Teams announced for 2023 World Amateur Team Championships in Abu Dhabi
The 36 men’s and 36 women’s teams that will represent their countries in the 2023 World Amateur Team Championships (WATC) at Abu Dhabi Golf Club have been finalised.
The men’s teams will compete for the Eisenhower Trophy from 18-21 October and the women will play for the Espirito Santo Trophy from 25-28 October 2023.
Teams that finished in the top 10 in the 2022 WATC were automatically accepted into the field, as was the host country, the United Arab Emirates. The remainder of the field was filled based on the World Amateur Golf Ranking / WAGR of the best two players from each country. Continental places assured a minimum representation of teams from all regions; Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania.
National federations now nominate players
With the finalisation of the fields, the national federation members are now invited to nominate the players, team captain and coach/manager for their respective teams. Each country is represented by a team of two to three players, featuring the world’s leading amateurs. The Championships are played over 72 holes of stroke play.
“The fact that this is the first time since its 1958 inception that the WATC has been held in the Middle East is both significant and exciting, as it will hopefully generate more interest in golf throughout the region,” said Annika Sorenstam, President of the International Golf Federation who represented Sweden at the 1990 and 1992 WATC.
“Many of the most recognised players in the game have represented their countries at the World Amateur Team Championships, including more than 70 percent of the men and women who competed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. We look forward to witnessing the exceptional talent on display in Abu Dhabi this October and thank the Emirates Golf Federation for its excellent work in preparing for the event.”
Further, it will be the first to be held during an odd year to avoid same-year conflict with future Summer Olympic Games, following a decision by the IGF Administrative Committee to hold every future World Amateur Team Championships beyond 2022 on odd years.
Across the two competitions, Europe has 31 qualified teams, Asia 19, the Americas 12, and Africa and Oceania five each.
Sweden won the women’s Espirito Santo Trophy in 2022 while the men’s team from Italy took home the Eisenhower Trophy.
2023 WORLD AMATEUR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS - EISENHOWER TROPHY – MEN’S TEAMS (ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Canada
People’s Republic of China
Colombia
Czechia
Denmark
England
Finland
France
Germany
Guam
Guatemala
India
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Republic of Korea
Mexico
Morocco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Scotland
Singapore
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Chinese Taipei
Thailand
United Arab Emirates
United States of America
Wales
Zimbabwe
2023 WORLD AMATEUR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS - ESPIRITO SANTO TROPHY – WOMEN’S TEAMS (ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
Australia
Belgium
Bolivia
Canada
Chile
People’s Republic of China
Colombia
Czechia
Denmark
England
Finland
France
Germany
Hong Kong
India
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Republic of Korea
Mexico
Morocco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Pakistan
Philippines
Scotland
Singapore
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Chinese Taipei
Thailand
United Arab Emirates
United States of America