In
a see saw final nine holes Korea held on to the Queen Sirikit
Cup by just 2 shots after a heroic effort from second placed
China. Their level par total of 432 over the three rounds
was enough to secure Asia's premier women's amateur golf
championship for the second year in succession.
Going into the final round at Wu Yi Fountain Palm Golf
Club, China were four shots adrift of the strong Korean
team. Then, in an amazing streak which had the Korean team
reeling, both 23 year old Li Wei and 15 year old Feng Shan
Shan stood at four under and one under par respectively
after 12 holes and shot China into the lead by two shots.
However, over the closing six holes, the pressure of the
Championship got to the young home team with Li Wei disappointingly
bogeying the final three holes and Feng Shan Shan bogeying
the 15th and 16th to to be edged out by the cool Korean
team who finished on level par.
"While it was disappointing to finish behind, especially
after being ahead with a few holes to go, it was a great
performance by a young and inexperienced team and has given
us the confidence to go on and compete and win against the
best in Asia," said China captain, Soong Liang Liang.
This is the 26th year of the Queen Sirikit Cup and the
Korean team has now lifted the trophy nine times.
Korean captain, Kim Dong Wook, said, "Women's golf
in Korea is in good shape. Pak Ser Ri played in the winning
Korean team at the 1994 Queen Sirikit Cup but the individual
champion then was Han Hee Won also of Korea. So we expect
some more golfing superstars to emerge from our country."
Thailand put in a spirited final round of 146 to leapfrog
into third position, their best performace since winning
the inaugural championship back in 1979.
Hong Kong held on to their 10th position finishing ahead
of India, Indonesia and the youngest team of the Championship,
Singapore.
ENDS.
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