Alabama golfer Justin Thomas and his U.S. teammates won the 2012 World Amateur Team Championship Sunday with a record-setting score of 24-under-par 404 at the par-71 Antalya Golf Club.
The Americans won the weather-shortened WATC by five shots over Mexico to claim the Eisenhower Trophy for the 14th time.
Thomas, from Goshen, Ky., shot 1-under 70 in the final round and finished 7-under-par 207 in a tie for seventh place. Thomas carded rounds of 67, 70 and 70 – Sebastian Vazquez on the individual title for Mexico at 15-under 199.
“It has been since 2004 that the trophy has found its way to the USA, and it is great to have it coming back to our shores,” said USA captain Jim Vernon, a past president of the U.S. Golf Association. “They are three guys who bonded well and played golf as a team.”
The entire United States team finished in the top 10 individually, with Chris Williams finishing second at 14-under 200 while Steven Fox tied for 10th at 6-under 208.
The previous low total for 54 holes was 407 by the U.S. in Puerto Rico in the 2004 WATC, which was also played at 54 holes because of weather.
The Americans, in winning their 24th medal in the 28 Eisenhower Trophy competitions, broke team marks for lowest 18-, 36- and 54-hole scores.