Danes rule World Cup; Pinoys end up last

MANILA, Philippines – Soren Kjeldsen and Thorbjorn Olesen shot a six-under-par 66 in the final round fourballs to give Denmark a first World Cup of Golf triumph by four strokes at Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia yesterday.

The Danes started the day with a four-shot cushion and seven birdies, including one at the last when Olesen curled a 20-foot putt into the hole, combined with a single bogey was enough to hand them victory on 20-under for the tournament.

French duo Victor Dubuisson and Romain Langasque led the chasing pack with a sparkling nine-birdie 63 to share second place on 16-under with China’s Wu Anshun and Li Haotong (65) as well as the American pair of Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker (66).

The Philippines wound up last in the 28-team field as Miguel Tabuena and Angelo Que closed out with a 70 on three birdies against a bogey for a three-over 291, six shots behind No. 27 Venezuela.

It was the country’s worst finish in the event after Que teamed up with Tony Lascuña to wind up 23rd in a field of 26 played under combined stroke play in 2013, also in Melbourne.

Host Australia, which won last year’s title through Adam Scott and Jason Day at Royal Melbourne in 2013, finished in a share of ninth on 11-under after Scott and Marc Leishman combined for a final round 65.

The Danes, who built a four-shot lead heading to the final round, rebounded from a mediocre 35 start with six birdies at the back, including three straight from No. 13, to cap their emphatic victory.

The Frenchmen moved with three at the turn but could only close out with a 32, enabling the Danes to post the runaway triumph. - With AP