year the event is hosted by the Puerto Rico Golf Association . The teams play for the Espirito Santo Trophy.

Each team, which has two or three players, plays 18 holes of stroke play for four days. In each round, the total of the two lowest scores by players from each team constitutes the team score for the round. The four-day (72 holes) total is the team's score for the championship.

Rio Grande, Puerto Rico Results of Saturday's (23 October) final round of the Women's World Amateur Team Championship, played at Rio Mar Country Club (Ocean Course=1: par 36-3672, 6,159 yards, 5,629 meters; River Course=2: par 36-3672, 5,956 yards, 5,444 meters):