Australia’s Jan Stephenson made a 30-foot birdie putt for the winning points in the World team’s first victory over the Americans in the Legends Tour’s Handa Cup.
Three-time major champion Stephenson, 61, shot a one-under-par 71 to edge Sherri Turner by a stroke, and the World team went on to beat the United States 27-21 in the 45-and-older competition at Hermitage Golf Club in Nashville.
The Americans won the event the first six times and retained the Cup last year with a tie in Orlando.
“It took a few years for the World team to practise and get better and better and better,” World captain Pia Nilsson said.
“We were a team this week, and the passion was so strong. This is just going to make this competition even better, to grow in the future.”
JoAnne Carner captained the US team.
“You hate to lose but, the way the World team played this week, I have no repercussions, whatsoever,” Carner said. “They just outplayed us.”
The World team took a 14-10 lead into the 12 singles matches, with each match worth two points.
In the best match of the day, American Beth Daniel beat Laura Davis 66-67.
“It was like a boxing match out there – really good golf shots and a lot of fun,” Daniel said.
Stephenson, Trish Johnson, Helen Alfredsson, Alison Nicholas, Lorie Kane and Mieko Nomura won matches for the World team.
Johnson beat Rosie Jones 66-69, Alfredsson topped Barb Mucha 66-69, Nicholas defeated Nancy Lopez 72-75, Kane edged Christa Johnson 69-73 and Nomura beat Pat Bradley 68-76.
For the United States, Cindy Rarick beat Jenny Lidback 74-78, Laurie Rinker topped Jane Crafter 67-72, Nancy Scranton edged Liselotte Neumann 72-73 and Cindy Figg-Currier beat Alicia Dibos 68-73.
American Betsy King tied at 71 with Gail Graham.