TUSCALOOSA ?? Playing among the best amateur golfers in the world, the University of Alabama’s Max Alverio finished T-39th Sunday in the final round of the 2006 World Amateur Team Championships.
The 72-hole event which began Thursday concluded Sunday with Netherlands defeating Canada by two shots to win the Eisenhower Trophy. Netherlands finished 22 under par, posting team round scores of 141-140-136-137/554 on the par 72 course at Stellenbosch Golf Club in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Canada finished second at 20 under par, 556, and the United States, which won the trophy last year, finished third at 19 under par, 557. Netherlands’ Wil Besseling bested the field of 210 individuals with a 13-under par, 275, shooting two under par in the final round which was just good enough to defeat France’s Julien Grillon by a stroke (276) to win the individual title. Each team in the field consisted of three individuals. The top two scores from each round counted in the team total for the round.
Alverio, who is a junior on the No. 1 ranked Crimson Tide golf team was making his third appearance at the WATC, which is held every two years, qualifying in 2002, 2004 and 2006. He shot two under par, 70, in the final round Sunday. Alverio, the Puerto Rican Amateur Champion, finished the tournament at even par, posting round scores of 75-71-72-70/288. Puerto Rico finished 36th (152-146-143/153/594).
He will return to classes now and rejoin his Alabama team which is ranked No. 1 in the GolfWeek/Sagarin rankings, the GolfWorld collegiate rankings, the Golf Coaches Association of America/Bridgestone Coaches’ poll and the GolfStat rankings. Alabama has won three of its four fall tournaments. Jay Seawell’s team has one final event remaining on the fall schedule, the Aloha Purdue Classic in Kauai, Hawai’i, November 22-23.
