From a Correspondent
Singapore: Japan and New Zealand are poised for an intriguing final-round showdown as they bid to end recent Korean domination of the Queen Sirikit Cup.
With a three-day 15-under-par aggregate of 417, Japan lead New Zealand by a stroke ahead of Friday’s finale at Laguna National Golf Resort Club in the 42nd edition of the Asia Pacific Amateur Ladies Team Championship.
India stayed in ninth place with a three-day aggregate of 447 (150-145-152), Sneha Singh (75-72-74) and national women’s champion Avani Prashanth (75-73-78) the team’s leading scorers.
Bidding for a seventh successive victory and number 13 from the past 14, the Korean trio of Lee Ji-hyun, Kim Min-byeol and Bang Shin-sil are seven strokes off the pace.
Also under par and in with an outside chance of a first-ever Queen Sirikit Cup triumph are Singapore, currently fourth on 425.
Leading the charge for the hosts, Shannon Tan enjoyed a third successive bogey-free round, her four-under 68 putting her joint second individually with New Zealand’s Vivian Lu.
They were two shots adrift of Japan’s Mizuki Hashimoto.
Closing in
Seven shots behind Japan and third in the team event at the start on Thursday, New Zealand closed the gap to a single stroke thanks to rounds of 68 from Lu and a 71 from Eun-seo Choi.
With only the best two daily scores in each three-strong team counting, Fiona Xu’s 75 was excluded.
While the Kiwis soared, Japan found the going tough, posting a 145 team total – 13 strokes worse than on day two.
Once more they relied on Hashimoto, who followed up her blistering 64 on Wednesday with a 72 while Ayaka Tezuka contributed a 73.
Japan are six-time winners of the Queen Sirikit Cup, although the last of those successes came in 2002.
“Today, I just could not get my putting right. Most of my putts fell short of the hole, and I really need to work on that,” said Hashimoto, winner of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific last year.
“Hopefully, things can be better tomorrow, and we can continue to make Japan proud,” said 19-year-old added,
New Zealand are targeting a fourth title after 1984, 1990 and 1999, and will need another strong showing from 17-year-old Lu, a two-time winner of the national women’s stroke play championship.
“The aim is to win, and we are trying our best to do that, knowing we have a good chance heading into the final day tomorrow,” said Lu.
Consistent display
Singapore’s hopes will continue to rest with Tan, who has been a model of consistency.
Over three rounds, she’s made eight birdies and 46 pars – and not had a single blemish on her scorecard.
Her performance has been all the more remarkable given that she was stung on her left hand by a bee before teeing-off in the second round.
“My thumb swelled, and it was numb for about five holes. It was really unfortunate. I’ve been putting ice on it and the swelling has subsided,” said Tan.
“I’m happy with Singapore’s position so far, but we are not done yet, and there’s still another round of golf to play tomorrow.
“We will continue to do our best,” said Tan, who was again ably supported by Jaymie Ng (71) on day three. (courtesy queensirikitcup,org)
Team scores
417 – Japan 140-132-145
418 – New Zealand 142-137-139
424 – Korea 136-141-147
425 – Singapore 144-142-139
428 – Chinese Taipei 145-143-140
434 – Thailand 149-144-141; Malaysia 148-143-143
439 –Australia 146-145-148
447 – India 150-145-152
452 – Hong Kong 151-152-149
461 – Philippines 156-156-149
462 – Indonesia 158-149-155
512 – Myanmar 171-171-170
Individual scores
206 – Mizuki Hashimoto (Japan) 70-64-72
208 – Vivian Lu (New Zealand) 72-68-68; Shannon Tan (Singapore) 70-70-68
211 – Huang Ting-hsuan (Chinese Taipei) 73-71-67
212 – Kim Min-byeol (Korea) 70-69-73; Lee Ji-hyun (Korea) 66-72-74
214 – Fiona Xu (New Zealand) 70-69-75
215 – Miku Ueta (Japan) 71-68-76; Ayaka Tezuka (Japan) 70-72-73
217 – Liyana Durisic (Malaysia) 75-72-70; Pimpisa Rubrong (Thailand) 74-73-70; Jaymie Ng (Singapore) 74-72-71
218 – Zulaikah Nurziana Bt Nasser (Malaysia) 73-71-74
219 – Kirsten Rudgeley (Australia) 73-72-74
220 – Thitikarn Thapasit (Thailand) 75-71-74
221 – Natthakritta Vongtaveelap (Thailand) 77-73-71; Liao Hsin-chun (Chinese Taipei) 72-76-73; Sneha Singh (India) 75-72-74
222 – Eun-seo Choi (New Zealand) 72-79-71; Chloe Chan (Hong Kong) 73-76-73
223 – Bang Shin-sil (Korea) 73-73-77
224 – Caitlin Peirce (Australia) 73-77-74; Kelsey Bennett (Australia) 77-73-74
225 – Arnie Pauline Taguines (Philippines) 76-75-74
226 – Avani Prashanth (India) 75-73-78
230 – Khaing Phu Pwint Yati (Myanmar) 76-78-76; Yoko Tai (Singapore) 75-74-81
231 – Ng Jing Xuen (Malaysia) 82-76-73
232 – Arianna Lau (Hong Kong) 78-78-76; Wu Chen-wei (Chinese Taipei) 79-72-81
233 – Elaine Widjaja (Indonesia) 78-79-76
234 – Rayi Geulis Zullandari (Indonesia) 80-75-79
236 – Samantha Marie Dizon (Philippines) 80-81-75; Iris Wang Xin-yi (Hong Kong) 81-76-79; Bianca Naomi Amina Lakssono (Indonesia) 80-74-82
240 – Janniya Dassani (India) 80-82-78
282 – Khin Moe Pyae Sone (Myanmar) 95-93-94
308 – Phoo Zayar Wai (Myanmar) 111-102-95
NR – Lois Kaye Go (Philippines)
Also read: Japan grab surprise Queen Sirikit Cup lead; India are ninth
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