Canadian teenagers Marilyne Cadieux and Saby Dagenais scored a victory for lady golfers all over the world by becoming the first ever women to win the International Pairs World Final 2009 at Carnoustie.

Marilyne, 19, and Saby, 17, claimed their own special place in the global competition's history by beating 27 other teams - including 25 all-male partnerships - to be crowned world champions in the 36-hole event.

The Quebec youngsters lay joint-second after the first round of the tournament - the world's largest of its kind for club golfers - at Monifieth with 43 Stableford points.
And the Canadian champions' near flawless performance of 40 points in the final round over Carnoustie's feared Championship Course clinched victory for the five-handicappers by three points - with Saby sealing a memorable win with a birdie on the 18th hole.

The Netherland's Manfred van der Wall and Rob Bosman, the first round leaders, were unable to sustain their challenge and finished runners-up on 80 points with Scotland's John Maxwell, who won the title in 2008, and Steven Hunter two points further adrift in third.

Marilyne, a student who is on a golf scholarship in Boca Raton, Florida, said: "We really wanted to do well and to actually win is just incredible. It's a great tournament.

"We didn't know how well we were doing in the second round but we didn't want to know. We talk a lot on the golf course because two heads are better than one and we just tried to stay positive.

"We've won a few things together but we've never won an international event before. It's a great feeling."

Saby, who is still at school, added: "I'm very proud of what we have achieved and we had great fun doing it.

"I hit the ball very hard but sometimes my putting is only so-so. Thankfully this tournament it was better than so-so and I finished in great style. I hit a solid drive, a good second and then a good putt. What an experience!"

Marilyne and Saby were cheered on from the fairways by Saby's father Carl and he revealed that his daughter has only been playing golf seriously for the last three years after she decided to turn her back on football, where she was Canada's first-choice goalkeeper.

Carl said: "Saby decided she would have more fun playing golf and she loves it.
"She broke 90 in only her second proper round and they make a really good pair. Marilyne is not the longest hitter but is very steady while Saby just goes for it."
Marilyne and Saby's victory brought to an end four memorable days of events on and off the course at the sixth International Pairs World Final.

Competitors from countries including America, South Africa, Nigeria, Spain and, making their debut, Antigua, paraded around Carnoustie in a torchlight procession led by the Carnoustie Pipe Band as part of a spectacular opening ceremony which involved schoolchildren from across the Angus region.

Players, family and friends were also treated to an evening in St Andrews while the Provost of Angus Ruth Leslie Melville was on hand to formally open and close proceedings.

And this year's final was also memorable for Irish 12-handicapper Joe McDonald as he hit his first-ever hole-in-one on the 191-yard par-three fifth hole at Monifieth - only the second time it has happened in the history of the competition.

Ross Honey, founder and chairman of International Pairs, said: "It has been a truly fantastic few days for everyone involved and, with the assistance of Angus Council and Carnoustie Country, the competition has been taken to a new level this year.

"Marilyne and Saby played some amazing golf on their way to victory. We're delighted to have them as our first female world champions and their win shows that anyone is capable of winning in International Pairs.

"We have made some significant strides forward over the last 12 months, International Pairs is expanding all the time as a brand and we have friends now all over the world."

2009 INTERNATIONAL PAIRS WORLD FINAL RESULT

1.) Marilyne Cadieux and Saby Dagenais (Canada) - 83 points (43 + 40).
2.) Manfred van der Wall and Rob Bosman (Netherlands) - 80 (44 +36)
3.) John Maxwell and Steven Hunter (Scotland) - 78 (39+39)

For full details of the 2009 International Pairs World Final results, go to www.internationalpairs.com

Information for media.
Issued by the International Pairs press office. For more details, please contact International Pairs on 01489 878509, Pete Simm on +44 7747 012539, or e-mail admin@internationalpairs.com or simm_6@msn.com