Stellenbosch, South Africa (28 October) – Opportunistic Netherlands, propelled by a 7-under-par 65 from Will Besseling and a 2-under-par 70 from Joost Luiten, slipped into first-place and holds a two-stroke lead over two-day leader Canada, USA and fast-climbing Wales after the third round of the 2006 World Amateur Team Championship.

"We tried to move on moving day,” Dutch captain Gordon Machielson said. “We waited and stayed patient and played solid.”

The Dutch finished at 15-under-par 417 for their rounds. Their first-place position did not surprise the confident team.

"It’s great but it’s probably not expected,” said Tim Sluiter, of his team’s lead. “But, we are here to get the trophy.” Sluiter shot a non-counting 75.

Canada, Netherlands and USA shuffled amongst themselves for the lead throughout the round. The Netherlands and USA shared time in the lead on the front nine with  Canada re-gaining its two-day top position in the last nine holes before losing it a bogey and double bogey on their final hole, the 18th at Stellenbosch Golf Club.

"You just can’t get a little lazy and give shots back,” Canadian captain Doug Roxburgh said.

Joost Luiten of the Netherlands shot a 2-under-par 70 for his first-place team. (Carl Fourie/USGA)

While Canada was letting its lead slip, Netherlands, behind Besseling, was consistent.

“Today, everything was perfect,” said Besseling. “My ball striking was good and my putting was good.”

Wales, in the day’s best jump, moved from tied for 15th to a tie for second as they tied a championship mark for any round with a 12-under-par 132. Rhys Davies shot the low round of the championship, an 8-under-par 64 which is one stroke off the lowest round in championship history (63 from Jason Dawes of Australia in 1994).

Teammate Nigel Edwards, who won the 2006 South African Amateur, chipped in a 4-under 68. “We expect Rhys to put at least one round together,” Edwards said.

Davies, who shot 73 and 76 in the first two rounds, turned his round with a little assistance.

"The first two days I was nothing short of terrible and a little lost,” Davies said. “I just wanted to be relaxed and ride off the enthusiasm of my caddie. For each putt I made, he reacted like I did and we got into the round.”

Canada, which used a 70 from James Love and a 71 from Richard Scott, kept the loss of their lead in perspective.

"We are a little disappointed that we didn’t keep the lead but there is still a lot of golf to be played,” Scott said. “Shots can be made up or given away quickly out there.”

The USA, a 13-time champion, received a pair of 70s from Chris Kirk and Trip Kuehne.

In fifth place was Korea at 421 with Sweden and Scotland tied for sixth at 423; Ireland and Argentina were tied for eighth at 424; and France and Denmark were tied at 425.

Host South Africa was tied for 12th place at 426.

In the World Amateur, the team’s two best individual scores count. The winning team receives custody of the Eisenhower Trophy

Trip Kuehne of the USA shot 2-under-par 70 as his team remained in second place. (Carl Fourie/USGA)

for the ensuing two years. For the final round, the teams at the top half of the leader board will play at De Zalze Golf Club. The bottom half teams will play at Stellenbosch Golf Club.

The International Golf Federation was founded in 1958 to encourage the international development of the game and to employ golf as a vehicle to foster friendship and sportsmanship. The IGF is the recognized international federation for golf for the International Olympic Committee and comprises the national governing bodies of golf of more than 100 countries.

For more information and scoring visit www.internationalgolffederation.org and click on the WATC Scoring icon.

Story written by Pete Kowalski, IGF Media Officer. E-mail him with questions and comments at pkowalski@usga.org.

Stellenbosch, South Africa – Results of the third round of the 2006 World Amateur Team Championship, conducted by the International Golf Federation, at

(1) De Zalze Golf Club (par and yardage/meters: 36-36—72, 6,835/6,247) and (2) Stellenbosch Golf Club (par and yardage/meters: 36-36—72, 6,966/6,369):

                                                                               Rounds         Total

Pos Team                                          Score   Today  1 2    3       Score

1    Netherlands 2                                -15  F    -8  141  140  136  417 

T2    United States of America 2        -13  F    -4  143  136  140  419 

T2    Wales 2                                         -13  F    -12  144  143  132  419 

T2    Canada 2                                      -13  F    -3  139  139  141  419 

5    Korea 2                                            -11  F    -6  146  137  138  421 

T6    Sweden 2                                        -9  F    -3  150  132  141  423 

T6    Scotland 2                                       -9  F    -7  144  142  137  423 

T8    Ireland 2                                         -8  F    -4  146  138  140  424 

T8    Argentina 2                                     -8  F    -10  148  142  134  424 

T10    France 2                                        -7  F    -3  142  142  141  425 

T10    Denmark 2                                    -7  F    -7  145  143  137  425 

T12    South Africa 2                               -6  F    -6  143  145  138  426 

T12    Mexico 2                                        -6  F    +1  143  138  145  426 

T14    England 2                                       -5  F    -4  149  138  140  427 

T14    Norway 2                                       -5  F    -6  146  143  138  427 

16    Australia 2                                       -4  F    -4  147  141  140  428 

T17    Belgium 2                                      -3  F    -5  150  140  139  429 

T17    Japan 2                                         -3  F    +1  145  139  145  429 

T17    Chinese Taipei 2                          -3  F    -2  147  140  142  429 

T20    Spain 2                                          -2  F    E  145  141  144  430 

T20    Malaysia 2                                     -2  F    +1  143  142  145  430 

T20    Portugal 2                                      -2  F    -2  145  143  142  430 

T23    Italy 2                                            -1  F    -2  147  142  142  431 

T23    New Zealand 2                             -1  F    +1  148  138  145  431 

T25    Chile 2                                            E  F    -2  147  143  142  432 

T25    Austria 2                                         E  F    +4  143  141  148  432 

T25    Switzerland 2                                 E  F    -1  146  143  143  432 

T28    Finland 2                                       +1  F    -2  145  146  142  433 

T28    Germany 2                                    +1  F    +2  146  141  146  433 

30    India 2                                              +2  F    -1  148  143  143  434 

31    Colombia 2                                       +4  F    -4  148  148  140  436 

32    Brazil 2                                             +6  F    -4  146  152  140  438 

33    Czech Republic 2                          +8  F    -1  152  145  143  440 

T34    Puerto Rico 2                               +9  F    -1  152  146  143  441 

T34    Trinidad and Tobago 2               +9  F    +4  147  146  148  441 

36    Iceland 2                                     +11  F    +3  151  145  147  443 

37    Bolivia 1                                       +15  F    -1  158  146  143  447 

T38    Hong Kong, China 1                   +21  F    +4  153  152  148  453 

T38    Russian Federation 1                +21  F    +7  149  153  151  453 

40    Bermuda 1                                   +24  F    +8  154  150  152  456 

T41    Philippines 1                                +26  F    +10  154  150  154  458 

T41    Zimbabwe 1                                 +26  F    +11  147  156  155  458 

43    Pakistan 1                                       +27  F    +11  156  148  155  459 

44    Turkey 1                                           +29  F    +4  161  152  148  461 

T45    Namibia 1                                        +31  F    +15  149  155  159  463 

T45    Peru 1                                            +31  F    +14  157  148  158  463 

T45    El Salvador 1                                +31  F    +14  149  156  158  463 

48    Fiji 1                                                   +32  F    +9  155  156  153  464 

49    Venezuela 1                                     +34  F    +20  154  148  164  466 

50    Tunisia 1                                          +35  F    +12  156  155  156  467 

51    Guatemala 1                                    +36  F    +14  159  151  158  468 

52    Ecuador 1                                         +37  F    +11  161  153  155  469 

53    Uruguay 1                                         +38  F    +12  155  159  156  470 

54    Latvia 1                                             +42  F    +9  165  156  153  474 

55    Estonia 1                                          +46  F    +13  163  158  157  478 

56    Slovakia 1                                         +47  F    +7  167  161  151  479 

57    Greece 1                                           +51  F    +16  163  160  160  483 

T58    Egypt 1                                            +54  F    +19  159  164  163  486 

T58    Honduras 1                                   +54  F    +29  155  158  173  486 

60    U.S. Virgin Islands 1                         +61  F    +24  161  164  168  493 

61    Botswana 1                                      +62  F    +17  165  168  161  494 

T62    Cote d'Ivoire 1                                +68  F    +18  170  168  162  500 

T62    Saudi Arabia 1                               +68  F    +18  176  162  162  500 

64    Croatia 1                                            +72  F    +18  173  169  162  504 

65    United Arab Emirates 1                  +76  F    +18  174  172  162  508 

66    Gabon 1                                             +93  F    +25  187  169  169  525 

T67    Bulgaria 1                                        +101  F    +23  190  176  167  533 

T67    Bosnia and Herzegovina 1         +101  F    +36  180  173  180  533 

69    Nigeria 1                                          +119  F    +31  198  178  175  551 

70    Mauritius 1                                      +155  F    +49  196  198  193  587