Pinay golfers set new mark, finish 8th in World Amateur Team tilt

The Philippines failed to get the Espirito Santo Trophy but achieved a milestone in the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship at the Olivos Golf Club in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The RP women’s team composed of Dottie Ardina, Chihiro Ikeda and Mia Piccio, finished eighth in the tournament that had a strong 51-nation field, the best ever finish for the country in the last 42 years. Ardina, who did not count in the three-to-play, two-to-count format in the third round, preserved her best for the final day. She finished with a one-under-par 71 in the fourth round. Ikeda accounted for a two-over 74 for a closing 145 as the Philippines shared eighth to 10th places with Germany (152) and Spain (142) at 575. South Korea won over the United States as the Asian country scored a whopping 30-under-par 546 overall after a 139, claiming its second Espirito Santo crown in the process. South Korea shattered the previous record held by the US, an 18-under-par 558 set in 1998. The 16-year-old Ardina hit all 14 greens in regulation with impeccable drives off the tees and iron approach shots. She birdied three holes: Nos. 6, 15 and 18. She would have had an even better score but for her disappointing putting, with four missed putts from inside five feet. As a result, she made bogeys on the third and 11th holes. Ikeda, considered as the top player of the National Golfers Association of the Philippines-sanctioned squad, struggled with her drives. The Filipina-Japanese, however, more than made up with savvy putting as she only had 27 for the round and an impressive 10 in the last nine. She had two birdies, on the third and 15th holes. Piccio turned in a three-over 75. “With 51 powerhouse teams to contend with, including Korea and the US, we exceeded our expectations. I’m proud of this group and I promise to work harder to reach the top three in the next event in Turkey in 2012," said national coach Bong Lopez. The Espirito Santo, a biennial championship for women organized by the International Golf Federation (IGF), was inaugurated in 1964 in Saint-Germain-En-Laye, France. “They really worked hard for this. The course and the pin positions were super tough, not to mention the chilly weather and the wind," said Lopez. “They knew putting would carry them through the Top 10 and they delivered in the closing holes," Lopez added. Hyun-Soo Kim and Jung-Eun Han shot 69 and 70, respectively, for Korea. The 71 from Ji-Hee Kim was discarded. Han, who advanced to the third round of the 2010 U.S. Women’s Amateur, set the championship record for lowest 72-hole score by an individual at 275, one stroke better than Jenny Chuasiriporn of the US in 1998. Defending champion Sweden (146), France (147) and South Africa (148) ended up tied for third to fifth places at 572 apiece. Spain finished sixth at (148-573) followed by Canada in seventh at (143-574). - Adrian Flores/RCJ/KY, GMANews.TV